I want to take this chance to first of all say thanks to all of our excellent foster and adoptive parents. The difference you make in the lives of our children is greatly appreciated. I know there are some great rewards to providing the care that you do, although I'm sure most days it might be difficult to remember what those are. I also know you face great challenges. When those challenges come because of personnel transitions, miscommunication with DHS or Statewide system changes those challenges can feel even greater. We truly strive to be a helpful partner with you while you care for these precious lives in your homes and I'd encourage you to connect with your certifier, caseworker or adoption worker if you ever have question or concern.
Those things being true, I wanted to make you aware of new information we received about monthly payments. Many of you know that not all things have transitioned smoothly since the conversion to our new child welfare information system, ORKIDS. Some of you that had been receiving your monthly payment by way of direct deposit have received a paper check . Originally we were told that you didn't have to do anything to correct that error and that it should change back to direct deposit in the next couple of months. Yesterday we learned that is not true. If you were receiving your monthly payment by way of direct deposit prior to the ORKIDS conversion (September 2011) and are now receiving a paper check you need to re-submit the Direct Deposit form to have that changed back. You can find the form on the website under Caregiver Resources/Forms. There are clear instructions about how to complete this form and who to send the information to when it's complete. I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
If you have always received a paper check and would like to have it directly deposited into your bank account you can also, complete the attached form. This form, and others that might be helpful to you as a provider, can be found on our website marionfosteroradopt.com, under the forms tab.
Billy Cordero
Foster Home Recruiter
(503) 378-4722
(503) 409-1450 cell
4600 25th Ave NE Ste 110
Salem Or 97301
billy.cordero@state.or.us
http://www.marionfosteroradopt.com/
Nov 2, 2011
Oct 26, 2011
Foster Care, Adoption and Respite Information Session
Do you or someone you know have questions about foster care, adoption or respite care. We are having an informational meeting about foster care, adoption and respite on November 17th at 6pm at the Ike Box (299 Cottage St, Salem Or 97301) Come meet some Foster/Adoptive parents, DHS staff and other folks from the community as we discuss the steps to begin caring for kids through foster care or adoption. Strong, stable and caring foster parents are needed in your neighborhood to keep kids safe, give hope to a child in need, and strengthen your community. You can make a difference.
Sep 27, 2011
Psychotropic Medication Flow Chart.
Just wanted to send a reminder about the required consent and documentation needed for all children in foster care who are prescribed psychotropic medications. I've attached the flow chart. Please ask your certifier or the child's caseworker for the Consent Form if you need one. If you have any questions about this process or your responsibility as a foster parent, please connect with your certifier. (I know the flow chart may be hard to read, please get the full sized flow chart from your certifier
Aug 22, 2011
Foster Family Day at the 2011 Oregon State Fair.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is happy to announce that Wednesday, Aug 31, 2011 is Foster Family Day at the 2011 Oregon State Fair. Oregon foster, guardian and adoptive foster parents and their children will be allowed complimentary access to the Oregon State Fairgrounds to enjoy the day's activities. Access will only be granted only when presenting a valid certificate demonstrating one's foster family status. Any of the following documents will be accepted as proof of eligibility at admission gates:
o Certificate of Approval to Maintain a Foster Home for Children, issued by the Oregon Department of Human Services;
o Foster Family Special Access Pass, issued by the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation;
o Adoptive Foster Family Special Access Pass, issued by the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation; or
o Foster Home Certification issued by IWC/Foster Parent Services, Tribes of Oregon.
In addition to presenting the above-mentioned proof, the following conditions apply:
* You must present valid matching photo identification;
* Only the proof holder's family may be granted complimentary admission; and
* The foster children must be present for the family to be eligible for the discount.
If you are unable to comply with any of the above requirements, we regret we won't be able to honor the discount and we encourage you to take advantage of our many specials and promotions.
