1. No category

SENIOR STAFF
Kelly A. Peterson
CEO
Mike Hamblin
RECRUITMENT
Mick Woolsey
EDUCATION
Nikki MacKay
RETENTION
Deborah Lindner
COMMUNICATIONS
Debbie Hofhines
DEVELOPMENT
BOARD
Jodi Juretich
CHAIR
Lisa Watts Baskin
Michelle Beasley
Libby Biittner
Alan Blood
Kathy Carter
Kathleen Christy
Darlene Coles
Lloyd Hardcastle
Jennifer Holub
Heidi Naylor
Pam S. Niece
Jessica Steadman
Steve Sunday
David Webster, Sr
Bruce Olson
BOARD ATTORNEY
FOSTERROSTER
Darcey Hirst
EDITOR
PrestoPrint
PRINT & FULFILMENT SERVICES
2
utahfostercare.org
FosterRoster
License Renewal – A Look at the Changes
The Utah Division of Child and Family Services (DCFS)
has made some changes to foster parent in-service
training requirements for re-licensure. The changes
were necessary due to changes to the Administrative
Rule for the Office of Licensing. Below is an explanation
of the change. Foster parents can access more details
regarding the change online in the DCFS Practice
Guidelines at the following link: http://hspolicy.utah.gov/
dcfs/. The section can be found in Section 300: Out-ofhome Services, number 305.
1) Foster parents are required to have 16 hours of inservice training annually. If there are two foster parents
in the home, you are required to have a combined total of
16 hours, with neither parent having fewer than four.
2) Training hours can be completed through any classes
offered through Utah Foster Care, including if the foster
parent repeats any portion of pre-service training.
Training hours may also be completed through
attendance at any training offered to foster parents that is
facilitated by DCFS.
3) Training hours may be completed through communitybased trainings and conferences that are pre-approved by
your Resource Family Consultant (RFC) or other
designated DCFS staff. You must provide verification of
attendance to the RFC in order to receive training credit.
Examples of these community-based trainings or
conferences would be the Utah Adoption Conference, the
Gang Prevention Conference, the Suicide Prevention
Conference, etc.
4) Foster parents may complete 25% of in-service
training hours through online courses, parenting
instructional videos, or other publications (such as
books). DCFS is working to create a list of pre-approved
sources that foster parents may use for this and how
many hours will be allowed for each training source.
Once ready, the list will be accessible from the DCFS
website.
For now, Utah Foster Care has a list of pre-approved
sources from which you may work. In order to receive
credit for training from online courses, videos, or other
publications, you must provide a typed summary of what
was learned from the training to the RFC. The DCFS
practice guidelines outline what you need to include in
the written summary in order to get credit for the
training.
Utah Foster Care, within 10 business days of receiving
the verification. Foster parents should provide the
verification of conference attendance to the RFC, who
will work with Utah Foster Care to make sure that it is
documented in your training record.
6) Foster parents should keep a copy of training
verification for all training you attend (attendance rolls,
certificates, etc.)
7) Four months prior to the expiration date of your foster
care license, the RFC will be checking the training
records to see if you have the required amount of training
hours. If you need more training hours, the RFC will
contact you and ask if you plan to renew your license.
If you plan to renew your license, the RFC will provide
you with written notification regarding the number of
training hours you still need prior to re-licensure, and
help you identify opportunities to complete training.
Please check the written notice from your RFC against
your records to ensure that all your completed training
has been credited to you.
If there is a discrepancy, please let your RFC know and
provide them with a copy of the verification of training
hours. The RFC will make monthly contact with you to
determine your progress on completing the in-service
training hours.
If you have any questions regarding this process, please
contact your RFC. Thank you for all you do!
By Tanya Albornoz,
DCFS Foster Care Program Administrator
CPR Training
Check your Cluster Facebook
page (File tab) for a list of
CPR classes in your region.
For details, call your licensor.
