Families open doors, hearts to children needing homes

Families open doors, hearts to children needing homes
Tue, Apr 27, 2004
By MELISSA A. CHADWICK
Observer-Dispatch
By HEATHER AINSWORTH, Observer-Dispatch

UTICA -- Every Tuesday this spring, a group of people gathers in a
conference room in a North Genesee Street building and talks about the
ups and downs of parenting.

But they don't talk about caring for their own children. They talk
about caring for somebody else's.

"Our children are a lot of work because of where they've come from. We
want parents who can give them the respect they've been without their
whole lives," said Chris Heretz, training coordinator for The House of
the Good Shepherd in Utica.

The House of the Good Shepherd is searching for more families to
fulfill its needs. There are nine children on a waiting list for
foster home placement, said Cathy Southwick, recruitment and retention
manager for the foster care program.

There are 93 children in foster care in 55 foster families through The
House of the Good Shepherd. The House has 70 foster families.

About two dozen potential foster parents are devoting their Tuesday
nights to a free, 13-week foster care training program.

Marcy resident Sharon Nacewicz, 38, said she was always interested in
adopting or becoming a foster parent.

"If I wasn't meant to be a birth parent, I feel that somehow I should
be able to make a difference in a child's life," said Nacewicz, who is
single.

The number of children in foster care has been rising, said Ervin
Fuller, Herkimer County commissioner of social services.

"We're finding that the kids have been getting younger and younger
over the years," he said. "And the number of kids in care has been
increasing steadily over the last few years."

There are about 122 Herkimer County children in foster care and group
residences, he said. The county has 45 available foster homes, Fuller
said.

According to the state Office of Children and Family Services, Oneida
County had 449 children in care as of June 30, 2003.

Statewide, there were 33,319 children in care as of the same date. The
average age was 11.18 years old, according to the office.

The spring foster care training session through The House ends May 25.
Another program begins in the fall.

Foster parents are given about $1,400 each month for the foster
child's food, clothing, and other household needs, Southwick said.

Foster parents can come from a variety of backgrounds: city dwellers
or country residents; married or single; renters or home-owners, she
said. Among other criteria, the home has to meet safety requirements,
and the criminal history of the potential parent, who must be at least
21 years old, is checked.

"It's a real complex equation to figure out who to select-in to this
program," Heretz said. "There are some families who just get it."

The "it" is the needs of foster children and the ultimate goal of the
agency. These are "high-needs" children, and if the situation is
right, the ultimate goal is reuniting the child and family.

But reuniting the family takes more work than just rehabilitating the
child. Birth parents have services available to them such as parenting
classes, Alcoholics Anonymous, sexual offender support groups and
other counseling services.

"Foster care is supposed to be temporary," said Rosemarie Hall, a
certified social worker with a private psychotherapy practice in
Barneveld. "The idea is for a child to go back into a permanent
setting, whether back home or into an adoptive home. There is a lot of
heartbreak for the foster parents when they have to give back a child.
But no child should be growing up in foster care."

Most of the children are in foster care because of an unfit family
situation or other behavioral issues.

"(Potential foster parents) need to be realistic and make sure their
families can deal with a child. Some families can work with a child
and can really help a child like this," Hall said.

The House provides support 24 hours a day, Heretz said.

The child meets regularly with a social worker and primary therapist.
The foster family has the assistance of a family support specialist
who is a liaison for schooling, medical work, and birth family
therapy.

Josue and Ollie Pagan decided to attend the training to learn more.
The couple of 21 years has two children, ages 16 and 19, but said they
are still "young and can make a difference," Josue Pagan said.

They are also becoming more aware of the need for other Latino foster
parents, he said.

Ollie Pagan said she knows they will be making some changes -- and
sacrifices -- to welcome a foster child into their Deerfield home.

"We're comfortable with what we've got, but I will love the
opportunity to make a difference," Ollie Pagan said. "It's the most
important thing you can do for somebody."

"It's the opportunity to give another child another chance in life,"
she said.
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2004/...ews/30953.html


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On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 10:37:09 -0400, wexwimpy
wrote:

....way too much of the truth, yet again.....

So Wex. Any idea how you make the thugs in these ngs grind their
teeth? Imagine finding out that foster parents actually care, that
foster parenting is a terribly difficult job done volunterily, that
fosters react as they do to the parents of these children because of
the damage they see and have to deal with daily as repercussions of
parental brutalities and negligence.

