View Static Version
Loading

September 2022 Issue 54

Secondary Traumatic Stress in Caregivers

In child welfare circles, we often hear terms like “burnout,” “compassion fatigue,” and “vicarious trauma.” Burnout is a fairly general concept that has been frequently utilized to refer to the worker’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors associated with their employment position. Compassion fatigue is often referred to as a broader concept to encompass the cumulative personal impacts associated with engaging in a helper role. Vicarious trauma generally is noted to address the internal cognitive changes that occur in an individual’s perception about others and the world as a result of their ongoing work in a helping professional role.

Secondary Traumatic Stress (STS) specifically refers to the notion that an individual, who did not experience a particular traumatic event, has, in the course of secondary exposure to another person’s direct traumatic experience, developed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD):

  • hyper arousal (anxiety, irritability, heavy sense of guilt or shame, difficulties concentrating)
  • avoidance (lack of connection or holding back in relationships due to fear of rejection or disapproval)
  • emotional numbing/shut down
  • fear
  • sleep difficulties
  • intrusive thoughts/images
  • feeling withdrawn and isolated
  • Physical indicators can also be present, including headaches, backaches, stomach aches, and exhaustion

Due to the emotionally stressful work and the resultant impacts on workers, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network has indicated that, “The development of secondary traumatic stress is recognized as a common occupational hazard for professionals working with traumatized children.” Though there has not been much formal research into the topic, it is believed that STS impacts the foster caregiver community, as foster caring is a profession where the boundaries between private and professional lives are particularly blurred.

Foster parents may hear firsthand the stories of the traumatic experiences of the children in their care. They may also witness the physical and psychological impacts of those traumatic experiences on the children placed in their homes. Sometimes they can also find themselves helping the child to recover from physical injuries following removal from abusive or neglectful situations. They may have children in their care where they are reminded every day of the trauma the child endured as they see the lasting physical and emotional scars that were inflicted on the child.

They may also experience direct trauma, such as processing losses when foster children leave their homes, dealing with feelings of being overwhelmed with difficult cases and not knowing how to help, and not having someone to talk to who understands from a personal perspective. These were all noted to be personal challenges and impacts of their role, which can contribute to STS or even lead to a separate diagnosis of PTSD.

A study surveyed foster parents in Kent County, Michigan, regarding the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. Findings of this study indicated 20% of foster parents reported experiencing moderate to severe levels of STS and 12% of foster parents to be meeting criteria consistent with diagnosis of PTSD as a result of indirect exposure to their foster child’s trauma. Findings support the view that STS is a substantial risk factor in foster caring, however we can work as a team to help mitigate the risk.

Foster parents who perceive having the support they need in their caregiving role experience lower STS outcomes. Though a significant percentage of respondents in the study stated no concerns regarding the level of support received, a larger portion stated that they needed:

  • time (i.e. regular breaks, guilt-free respite, time with friends/family)
  • specific training (such as trauma-informed care)
  • therapeutic support (regular counseling/therapy if needed)
  • general professional support (communication, respect, inclusion). If licensed, the Licensing Worker can help to support the family and work to minimize STS. If the family is unlicensed, a Kinship Support Specialist can be a bridge to help the family access resources and support within the community.

Self-care was also noted to have a significant, indirect effect on the STS rate, preventing it from developing into a chronic condition, with activities including hobbies (physical activity: exercise, yoga; outdoor activities: hiking, gardening; creative outlets: crafting, music), reading, and trips. Caregivers should also set boundaries and limits to help prevent feeling overwhelmed and adding to their trauma and stress. The study also found that foster caregivers may find that satisfaction from helping others through their work mitigates the development of STS, possibly through a mentor or volunteer role or by participating in support groups. For more information on these options, reach out to your licensing agency.

Funding for Current and Former Foster Youth

Funding from the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ends on September 30, 2022, for current or former foster youth between the ages of 14 and 20 years. If eligible, youth have a maximum award amount of $2,000, and they can split the maximum award among multiple applications.