The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department is happy to announce that Wednesday, Aug 31, 2011 is Foster Family Day at the 2011 Oregon State Fair. Oregon foster, guardian and adoptive foster parents and their children will be allowed complimentary access to the Oregon State Fairgrounds to enjoy the day's activities. Access will only be granted only when presenting a valid certificate demonstrating one's foster family status. Any of the following documents will be accepted as proof of eligibility at admission gates:
o Certificate of Approval to Maintain a Foster Home for Children, issued by the Oregon Department of Human Services;
o Foster Family Special Access Pass, issued by the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation;
o Adoptive Foster Family Special Access Pass, issued by the Oregon Department of Parks and Recreation; or
o Foster Home Certification issued by IWC/Foster Parent Services, Tribes of Oregon.
In addition to presenting the above-mentioned proof, the following conditions apply:
* You must present valid matching photo identification;
* Only the proof holder's family may be granted complimentary admission; and
* The foster children must be present for the family to be eligible for the discount.
If you are unable to comply with any of the above requirements, we regret we won't be able to honor the discount and we encourage you to take advantage of our many specials and promotions.
Jul 28, 2011
Happy ‘Double Digit’ Birthday to You!!
Foster children of Marion & Polk counties who turn 10 years old
between September 1, 2010 & September 1, 2011
are celebrating their first double digit birthday and we want to help them celebrate!
(Missed this opportunity last year? Call Angela for details about how to still claim your present!)
A scholarship program is now available that will allow the birthday girl/boy to
attend the summer day camp of their choice through the YMCA Cramp Greider Program.
Full scholarships are available.
Choose your camp, request an electronic voucher at doubledigitdream@yahoo.com
and register soon! For more information contact Angela at 503-315-8292.
Jul 8, 2011
Jun 2, 2011
May 11, 2011
Walk Me Home @ Corban
Join us as we celebrate National Foster Care Month at the Walk Me Home @ Corban family fun run/walk. Participants arrive at 9:30am, run/walk starts at 10am. There will be a 1k family walk and a 5K run available. If you'd like to come out and bring the whole family let me know and I'll register you. billy.cordero@state.or.us
May 3, 2011
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Conference May 5th
"NorthWest Senior and Disability Services will present a conference May 5 in Salem for people raising their grandchildren. The free conference, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren, is open to grandparents who live in Marion, Polk, Clatsop, Tillamook and Yamhill counties. It will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Queen of Peace Catholic Church, 4227 Lone Oak Road SE. Sessions will cover legal guardianship and adoption, resolving misbehavior and building self-esteem, and healthy choices. The latter topic will be presented by dietitian Jeanine Stice, who also is a nutrition columnist for the Statesman Journal. For registration and information, call Barbara Masser at (503) 304-3439"
Apr 21, 2011
Foster Family Summer Picnic
We're approaching that time again and we'd like you to save the date for this year's Foster Family Summer Picnic. The Salem Exchange Club and the larger community of Marion and Polk Counties wants to thank foster parents for all that they do. Please come and enjoy this family friendly event!
Saturday July 30th at 11:30.
Cascade Gateway Park (Behind Walmart on Turner Rd)
Back pack give-away
State Fair tickets
lunch
Hair cuts
Face painting
THE AMAZING RACE!
Apr 15, 2011
Life with the Libby's-Fostering Friday's
Fostering Friday's by Connie Libby Marion County Foster Parent
Fostering Fridays are all about my journey as a foster mom, how I feel about it, the highs and lows, and how it affects my family. And of course, hoping to increase awareness and prayer for this challenging and very rewarding ministry. So today I'd like to talk about a very powerful thing called support. Having people in your life who understand where you're at and what you're doing. I believe this is essential to being successful as a foster parent. Meeting and staying connected to other foster parents is a great way to have relationships that see you through all the ups, downs and times you aren't sure what to do. There are support meetings that you can attend through DHS, and possibly your certifier, to help make those connections. But you don't only need to connect with other foster parents to find the support and encouragement you need to continue on. Having family, friends, and a church fellowship that agree with your passion for fostering and are there to listen, help and love makes all the difference. So that being said let me tell you about my support system. When Russ and I decided to begin the training to foster we learned in the classes that a lot of the other families looking to become foster homes were just like us! Imagine that! We connected with some and were encouraged by these honest, kind people beginning the same journey we were. Then we met with our certifier and as she interviewed us, she asked if we had the support of our families. It made me take a closer look and see what kind of support we really had there. We weren't sure how everyone would