July 2020 Newsletter
Education News
JULY LEARNING TO CARE OPPORTUNITIES
We have two exciting Learning to Care opportunities to share this month! We are so grateful for the good folks at Bethel Haven for partnering with us to provide these resources. Both workshops will be virtual, so join us during your lunch break or from the comfort of your home. CEUs are available for both courses. If you need in-person CEUs to complete requirements for licensure as a foster parent, we recommend that you check with your agency.
Trauma Response Tools: July 20 12:00-1:30 p.m., Taylor Mason, AMFT, APC,
“Trauma Response Tools” will take place Monday, July 20, Taylor is a counselor with Bethel Haven and will be leading this Learning to Care on Coping with Trauma Reactions with the CID and ATIP Methods. To register, sign up online. This course is being hosted virtually, but is being taught live. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback.
Anxiety in Children: July 27 12:00-1:00 p.m. Vance Sims
Anxiety is now the most prevalent mental health diagnosis in the US. Join Vance Sims, a LCSW at Bethel Haven and practicing school counselor, on Monday July 27, as he shares what anxiety is, what it may ‘look like’, how often it occurs, and how anxiety in children may differ from adult anxiety. Vance will also discuss learning strategies and practical ways adults can help support children who experience anxiety. To register, sign up online. This course is being hosted virtually, but is being taught live. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and receive feedback.
Adoption News
We are THRILLED to announce that our first project site for our upcoming Help + Hope event has been selected! We are so grateful for the opportunity to support the local DFCS office in Clarke County with an outdoor space for visitation. We want to partner with YOU to transform this grassy field into a welcoming space for biological families to play and visit together safely. DFCS is dreaming of a place where kids can run and play, families can enjoy a meal, and parents can connect with their children, all while maintaining healthy bonds. This is BIG project, but we know that with the help of our community, we can truly bless these families and the DFCS staff.
The best part is that your service doesn’t stop there. When you join us for Help + Hope, you are also supporting adopting families in Georgia. These financial grants provide so much hope for waiting families. It is our desire to to remove financial barriers to adoption, but we need your help!
SERVE WITH US!
Join us on Saturday, August 29. We will equip you with everything you need to successfully raise money for adopting families and safely serve. To learn more about Help + Hope, please visit our webpage. To volunteer, simply fill out this simple form.
Foster Care News
This year has been different to say the least? Plans have changed and changed and then changed again for families, businesses, churches. We are incredibly grateful for the local churches that have risen to the challenge to support the foster care community in these new and complicated circumstances. East Athens Baptist Church created and delivered fun, summery baskets of toys and games to share with local foster families in Athens. Athens Church donated gift cards that allowed us to encourage foster families, case managers, and Region V graduates. The Awakening and Faith Presbyterian supported our efforts for a DFCS appreciation parade, allowing us to gift these incredible staff members with lots of small gifts of encouragements. Arbor Pointe purchased comfort items for a teen in a hospital setting. Journey Church purchased Chrome Books to help birth parents in in-patient settings continue to have visits with their children who are currently in care. The creativity and willingness to answer a call to care that these local churches have displayed is such an incredible display to the local foster care community that the church cares! We are so grateful to see these efforts!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Foster! Did you know that it is still possible to become a foster parent despite COVID-19? We have seen local child placing agencies creatively problem solve and shift many things to a virtual experience. If you are interested in learning more, find an upcoming Information Session to attend on the Home in 5 calendar.
Join a Care Team! Churches are still creating Care Teams, and we are supporting these efforts by providing a monthly virtual Volunteer Orientation. This brief one-hour orientation provides a quick look at foster care, explaining how and why children come into care. It also help you learn the various ways that you can support foster families by serving on a Care Team. Attend our next Virtual Volunteer Orientation on Wednesday, August 12, at 8:00 p.m. be registering here.