Say, just how many foster children did you torture, rape, and kill,
Wes? According to some here children in your home were 8 times more
likely to be abused. And the death rate in foster care...oh my.

Ask Doug. He'll tell you. According to him the training is lousy, and
according to some of his crony phony baloney CPS "reformers" foster
parents aren't needed, children should just be sent home to fend for
themselves.

Kane


Families open doors, hearts to children needing homes
Tue, Apr 27, 2004
By MELISSA A. CHADWICK
Observer-Dispatch
By HEATHER AINSWORTH, Observer-Dispatch

UTICA -- Every Tuesday this spring, a group of people gathers in a
conference room in a North Genesee Street building and talks about
the
ups and downs of parenting.

But they don't talk about caring for their own children. They talk
about caring for somebody else's.

"Our children are a lot of work because of where they've come from.
We
want parents who can give them the respect they've been without their
whole lives," said Chris Heretz, training coordinator for The House
of
the Good Shepherd in Utica.

The House of the Good Shepherd is searching for more families to
fulfill its needs. There are nine children on a waiting list for
foster home placement, said Cathy Southwick, recruitment and
retention
manager for the foster care program.

There are 93 children in foster care in 55 foster families through
The
House of the Good Shepherd. The House has 70 foster families.

About two dozen potential foster parents are devoting their Tuesday
nights to a free, 13-week foster care training program.

Marcy resident Sharon Nacewicz, 38, said she was always interested in
adopting or becoming a foster parent.

"If I wasn't meant to be a birth parent, I feel that somehow I should
be able to make a difference in a child's life," said Nacewicz, who
is
single.

The number of children in foster care has been rising, said Ervin
Fuller, Herkimer County commissioner of social services.

"We're finding that the kids have been getting younger and younger
over the years," he said. "And the number of kids in care has been
increasing steadily over the last few years."

There are about 122 Herkimer County children in foster care and group
residences, he said. The county has 45 available foster homes, Fuller
said.

According to the state Office of Children and Family Services, Oneida
County had 449 children in care as of June 30, 2003.

Statewide, there were 33,319 children in care as of the same date.
The
average age was 11.18 years old, according to the office.

The spring foster care training session through The House ends May
25.
Another program begins in the fall.

Foster parents are given about $1,400 each month for the foster
child's food, clothing, and other household needs, Southwick said.

Foster parents can come from a variety of backgrounds: city dwellers
or country residents; married or single; renters or home-owners, she
said. Among other criteria, the home has to meet safety requirements,
and the criminal history of the potential parent, who must be at
least
21 years old, is checked.

"It's a real complex equation to figure out who to select-in to this
program," Heretz said. "There are some families who just get it."

The "it" is the needs of foster children and the ultimate goal of the
agency. These are "high-needs" children, and if the situation is
right, the ultimate goal is reuniting the child and family.

But reuniting the family takes more work than just rehabilitating the
child. Birth parents have services available to them such as
parenting
classes, Alcoholics Anonymous, sexual offender support groups and
other counseling services.

"Foster care is supposed to be temporary," said Rosemarie Hall, a
certified social worker with a private psychotherapy practice in
Barneveld. "The idea is for a child to go back into a permanent
setting, whether back home or into an adoptive home. There is a lot
of
heartbreak for the foster parents when they have to give back a
child.
But no child should be growing up in foster care."

Most of the children are in foster care because of an unfit family
situation or other behavioral issues.

"(Potential foster parents) need to be realistic and make sure their
families can deal with a child. Some families can work with a child
and can really help a child like this," Hall said.

The House provides support 24 hours a day, Heretz said.

The child meets regularly with a social worker and primary therapist.
The foster family has the assistance of a family support specialist
who is a liaison for schooling, medical work, and birth family
therapy.

Josue and Ollie Pagan decided to attend the training to learn more.
The couple of 21 years has two children, ages 16 and 19, but said
they
are still "young and can make a difference," Josue Pagan said.

They are also becoming more aware of the need for other Latino foster
parents, he said.

Ollie Pagan said she knows they will be making some changes -- and
sacrifices -- to welcome a foster child into their Deerfield home.

"We're comfortable with what we've got, but I will love the
opportunity to make a difference," Ollie Pagan said. "It's the most
important thing you can do for somebody."