respond once we started having extra children around for family gatherings, but everyone seemed supportive enough. Boy, what a pleasant surprise that ALL of our family has jumped in to love and help grow our little one. Treating him just like one of the family, I feel so proud of all our family, they add another layer to the stability of our foster babies lives. Then we got our first foster baby and I emailed all our friends and family to tell them we had our baby home and we could use their prayers as we begin to help raise this little one. The response was huge! I wept as I read the responses and I have continued to see that support played out. When I brought our little guy to my bunko group, I don't think I held him once. When I needed to go for a meeting at DHS, friends took my kids for me even if some or all of their kids were in school. When I had some VERY sleepy days after getting up with an infant all night friends offered to come and hold him while I rested or take him for a night. ( I didn't take them up on it but I was so happy to know I could if I needed it!) That leads me to the next layer of support I'm so blessed to have, couples who we are good friends with already who are either certified foster or respite care certified. What a relief to know that there is someone I know that is legally certified to take the baby overnight if I needed it! And we did! We got away in December for my birthday/anniversary/Christmas present and a good friend took the baby so we were kids free! All of these things add up to an invaluable system of support. But it's not over. DHS just hooked us up with a mentoring foster couple with kids our kids ages and a foster baby. They are awesome and I've loved getting the perspective of a foster mom in my spot who's been doing this longer than me! And lastly my church family is amazing! They love and nurture our whole family and are openly supportive and stand up for foster families. They gave gifts at Christmas and run a program called 'Foster Parent Night' out where we can drop all the kids and go on a 4 hour date once a month!!!! Yeah, we totally go out more now than we ever did before! And I love that every time I get the baby from the nursery the ladies are just so in love with him and praying for him and just so encouraging of our situation! They are so lovely and always so happy to be a small part of helping this foster child thrive. We are surrounded by so much support and love and prayer that we know every need will be met. Whether that is needing someone to talk to, childcare, a hug, advice, prayer, a meal after a particularly hard night with the baby, or hand me down clothes and baby items, it's all there for us when we need it! We are blessed beyond measure, and if you are a foster parent and not feeling supported, seek out the support!! Call your certifier, meet up with other foster parents, lean on your friends or family who support you and accept their offers of help! You'll be able to avoid being burned out and too tired to continue giving the care your child/ children need. Loving encouragement is the key to pressing on! I'm convinced of it! Thank you everyone who loves and helps my family! You mean the world to me and have made this journey one of encouragement and peace! We love you guys!
Fostering Fridays are all about my journey as a foster mom, how I feel about it, the highs and lows, and how it affects my family. And of course, hoping to increase awareness and prayer for this challenging and very rewarding ministry. So today I'd like to talk about a very powerful thing called support. Having people in your life who understand where you're at and what you're doing. I believe this is essential to being successful as a foster parent. Meeting and staying connected to other foster parents is a great way to have relationships that see you through all the ups, downs and times you aren't sure what to do. There are support meetings that you can attend through DHS, and possibly your certifier, to help make those connections. But you don't only need to connect with other foster parents to find the support and encouragement you need to continue on. Having family, friends, and a church fellowship that agree with your passion for fostering and are there to listen, help and love makes all the difference. So that being said let me tell you about my support system. When Russ and I decided to begin the training to foster we learned in the classes that a lot of the other families looking to become foster homes were just like us! Imagine that! We connected with some and were encouraged by these honest, kind people beginning the same journey we were. Then we met with our certifier and as she interviewed us, she asked if we had the support of our families. It made me take a closer look and see what kind of support we really had there. We weren't sure how everyone would respond once we started having extra children around for family gatherings, but everyone seemed supportive enough. Boy, what a pleasant surprise that ALL of our family has jumped in to love and help grow our little one. Treating him just like one of the family, I feel so proud of all our family, they add another layer to the stability of our foster babies lives. Then we got our first foster baby and I emailed all our friends and family to tell them we had our baby home and we could use their prayers as we begin to help raise this little one. The response was huge! I wept as I read the responses and I have continued to see that support played