5) Utah Foster Care will continue to enter in all inservice training hours, even those not completed through
February & March, 2015
3
UTAH FOSTER CARE
OFFICES
Murray
5296 South Commerce Drive
Suite 400
Murray, UT 84107
801-994-5205Main
801-994-5206Fax
877-505-5437Toll-free
Calling all Wives, Kids, RFC's, Caseworkers,
& Mothers-in-Law!
Ogden
3340 South Harrison Blvd.
Suite 200
Ogden, UT 84403
801-392-1114Main
Orem
274 West Center Street
Orem, UT 84057
801-373-3006Main
Price
475 West Price River Dr
Suite 152
Price, UT 84501
435-636-0210Main
Roosevelt
Rural Route 3, Box 8008
Roosevelt, UT 84066
435-724-0959Main
Vernal
1052 West Market Dr
Vernal, UT 84078
435-781-4224Main
Moab
180 South 300 East
Suite C
Moab, UT 84532
435-259-3345Main
St George
491 East Riverside Dr
Suite 2B
St George, UT 84790
435-656-8065Main
Foster Dads of the Year 2014
Front row (left to right): Jodi Juretich, UFC Board Chair; Ann Silverberg
Williamson Executive Director DHS.
Back row (left to right): Rocky Pope, James Mayfield, Mark McNeil, Ben
Baldonado, Jason Bronson.
It's time to nominate your favorite foster dad for Foster Dad of the Year 2015!
We are looking for five dads - one from each region of the state - to honor on
Father's Day week-end.
The awards will be presented on Saturday, June 20th in Salt Lake City at our
annual Chalk Art Festival. There will be a luncheon to honor the dads
following the ceremony. Families who must travel more than 100 miles one
way will have one complimentary night stay in a nearby hotel on Friday, June
19th.
Children, wives, DCFS employees, friends, and other family members
(mothers-in-law too) can nominate the foster dad they love the best! Utah
Foster Care will begin accepting online nominations beginning March 1, 2015
at http://www.utahfostercare.org/fdoy.
Please note: This site will only be accessible from March 1, 2015-March 31,
2015.
By Darcey Hirst, UFC Retention Services Coordinator
Richfield
201 East 500 North
Richfield, UT 84701
435-979-2233Main
4
utahfostercare.org
FosterRoster
Thank You to Our Donors & Volunteers
By Tina Porter, UFC Retention Specialist
Another year has come and gone. The holiday decorations have been taken
down and put away. One more Giving Tree delivery checked off our list. The
men and women of Hill Air Force Base delivered 360 gifts to 120 children in 50
homes. We would like to thank all of the people, companies and organizations
who helped provide gifts and services to make the 2014 Giving Tree program a
success.
Allegiance
Amy Hanson and Family
Amy Moore
Barnes and Noble
UTAH FOSTER CARE ( UFC )
Salt Lake Region UFC Staff
Dan Webster
AREA REPRESENTATIVE
Amy Boyack
FOSTER FAMILY RECRUITER
Jordan Ames
FOSTER FAMILY RECRUITER
Liz Rivera
TRAINER
Tina Porter
RETENTION SERVICES SPECIALIST
Becky Nicholson
UTAH DIVISION OF CHILD &
FAMILY SERVICES ( DCFS )
Christmas Box House Int.
DCFS HQ ( 801 ) 538-4100
Deseret First
Electrical Consultants Inc.
Girl Scout Troop #763
Heather Anderson and Family
Heather Jayn and Family
Hilltop United Methodist Church
Jon Collins
Michelle Lepinski
Nichole Beckstead and Family
Rene Hunter and Family
195 NORTH 1950 WEST, SLC
Salt Lake Region DCFS Offices
NEED TO REACH YOUR RFC?
CALL YOUR LOCAL DCFS OFFICE …
Metro ( 801 ) 253-5720
1385 SOUTH STATE
Murray ( 801 ) 253-5720
6100 FASHION BOULEVARD
Riverton ( 801 ) 253-5720
12537 SOUTH CROSSING DRIVE
Tooele ( 801 ) 253-5720
305 NORTH MAIN STREET
West Valley ( 801 ) 253-5720
2655 SOUTH LAKE ERIE DRIVE
FIND MORE RESOURCES ONLINE
utahfostercare.org/saltlake
Rick Scardina
Rio Tinto Select Health
Studio 56
Sweets Candy
TD Williamson
XO
Salt
February
Lake &
Region February
March, 2015
& March, 2015
5
Clusters
WHAT’S A CLUSTER?