"It's the opportunity to give another child another chance in life,"
she said.
http://www.uticaod.com/archive/2004/...ews/30953.html


Defend your civil liberties! Get information at http://www.aclu.org,
become a member at http://www.aclu.org/join and get active at
http://www.aclu.org/action.

Kane wrote:
On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 10:37:09 -0400, wexwimpy
wrote:

...way too much of the truth, yet again.....

snip

Hi Kane,

There's a desperate shortage of carers here. The recent bad publicity,
based on *one* case of abuse in a foster home, and the fear of false
allegations/accusations from the abused children and relatives has seen
a decline in recruitment.

I have 5 kids in my home, one of whom is autistic. Previously it was
considered that "quality care" could not be given in the same home, to
large numbers of children with "behavioural concerns". Opposite sex
children (pubescent or adolescent) from differing sibling groups were
never placed together. Yesterday I was asked to take two siblings of the
same age and opposite sex to those already placed with me. When I asked
if there were any behavioural problems the reply was. "the boy is ADD
but it'll be ok, he's on Ritalin".

Shows how overstretched the care system is here. They're even placing
kids in motels under the charge of a youth worker until such time as
they can place them! Sad :-(

kev

On Thu, 29 Apr 2004 08:59:13 +1000, "bidkev"
wrote:

Kane wrote:
On Wed, 28 Apr 2004 10:37:09 -0400, wexwimpy
wrote:

...way too much of the truth, yet again.....

snip

Hi Kane,

There's a desperate shortage of carers here.

At any given time back around 1990 there would be anywhere upwards, in
metro areas, 50 to 60 in the pipeline in process; training, crim bg
checks, etc. Today it's lucky if it's 10 to 15, and many wash out.

The recent bad publicity,
based on *one* case of abuse in a foster home, and the fear of false
allegations/accusations from the abused children and relatives has
seen
a decline in recruitment.

What we see here is more an attack on the foster care system by
special interest groups, usually disaffected bio production units,
that are desparate to ease their consciences, or even deny, from what
they did to their children. It's become a cottage industry, with one
group near our capitol that has direct access to upper echelon
government that oversees human services.

It's gotten very crazy. And the kids and good famlies and foster
families take it in the short.

I have 5 kids in my home, one of whom is autistic. Previously it was
considered that "quality care" could not be given in the same home,
to
large numbers of children with "behavioural concerns". Opposite sex
children (pubescent or adolescent) from differing sibling groups were
never placed together. Yesterday I was asked to take two siblings of
the
same age and opposite sex to those already placed with me. When I
asked
if there were any behavioural problems the reply was. "the boy is ADD
but it'll be ok, he's on Ritalin".

This kind of desperation has been with us for a long time now.
"Appropriate placements" has meant, for a very long time, "any
placement in desperation."

Funding is cut for both reimbursement, while it is also cut for
recruitment of providers. Yet the biggest cry against CPS is why
didn't you place the child in a better home.

Shows how overstretched the care system is here. They're even placing
kids in motels under the charge of a youth worker until such time as
they can place them! Sad :-(

We tend to place the bio families that way through our Adult and
Family Services (welfare). I haven't heard of motel fostering. ... as
yet.

kev

Kane

Based on the government's own biased statistics,
Fosters that presume the kids came from a horrible
situation are just telling themself lies to
put their mind at ease.

Even as biased as the government numbers are,
the kids pasts are just NOT massively horrible.

Many Fosters are quite content to never
question why the kids are not sent home
to their parents. Hey! The money helps!

Many Fosters KNOW that most of what CPS does is evil.
Fosters who discover the rot that takes place
in Juvenile Courts are WEEDED OUT of Foster care.

It is hard for people in my position to
remember that people like BidKev and Kane
absolutely DO NOT represent any norms.

They are the cartoon image of the worst
in the system.

You don't know Jack!
Sherman.


"Greg Hanson" wrote in message
om...
Based on the government's own biased statistics,
Fosters that presume the kids came from a horrible
situation are just telling themself lies to
put their mind at ease.

Even as biased as the government numbers are,
the kids pasts are just NOT massively horrible.

Many Fosters are quite content to never
question why the kids are not sent home
to their parents. Hey! The money helps!

Many Fosters KNOW that most of what CPS does is evil.
Fosters who discover the rot that takes place
in Juvenile Courts are WEEDED OUT of Foster care.