AZ Families Thrive Read Along

The start of the school year has brought a new intern to the DCS Foster Support Team. Alyssa is a Bachelor of Social Work student at ASU and will be assisting with various projects until her graduation in May. As part of her learning plan to enhance her knowledge of child welfare, Alyssa will be reading books about foster care, childhood trauma, and development. If you are also looking to enhance your knowledge and skills, read along with us!

The Facebook group is by invitation only and is limited to newsletter subscribers. Membership requests will be verified. Discussion starters will be posted each Monday, however group members can post additional questions or comments at any time. Healthy discourse is encouraged, but members should be mindful of the sensitive nature of the topics, as well as privacy and confidentiality. The group is a safe place for all members and the families we serve, so content will be closely monitored. We look forward to learning with you this year!

September's book is The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Dr. Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz.

The October book will be Three Little Words by Ashley Rhodes-Courter.

2022 AZ Families Thrive Conference

The 2022 AZ Families Thrive Conference is coming up on 9/17 in Phoenix. You will have the opportunity to network with other families, while earning your six hours of continuing education. Lunch and continental breakfast will be provided. Space is limited so register today!

2022 STEM & Innovation Summit

The 2022 STEM & Innovation Summit is coming. Join us in downtown Phoenix Heritage Square, at a variety of satellite locations, or online. Connect with educators, community members, and collaborators as we dive into STEM resources, best practices, community involvement, hands-on activities, and more. Tickets are free for DCS families with code DCS22.

Take part in Arizona's STEM Ecosystem and interact with collaborators to:

  • Share best practices and resources for Arizona opportunities in STEM
  • Build unique and diverse STEM networks online or in-person
  • Engage with Arizona Science Center exhibits and staff
  • Discuss how we can work as a statewide connected ecosystem
  • Share suggestions to improve public STEM awareness and improve workforce readiness
  • Experience activities for hands-on learning and hybrid environments
  • Watch LIVE science demonstrations and more!

Skateboard Workshop Series

We are excited to announce that +swappow PLUS Foundation will be offering another three-part Skateboard Workshop Series starting in September. This workshop is being offered to foster kids ages 8-18 and is an opportunity for foster kids to develop skateboarding skills while experiencing personal growth through skateboarding. Participants will each receive a new complete skateboard, helmet and supplies along with individualized coaching and access to our exclusive skateboard skills video library and our Personal Development Curriculum.

It is free to all qualifying participants. Caregivers to Arizona youth may apply for an award to cover the full cost of the program.

Therapeutic Foster Care Information Sessions

Dear Caregivers,

We thank you for your ongoing commitment to the children and families you support in our community. We are reaching out today to discuss a growing need within the foster community for Therapeutic Foster Caregivers. We believe that many community caregivers have the skills and experience needed to successfully serve children with higher therapeutic needs. Children in therapeutic foster care need consistent and stable caregivers with behavioral health experience and specialized skills in order to help the children on the path to succeed in their next family environment. To learn more, you can visit https://dcs.az.gov/TherapeuticFoster.

We are holding regular virtual information sessions in partnership with the licensing agencies that support Therapeutic Foster Care to help share information regarding the Therapeutic Foster licensing process and how it differs from community care. These information sessions will review the specific guidelines and requirements for becoming a Therapeutic Foster Caregiver. We hope that you will consider attending to learn more and see if this is something that you and your family might be interested in pursuing. If it is not right for you, consider that you may know someone who is a good fit. If so, please recommend this opportunity to them.

Attached, you will find a flier with additional information. Pre-registration is not required; you can attend any session via the Zoom link:

  • 9/10-10 AM 10/1-10AM
  • 9/15-6 PM 10/6-6PM
  • 9/24-10AM 10/15-10AM
  • 9/26-6PM 10/19-6PM

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/J/4198109787 Meeting ID: 419 810 9787

Thank you so much for your time and dedication to children and families in need.