Clusters are peer groups for foster,
adoptive, and kinship families
who meet together on a monthly
basis for support & required
training.
SEXUAL ABUSE SERIES
SEXUAL ABUSE SERIES
Part 1
Part 2
February 26; 2015; 6-8pm
March 2, 2015; 6-8pm
UFC Murray | 5296 S Commerce Dr, #400
UFC Murray | 5296 S Commerce Dr, #400
The first part of the series will
address parenting a child who
has experienced sexual abuse.
The second part will focus on
parenting children who have exhibited
“sexually reactive” behavior.
Learn more, online!
KEARNS CLUSTER
Michelle ( 801 ) 755 - 4766
[email protected]
SEXUAL ABUSE SERIES
Part 3
March 30; 6-8pm
UFC Murray | 5296 S Commerce Dr, #400
SANDY/DRAPER CLUSTER
Janet ( 801 ) 867 - 1552
[email protected]
In the last part of the series
we’ll discuss working with
children/youth who may have
perpetrated on other children.
MAGNA/WEST VALLEY CLUSTER
Cheryl [email protected]
SVW/WEST JORDAN CLUSTER
Valerie ( 801 ) 608 - 1871
[email protected]
MURRAY/MIDVALE/EAST CLUSTER
Terumi ( 801 ) 699 - 9769
POST-ADOPT CLUSTER
Kim ( 801 ) 514 - 5425
[email protected]
TRAINING HIGHLIGHT: TEEN FORUM
An evening of Q & A for curious parents
What is it like to foster an older child? How will it impact my family?
Hear first-hand from foster parents, teens in care, and others!
When: Thursday, February 5th from 6:30-8pm
Where: UFC Murray Office at 5296 South Commerce Dr. #400
RSVP: 1-877-505-5437
In-service credits, and dinner, available to foster families who RSVP.
Co-sponsored by the SLC & Sandy Clusters
SALT LAKE METRO CLUSTER
Rachel [email protected]
TOOELE CLUSTER
Karrie ( 435 ) 261 - 2161
Cami ( 435 ) 830 - 6195
SPANISH CLUSTER
Ruth ( 801 ) 568 - 6632
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RSVP FOR CLASSES & CLUSTERS!
If a class or Cluster is cancelled, moved or rescheduled, we can only alert
you if you’re on the roll! Also, if childcare is provided, it can only be
offered to those who’ve RSVP’d. Help us help you — RSVP!
RSVP: LIZ RIVERA / ( 801 ) 994 - 5205
[email protected]
utahfostercare.org/saltlake « Have questions? Check here, first!
utahfostercare.org
FosterRoster
SANDY & SALT LAKE
MURRAY
WJ/SVW & KEARNS
Teen Forum
Mindfulness/Brain Series
CPR/1st Aid
February 5, 2015; 6-8pm
February 7, 2015; 10-11am
February 13, 2015; 6-9pm
UFC Murray | 5296 S Commerce Dr, #400
UFC Murray | 5296 S Commerce Dr, #400
UFC Murray | 5296 S Commerce Dr, #400
Hear from families who have
fostered and/or adopted teens.
We’ll continue on our journey of
learning about our own minds—
which helps us manage them better.
For kids (6yo+) and parents.
Meets the new Licensing requirements
for CPR/1st Aid Certification.
This series will continue over the next
7 Saturday mornings from 10-11am.
POST-ADOPTION
TOOELE
WJ/SVW
Misunderstood Minds:...Success at School
CPR/1st Aid
When to Take a Child to the ER
Feb 20, 2015; 6-9pm
February 28, 2015; 9:30am-1:30pm
March 11, 2015; 6-8pm
RSVP for address
RSVP to Cami or Karrie for address
UFC Murray | 5296 S Commerce Dr, #400
Narrative account of families
trying to understand the
reasons a child was having great
difficulty learning at school.