out. When I brought our little guy to my bunko group, I don't think I held him once. When I needed to go for a meeting at DHS, friends took my kids for me even if some or all of their kids were in school. When I had some VERY sleepy days after getting up with an infant all night friends offered to come and hold him while I rested or take him for a night. ( I didn't take them up on it but I was so happy to know I could if I needed it!) That leads me to the next layer of support I'm so blessed to have, couples who we are good friends with already who are either certified foster or respite care certified. What a relief to know that there is someone I know that is legally certified to take the baby overnight if I needed it! And we did! We got away in December for my birthday/anniversary/Christmas present and a good friend took the baby so we were kids free! All of these things add up to an invaluable system of support. But it's not over. DHS just hooked us up with a mentoring foster couple with kids our kids ages and a foster baby. They are awesome and I've loved getting the perspective of a foster mom in my spot who's been doing this longer than me! And lastly my church family is amazing! They love and nurture our whole family and are openly supportive and stand up for foster families. They gave gifts at Christmas and run a program called 'Foster Parent Night' out where we can drop all the kids and go on a 4 hour date once a month!!!! Yeah, we totally go out more now than we ever did before! And I love that every time I get the baby from the nursery the ladies are just so in love with him and praying for him and just so encouraging of our situation! They are so lovely and always so happy to be a small part of helping this foster child thrive. We are surrounded by so much support and love and prayer that we know every need will be met. Whether that is needing someone to talk to, childcare, a hug, advice, prayer, a meal after a particularly hard night with the baby, or hand me down clothes and baby items, it's all there for us when we need it! We are blessed beyond measure, and if you are a foster parent and not feeling supported, seek out the support!! Call your certifier, meet up with other foster parents, lean on your friends or family who support you and accept their offers of help! You'll be able to avoid being burned out and too tired to continue giving the care your child/ children need. Loving encouragement is the key to pressing on! I'm convinced of it! Thank you everyone who loves and helps my family! You mean the world to me and have made this journey one of encouragement and peace! We love you guys!
Apr 12, 2011
Life with the Libby's-Fostering Friday's
Thank you to foster parents Russ and Connie Libby for letting me link to Fostering Friday's blog.
Fostering Friday's is all about my journey as a foster mom, how I feel about it, the highs and lows, and how it affects my family. And of course, hoping to increase awareness and prayer for this challenging and very rewarding ministry. This last week we had a court hearing for our little man. There looks to be some changes coming soon and I'm trying to figure out how to cope with that. We took this little baby home from the hospital and have grown him through almost nine months of his life! How am I going to say goodbye? How am I going to comfort my children who feel like their brother will be leaving them? How do I handle the fact he may never remember me? When I first started telling people that I was going to be doing foster care the answer I kept hearing was, "I could never do that, it would be too hard to let them go." My response was yes, it will be hard, so very sad, but I still feel compelled to do it. You know that saying, "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." That about sums up how I feel. Although I'm already shedding tears and praying for comfort for myself and my family, I still feel grateful for the time I did get with this precious one. He has impacted my heart forever and I'll never forget him even if he does forget me. The whole experience of raising someone else's child is strangely surreal. There are moments where I feel like he really is my own. And that is what makes this such a sad breakup. But if I didn't love him like my own then would I be giving him the best care I could? Would he really be thriving if he didn't feel like he belonged? I don't think so. There is no way for me to keep my heart from that motherly attachment and there is no way to safeguard against the pain of losing that child. But I'm going to do it again anyway. It is so rewarding to have watched this baby grow into a well adjusted, happy, healthy baby. Then say goodbye, knowing I did everything I could to teach him to trust, hope and know security.
I think it's worth the pain and knowing that is all I've got right now. That, and trusting completely in God's sovereign plan for this little ones life. He already knows the path he has planned for him and I'm resting in that. It's not up to me to figure it out, or even understand it, it's my job to obey and trust. I think of Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. To give you a hope and a future." I'm clinging to that for our baby and you better believe it's going in his scrapbook we're making him. He'll be taking that scrapbook, full of the love and memories we'll cherish, with him and the quilt I made for him soon after we brought him home. Pieces of our hearts to remind him he is so loved, by us, but more importantly, by God.
