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FOSTER CARE AUXILIARY NEWSLETTER MARCH 2009
Wonderful Wednesday!

Foster Care Thrift Store is now open Wednesdays!
Let’s hope that we can all lend a hand to make the Auxiliary better than ever this year. If you are looking for ways to help –come on by…there is always something to do at the store which supplies over 80% of the income that the Auxiliary needs for our programs and services to foster families.

 

Sharing our Resources

Did you know ...
that the Foster Care Auxiliary is able to share an abundance of clothing and toothbrushes and other oral hygiene product with Graceworks, Children of the Americas, Raise Foundation, St. Paul Baptist Church, and other non profits?

Susan Njemanze, MSW, LCSW, founder and President of Graceworks took jackets from the Foster Care Auxiliary to the children of her mission, who have been orphaned or otherwise impacted by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and poverty.

 

SPRING FEST!!!!

It's Here Again!!
Save the date of Saturday, March 21 at Kiwanis Land in Garden Grove. Enter your chili in the Chili Challenge; bring your family for a day of fun, games and prizes. This is a great place to invite community members who might be interested in the Auxiliary and what we do…please let me know if you will be bringing a guest.

If you have a child who is 16 or older who would like to participate in the demonstration of a new Independent Living Program being formatted, and can visit the training site in Anaheim a few times the week prior to the Spring Fest, where they will be trained by a chef in kitchen safety and food prep, then will actually be teamed up to make 2 different chili’s as a demonstration for the project at the Spring Fest, please have them apply by: Emailing me your name, their name, their age, your contact information (phone and email) with ‘Spring Fest Future Chef’ in the subject line.

Backpacks for the kids

I have a goal to make sure all foster children placed in FCAOC families have a new back pack before school starts in September.

I will personally donate $5 every time someone signs up to donate $5 per month...plus the Foster Care Auxiliary will give a backpack to a child in a foster family every time a donation is started. It's easy! Go to www.FosterCareAux.com and you will be directed to our ‘donate for a backpack’ page. To learn more about the goal or donate, follow our Facebook page!


Welcome To Our New Board Member!

Introducing new board member, Bryan Nash, founder of The Eddie Nash Foundation. Bryan is the author of A Phoenix Rising; Defining the Moments, which explains his childhood in our foster care system. He survived an abusive placement with relatives and founded The Eddie Nash Foundation to create awareness and support for other victims of abuse and neglect, which will include bringing Camp To Belong to Orange County. Find out more about Bryan by visiting www.eddienashfoundation.org


Camp To Belong

Camp To Belong is a national organization whose motto is to give siblings the right to reunite. This organization is spreading throughout the US and beyond where sibling connections are enhanced at camp. This camp is specifically for children in foster care who have siblings they cannot currently live with. The Eddie Nash Foundation has partnered with Foster Care Auxiliary and we will be bringing Camp To Belong to Orange County this July! Visit www.camptobelongoc.org to find out more!

New Board Member, Cindy Roe, (pictured right) is our Camp Director and has a true passion for this project. Cindy spent her first board meeting introducing Camp To Belong and presenting a training on the effects of sibling separation. Cindy is a familiar name to Children and Family Service, a former foster child who was separated from her sibling, and a foster/adoptive parent to a child separated from his sibling. Cindy knows first hand the importance of keeping siblings connected and giving them the life long bonds that many times will be the longest relationship a person has.

 


Lying Behaviors in Children

Join us on Monday morning, March 9th, from 9am-11am for our support group and training. Two hours of training credit will be given and your member shopping can be done immediately following the meeting. For information or to register call 714 778-3383 or email FosterCareAux@yahoo.com

Download the flyer here

 


Reminders And Important Notices!!

March Membership Distribution Days...
Please remember the Focus Member Sat is by appointment only
Email fostercareaux@yahoo.com or call 714 778-3383 up to 1 week prior to the first Saturday for your appointment. 
Focus Group-(those with foster or former foster children in home)
March 7 (Saturday) 9am – 2pm by appointment only
March 9 & 10 (Mon & Tues) 11am – 1pm
Supporting Group
March 13 & 14 (Fri & Sat) 11am – 1pm

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Albertson’s Community Partners, Giving back for youth -
One cart at a time.

You Must Relink Your Card to Keep Our Program Successful! As many of you know, we have been earning much needed funding through the Albertson’s Community Partners Program. We need your help to continue earning funds.

Further instructions can be found here.

You can relink at www.albertsonscp.com
Our Organization ID is: 49000127792
Foster Care Auxiliary of Orange County

Every time you shop at Albertsons and scan your linked Preferred Savings Card, we will earn back up to 4% of your shopping dollars! Thank you for your support!

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Carl’s Jr. Coupon Book

Help Us Help You! One of the ways we pay for the services and programs for foster families is through the sale of Carl’s Jr. Coupon Book. These booklets have some great coupons for Carl’s Jr. items and can pay for themselves in one visit. They make great small gift items plus are a money saver to use. Please help us by buying as many books as you can and sell them to everyone you know. There will be a prize for the member who has bought the most books in March!

 


Baby Gear Loaner Program

Why Buy When You Can Borrow?
Baby Gear Loaner Program – We have many pieces of baby equipment that you can borrow if you are caring for a child who is a court dependent. An intern from CSUF is managing this program, please contact her on Monday 9-12 or Tuesday 11-3 while she is at the center to see if your needs can be met.

Baby Gear Loan Program Flyer


Baby Gear Loaner Program

Need Help With Childcare Or
Babysitting Tonight?

If you are in need of or want to provide child care, there is a list at our office of persons interested too, who have agreed that we can share their contact information. It is only a list of interested persons, so any agreement is made between the connecting parties. (Some parents expressed interest in trade, reduced fee, etc.)

 


Surviving and Thriving

A Free Marriage and Family
Wellness Event

This 8 hour course for foster and adoptive families, and those caring for relative children is being offered by the Finally Home Foundation and Olive Crest on April 18.

Download the flyer here


Camp Sherman

If you have a foster daughter, the Girl Scouts have ensured that they will receive funding to attend Camp Sherman. Although attending the camp will be some girls only Girl Scout experience, it does make them a Girl Scout and they are welcome to participate in other activities throughout the year. Visit the Girl Scout web site at www.gscoc.org where you’ll find different camps available throughout June, July and August. You will also find the registration and financial aid applications…make sure to indicate that child is a current foster placement on forms.


Children and Family Services

Children and Family Services is seeking…
information from families, community partners and county staff about strengths, needs and suggestions for improvements to complete a self-assessment report to the state that is done every three years. Your participation by filling out an anonymous survey attached here is welcome. –due by March 11.

Download the survey here


 


Our Video

We have a video!…
Watch the video on You Tube HERE!
Or go to youtube and put foster care auxiliary in
the search bar. 

 


Services We Offer

See our web site, call or email for more info on any of them.  

View the flyer HERE

Our Board

Foster Care Auxiliary Board

 

Questions? Comments?

I’d love to hear them. Kathy Harvey, President, Foster Care Auxiliary FosterCareAux@yahoo.com 714 778-3383