Meets the new Licensing requirements
for CPR/1st Aid Certification.
Dr. Greenberg is an ER doctor
and pediatrician. He will discuss
when to take a child to the ER.
POST-ADOPTION
KEARNS
SALT LAKE
Secret of the Wild Child
Color Code
Nurturing the Nurturer
March 13, 2015; 6-8pm
March 18, 2015; 6-9pm
March 19, 2015; 6-8pm
RSVP for address
UFC Murray | 5296 S Commerce Dr, #400
Anderson-Foothill Branch | 1135 S 2100 E
This 1994 documentary details the case
of a severely neglected child. Although
this was an extreme case, it may have
something to teach us about how abuse
or neglect may affect development.
Have you ever wondered what
motivates you to act in certain ways?
At work? At home? In relationships?
Brian has a fun and enlightening look
at personality and core motives.
You take care of so many. Do you
take care of yourself ? A happy
parent is good for kids!
SANDY & KEARNS
CPR/1st Aid
March 20, 2015; 6-9pm
Riverton DCFS/12537 S Crossing Dr
Meets the new Licensing requirements
for CPR/1st Aid Certification.
Salt
February
Lake &
Region February
March, 2015
& March, 2015
7
Foster Parent Resources Highlighted
WATCH FOR SPECIAL EDITION OF FOSTER ROSTER
By Tina Porter, UFC Retention Specialist
Have you ever wondered exactly
which payments are available
through DCFS, or what special
funding is available through Utah
Foster Care? How about accessing
donations, training hours, respite
care, or support from other families?
Who do I call with questions? Did you
know there is a special website just
for teens in care? What about the free
lending library through the Adoption
Exchange?
In our last satisfaction survey, it was
apparent that there were many
parents unaware of the many
supports and resources available to
licensed families. There also
appeared to be some confusion about
which organization does what in the
child welfare system.
Utah Foster Care is putting together a
new resource guide to provide a quick
and easy reference to help you
navigate the system and have access
to available help. Even seasoned
foster/adoptive parents may find a
resource to two that they have
forgotten about, or is new to them.
Want to find out if you’re well
informed? Watch your mail for this
special edition and check it out.
Salt Lake CPR/First Aid Locations
According to Office of Licensing rules, each provider
must be “current CPR/First aid certified.” While classes
may be accessed online, final CPR certification must be
an in-person certification. This list is not intended to be
inclusive of all potential training providers and providers
listed here are not necessarily recommended by UFC. If
you have any questions, please contact your licensor. Be
sure to include a photocopy of your certification with
your paperwork.
American Heart Association
www.heart.org
801-702-4420
American Red Cross Greater Salt Lake Chapter SLC
801-323-7000
Primary Children’s Medical Center SLC
801-662-3517
Shriners Hospital for Children SLC
Intermountain Training Center
801-536-3515
8
Utah Emergency Medical Training Council SLC
801-562-2663
Gold Cross Ambulance SLC 801-975-4335
Sandy City Fire Department Sandy
801-568-2940
An Act of Caring Taylorsville
801-598-8370
The Unified Fire Authority Taylorsville
801-743-7200
Pioneer Valley Hospital Training Center West Valley City
801-964-3733
Cintas First Aid & Safety Salt Lake City Training Center
801-975-1167
utahfostercare.org
utahfostercare.org/salt lake « Have questions? Check here, first!
FosterRoster
Being Helpful
By Amber Henrie, Richfield Foster Parent
I had the opportunity to attend the National Foster
Parent Association Conference. One of my favorite
classes was Surviving and Thriving Being Helpful by Jeff
Cotton M.A., M.F.T.
He gave some tips to help lessen stress. One was to
change our mindset. He said, “Always trying to fix what’s
wrong with our foster children hurts them because they
are no longer seen as whole “as is,” but as something that
needs to be fixed.” When we see them, not as a set of
behaviors to change, but as perfect as they are, we
immediately become more helpful to them. “The less
invested we are in having them reach the outcome we
want, the more helpful we become to their healing.”