Fostering Friday's is all about my journey as a foster mom, how I feel about it, the highs and lows, and how it affects my family. And of course, hoping to increase awareness and prayer for this challenging and very rewarding ministry. This last week we had a court hearing for our little man. There looks to be some changes coming soon and I'm trying to figure out how to cope with that. We took this little baby home from the hospital and have grown him through almost nine months of his life! How am I going to say goodbye? How am I going to comfort my children who feel like their brother will be leaving them? How do I handle the fact he may never remember me? When I first started telling people that I was going to be doing foster care the answer I kept hearing was, "I could never do that, it would be too hard to let them go." My response was yes, it will be hard, so very sad, but I still feel compelled to do it. You know that saying, "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." That about sums up how I feel. Although I'm already shedding tears and praying for comfort for myself and my family, I still feel grateful for the time I did get with this precious one. He has impacted my heart forever and I'll never forget him even if he does forget me. The whole experience of raising someone else's child is strangely surreal. There are moments where I feel like he really is my own. And that is what makes this such a sad breakup. But if I didn't love him like my own then would I be giving him the best care I could? Would he really be thriving if he didn't feel like he belonged? I don't think so. There is no way for me to keep my heart from that motherly attachment and there is no way to safeguard against the pain of losing that child. But I'm going to do it again anyway. It is so rewarding to have watched this baby grow into a well adjusted, happy, healthy baby. Then say goodbye, knowing I did everything I could to teach him to trust, hope and know security.
I think it's worth the pain and knowing that is all I've got right now. That, and trusting completely in God's sovereign plan for this little ones life. He already knows the path he has planned for him and I'm resting in that. It's not up to me to figure it out, or even understand it, it's my job to obey and trust. I think of Jeremiah 29:11 " For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not harm you. To give you a hope and a future." I'm clinging to that for our baby and you better believe it's going in his scrapbook we're making him. He'll be taking that scrapbook, full of the love and memories we'll cherish, with him and the quilt I made for him soon after we brought him home. Pieces of our hearts to remind him he is so loved, by us, but more importantly, by God.
Mar 10, 2011
Foster Care and Adoption Information Session
Strong, stable and caring foster parents are needed in your neighborhood to keep kids safe, give hope to a child in need, and strengthen your community. You can make a difference. Learn how:
April 13th @6pm
Ike Box, 299 Cottage St
to rsvp please contact Billy Cordero
(503) 378-4722
Feb 8, 2011
Keizer Elks aid foster children
Keizer Elks recently raised $312, so foster children could buy shoes. The check was given to Department of Human Services Child Welfare Foster Care, Diane Norton, Keizer Elks spokeswoman, announced last week.
Feb 3, 2011
Thank you AC Gilbert House!
Thank you Gilbert House for the Lifetime Pass for DHS Marion County Foster Parents. But even more so, thank you for your ongoing appreciation of the work that our foster families do with children who have been abused and neglected. Your partnership has been highly regarded and we thank you for all that you do!
Feb 1, 2011
Indoor Park
Foster Parents with children 5 yrs and under...did you know that Grace Baptist Church has an Indoor Park on Mondays & Thursdays from 9:30 - 11. It is free and open according to the Salem/Keizer Schools Schedule! It is in the Gym w/ lots of space for running, playing with balls, climbing, riding in cars or peddling a trike!! If you are interested in attending please contact Mike or Gwen Slippy 503-508-7570.
Jan 26, 2011
Way to go Marion/Polk Foster Parent Association!
I received the following email from Lindsay Armstrong, Social Service Specialist with DHS Child Welfare in Marion County.
Hi Billy,
I was at a foster home this month and they told me how much they appreciated the foster parent association. They said that during Christmas they gave their kids really nice presents. The kids really enjoyed them, and it made a great difference on how things went for them at Christmas. They told me how much they appreciated the presents and how great they were for almost 5 minutes.
In this job the people we work with and our community partners do some miraculous things for our kids who need so much!
Hi Billy,
I was at a foster home this month and they told me how much they appreciated the foster parent association. They said that during Christmas they gave their kids really nice presents. The kids really enjoyed them, and it made a great difference on how things went for them at Christmas. They told me how much they appreciated the presents and how great they were for almost 5 minutes.
In this job the people we work with and our community partners do some miraculous things for our kids who need so much!
Jan 14, 2011
Oregon Zoo and MLK
The Oregon Zoo, celebrating the spirit of public service associated with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, is offering free admission on Monday, January 17 2011.