It is hard for people in my position to
remember that people like BidKev and Kane
absolutely DO NOT represent any norms.

They are the cartoon image of the worst
in the system.

It's a matter of reference. Greg is right. Most kids don't come to fosters
with horrible pasts. Most kids in CPS are there for some kinda neglect,
either real or imagined by social workers. More often they are poor....
really poor. Not unloved, not abandoned, and not physically abused.

We, as a society, have become conditioned to focus on the worse case.

Alternately, we also tend to beleive every foster kid wants to be in a
foster home. Angelic and cute all are not. Nor are all of them wanting.
Look at the ads CPS uses to attract foster parents. Somewhat misleading,
aren't they?

bobb

"bobb" wrote in message
...
It's a matter of reference. Greg is right. Most kids don't come to
fosters
with horrible pasts. Most kids in CPS are there for some kinda neglect,
either real or imagined by social workers. More often they are poor....
really poor. Not unloved, not abandoned, and not physically abused.

We, as a society, have become conditioned to focus on the worse case.

Alternately, we also tend to beleive every foster kid wants to be in a
foster home. Angelic and cute all are not. Nor are all of them wanting.
Look at the ads CPS uses to attract foster parents. Somewhat misleading,
aren't they?

bobb


Greg is wrong. Up close and personal, I know what the history of my foster
children has been. It is not a pretty picture. To a one. And no one has
to suggest that I am telling myself lies either, especially a person who
could not qualify to be a foster parent and in fact has had a child removed
from his home because of his behavior. That child is still kept safe in
other's care and cannot even live with her own mother because of him - and
the mother who refuses to kick him out and quit supporting him.

He doesn't know Jack!

Sherm.

On 3 May 2004 12:21:40 -0700, (Greg Hanson) wrote:

Based on the government's own biased statistics,

Please tell Doug that.

Fosters that presume the kids came from a horrible
situation are just telling themself lies to
put their mind at ease.

No, they are looking at the behaviors and mental and physical
condition of the child and KNOW that they didn't do that to the
children.

Nothing like having a child in your home that is a danger to himself
or others because of the brutality and neglect of the BPUs. Tends to
make the fosters a bit touchy at times about returning the child to
the same parents.

Even as biased as the government numbers are,
the kids pasts are just NOT massively horrible.

Porcelain container of male bovine excrement.

Many Fosters are quite content to never
question why the kids are not sent home
to their parents. Hey! The money helps!

Please have them post here and prove your claim. I wish to have a word
with them. All 3 of them.

Foster's number one major gripe is not being contacted by the worker
when they leave messages. ("Lack of Worker Contact.")

Want to guess what number two is?

Many Fosters KNOW that most of what CPS does is evil.

Sound's like a new slapstick comedy team: Many, Most and Evil.

Fosters who discover the rot that takes place
in Juvenile Courts are WEEDED OUT of Foster care.

Same ol' propaganda. And it's not going to lift that even more massive
crock of bs off the ground.

It is hard for people in my position to
remember that people like BidKev and Kane
absolutely DO NOT represent any norms.

It's hard for someone sitting on his ass doing nothing but posting
here for three years, and running his bottle and can refunding empire,
to remember anything.

They are the cartoon image of the worst
in the system.

I'm not in the system. I'm outside pointing out the truth about them,
their failiings and the CAUSES, most of which reside in twits, ninnies
and liars like you and Doug.

But the worst of course is that there is still a huge amount of
dangerous child abuse and dangerous child neglect going on in this
country.

Kane

Sherman wrote:
You don't know Jack!
Sherman.

Oh yes he does. He just denies it to justify his own apalling record.

"Greg Hanson" wrote in message
om...
Based on the government's own biased statistics,
Fosters that presume the kids came from a horrible
situation are just telling themself lies to
put their mind at ease.

Even as biased as the government numbers are,
the kids pasts are just NOT massively horrible.

Many Fosters are quite content to never
question why the kids are not sent home
to their parents. Hey! The money helps!

Many Fosters KNOW that most of what CPS does is evil.
Fosters who discover the rot that takes place
in Juvenile Courts are WEEDED OUT of Foster care.

It is hard for people in my position to
remember that people like BidKev and Kane
absolutely DO NOT represent any norms.

They are the cartoon image of the worst
in the system.