It’s also important to set limits for ourselves and
recognize that we need time to heal. Allow yourself to
focus on your needs too when your making decisions
about your kids. Ask yourself these questions:
• How Do I feel? (emotionally and physically?) Our
physical body can indicate burnout long before we
can emotionally accept it.
• What do I think?
• Is this OK for me? If it isn’t then allow yourself to
make a different plan or to say no.
Finally Cotton says, “It is also important to be aware that
there are some gifts we can’t give. We cannot heal them.
They have to heal themselves. We need to be in this to
guide them to their healing, not to be the one who heals
them. We need to be in this for a long marathon, not for
the short sprint. To plant seeds we may not be around to
harvest. And to be helpful, not just needed.”
I felt so encouraged after hearing him talk. I know using
his advice can help me to become a better foster parent. I
hope that we all can take the time we need to recharge
and be better able to thrive as foster parents.
We can also change our mindset from beware to be aware.
If we are constantly on edge, wary of the danger that may
come, we are less helpful than when we are just being
aware of what’s going on.
We can also change how we think about their behaviors.
Cotton says to think, “They are not doing this to me. They
are just doing it.” When it doesn’t feel personal, we are
better able to help them. He says their past can be blamed
for behaviors, but just as often they could be having an
ordinary bad day.
He spoke about how we, as foster parents by nature, have
the mindset of being selfless. We try to help others with
little regard to our own needs. Often the end result is
burning out. He suggested we learn to take some time
daily for self care. We can remind ourselves that this
time sets the example for our children that making the
time to take care of our emotional health is important.
February & March, 2015
We would like to offer our most heartfelt
condolences to Jessica Steadman at the
recent loss of her husband.
Jessica has been a friend, a foster and
adoptive parent, a Cluster Facilitator, and
currently is a member of the UFC Board of
Directors.
9
Symposium 2015
Upcoming Webinars
By Mick Woolsey, LCSW,
Director of Education, UFC
All webinars start at 12:00 noon and
last one hour.
Foster families are invited to join Utah Foster Care on April
22-23 for our 6th Annual Utah Foster Care Symposium at
the beautiful Zermatt Inn & Resort in Midway, Utah.
They are archived and available for
viewing any time, online:
utahfostercare.org/webinars
We have the distinct privilege of presenting Dr. Tina Payne
Bryson as our 2015 keynote speaker and UFC’s own Faith
Spencer, a Certified Arbinger Facilitator.
Once you have listened to a webinar,
please send an e-mail to your region
trainer stating the title of the webinar,
the presenter, the date and time you
listened, as well as three points you
took away from the training that you
intend to use with children in your
home. This will guarantee that you
will receive the appropriate credit for
renewal hours for licensing.
Day 1- 1:00pm- 4:30pm
Transforming Conflict in our Relationships that Matter Most
The Arbinger Institute
Enjoy a fun-filled, skills-driven afternoon, learning how to
transform our closest personal relationships. Faith has
extensive knowledge and practice with the Arbinger
material and can relate it specifically to those who care for
children in foster care.
Day 2- 9:00am-4:30pm
No Drama Discipline
Dr. Bryson has extensive experience working with children
and possesses those qualities which bring her clinical
practice to life with her humor, her examples and her
passion of raising healthy children amidst their trauma.
Dr. Bryson speaks internationally to parents, educators,
camps, and clinicians, focusing on how we can help the kids
we love be happier, healthier, and more fully themselves.
The co-author (with Dr. Dan Siegel) of the New York Times
best-selling THE WHOLE-BRAIN CHILD and the New
York Times best-selling NO-DRAMA DISCIPLINE, Tina is
a psychotherapist and school counselor who makes frequent
media appearances at venues like TIME,“Good Morning
America,” Huffington Post, and Redbook.
Dr. Bryson earned her Ph.D. from the University of Southern
California, where her research explored attachment science,
childrearing theory, and the emerging field of interpersonal
neurobiology.
The Symposium provides 8 hours in-service training hours/
CEUs and has been praised by foster parents/clinicians who
attend.
Enjoy these upcoming webinars from
the comfort of your own home:
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9
Sensory Processing:
What it is & how to Help Children
Presented by UFC Trainer Terri Rowley
MONDAY, MARCH 9
UFC: New Pre-service
Policies & Guidelines
http://utahfostercare.org/become-afoster-parent/how-to-start/
preservice-training/policies/
Compiled by UFC Trainer
Liz Rivera
NO LIVE WEBINAR IN APRIL
MONDAY, MAY 11
Color Code Updated
Presented by UFC Trainer
Brian Young
For registration and more details, go to:
utahfostercare.org/symposium.
10
utahfostercare.org
FosterRoster
WISHING WELL FUNDS
Development Corner
Happy New Year!! We’ve just enjoyed a great season of renewal, love, and
togetherness. I marvel at all you do for children in Utah’s foster care system
every day! Some of you have benefitted from some generous donors in the
community. If you were recipients of special help this holiday season, please
drop us a note and tell us how this gift impacted the lives of the children you
serve, or how it impacted your life (if applicable).
We use these messages of appreciation to bring awareness of how donations
change lives, thus helping to secure future donations. As always, please feel
free to contact me with any questions [email protected].
Here’s to a great 2015!
Debbie Hofhines, Director of Devlopment, UFC
Wells, 17
Gabril, 13
Gabril, who goes by "Gabe", enjoys being
al fresco! Gabe is warm, caring, and
often lends a helping hand to others. He
admires the adults in his life and seeks
to make them and others happy. Some
of his hobbies include building things
from LEGOs, blocks, or containers. Other
activities that he enjoys are watching TV,
being read to, going on long walks, and
visiting his favorite fast-food restaurant,
McDonalds. A sixth grader this year,
Gabe is working hard in school. He will
benefit from an academically supportive
family. Gabe currently participates in
counseling, which will need to continue
after placement. Gabe is in need of a
loving and stable family who will support
him in maintaining contact with his
biological mother. Financial assistance
may be available for adoption-related
services.
Wells loves living an active lifestyle!
Catching a wave on a wakeboard,
shooting hoops, or participating in
archery are a few things he is masterful
at doing. Learning about personal
responsibility, Wells is thriving in caring
for the family dog. Fond of playing his
favorite games on the Wii, this great teen
also enjoys listening to rap music. Wells
hopes to travel a lot in his life. A twelfth
grader this year, Wells does well in
reading and typing. He benefits from an
IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and
counseling, which will need to continue
after placement. He is not expected to
live independently as an adult, but his
life can be fantastic! Wells is a funny,
friendly, and personal young man with
a caring personality who is in need of a
loving, caring and structured home. If
your family can offer this, we urge you to
inquire.
These profiles are provided by The Adoption Exchange. For information about these
and other children available for adoption, please contact The Adoption Exchange,
directly: (801) 265-0444.
February & March, 2015
Utah Foster Care has funds
available to meet the special
needs of children in foster
care when DCFS is unable to
meet these needs. These
funds are limited.
Contact Your Regional Office
for More Info:
Northern Region
Maegen Bernardo
( 801 ) 392 – 1114
Salt Lake Valley Region
Tina Porter
( 801 ) 994 – 5205
Western Region
Jessica Hannemann
( 801 ) 373 – 3006
Eastern Region
Faith Spencer
( 435 ) 724 – 0959
Southwest Region
Diane Callister
( 435 ) 656 – 8065
Please Remember:
• Dispersal of funds can take
up to four weeks
• Checks are mailed to the
foster parent’s home
address
• Funds are for children in
foster care ONLY
• Items covered by the
reimbursement or by
Medicaid are not eligible
A Word on Vacations:
• A child in care can receive
vacation funds once in
their lifetime
• Vacation funds are
restricted monetarily &
may not cover all costs
11
Utah Foster Care
5296 South Commerce Drive, #400
Murray, UT 84107
utahfostercare.org
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UTAH DIVISION OF CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES
Presorted Standard
U.S. Postage PAID
Salt Lake City, Utah
PERMIT Nº. 750