Sincerely, Gillian Vanasse, Assistant Director for Foster Care Supports

ASU Survey of 17-Year-Olds

Strategic Prevention Framework Partnership for Success Grant

The Governor's Office of Youth, Faith, and Family is recruiting youth and caregivers, currently or formerly involved in foster care, to participate in the evidence-based curriculum: Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and Communities (SMEFC). The program is a culturally-sensitive parent education course that was designed to prevent family and community violence, improve parent-child relationships, and promote healthy families. The program serves families with various types of caregivers, including parents but also grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc., and children of all ages.

SMEFC is a strength-based prevention-intervention program for parents with children between 3 and 18 years of age. The twelve-session program (nine sessions if condensed) promotes parent and child self-esteem, self-discipline, and social competency skills.

The program goals aim to reduce the following:

  • Drug/alcohol use
  • Teen suicide
  • Juvenile delinquency
  • Gang involvement
  • Child abuse and domestic violence

Contact Anthony Amezquita for more information: 602-542-6004 or aamezquita@az.gov

Art of Love Event

Triple P Workshop

Mercy Care Events

August 31 - 6:00-7:30pm - Transitional Aged Youth (TAY) Services and Programs - Northbridge presentation on High School and College support services; Vocational Rehab to share information on their TAY services; Recovery Empowerment Network with present on their two different TAY programs; Child and Family Support Services (CFSS) will present on their TAY programs; Open discussion around services and resources. Register here.

September 28 - 6:00-7:30pm - IEP 101 Training - Diane with family involvement center will provide an informative training on how to request and IEP and maintain an appropriate IEP for your child. Open discussion around IEP’s will conclude the training. Register here.

October 26 - 6:00-7:30pm - Birth to 5 Training - Mercy Care Children’s System of Care will provide an informative training resource to the community around Birth to 5 supports, trauma informed care, and resources in our community. Open discussion around services and resources will conclude the training. Register here.

November - No CFAP Meeting

December 7 - 6:00-7:30pm - Parent/Caregiver Self-Care Training and Resources - This is an informative training on how we as parents can take care of ourselves. Resources will be provided for supports to allow parents and caregivers support when needed. Open discussion around services and resources will conclude the training. Register here.

Reading 2gether

Reading 2gether is a program in Pima County that helps children and parents strengthen their relationship by reading a book together via phone or video chat twice per week. The parent can request a referral through their attorney or DCS Specialist. If you are informed that the parent has requested this service, please support and encourage the child's engagement with their parent.

GAP Ministries Training

CPR/1st Aid and Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation Trainings

Casa de los Ninos is offering in-person/online hybrid CPR/1st Aid traning and an Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Awareness training (DDD-required for CDH-licensed homes) for just $35 per person.

CPR/1st Aid

  • Saturday, September 17, 9-12pm
  • Saturday, October 8, 2-5pm
  • Saturday, November 5, 9-12pm
  • Saturday, December 3, 9-12pm

CPLC Training Classes

Chicanos Por La Causa is offering a free class for tweens/teens ages 11 - 18, as well as a parenting class for their caregivers.

Our teen class goes by the name of "Sowing Seeds" and centers around drug abuse prevention education. The curriculum we use in the class is research-based and is called Project TND (Toward No Drug Abuse). We know that this topic is not one of the "fun" topics to cover, but we aim to keep conversations very open and honest in a judgment-free zone.

Our parenting class is facilitated by Pam Campbell, who is a certified trainer of trainers of the "Active Parenting of Teens" curriculum. Pam takes a trauma-informed care approach to facilitating these classes. The focus of the class overall is to strengthen the bonds between caregivers and their youth by going over different parenting styles, demonstrating effective communication, and learning about how to have talks with their children about sexuality and substance abuse prevention.

CPLC Parenting Arizona does provide all course materials. At the end of all 6 sessions, participants earn a "Family Toolkit" that comes with journals, pencils, a medical lockbox, a "How Well Do You Know Me" game, and other useful things for families to practice what they learned in class. We also do provide a certificate of completion to caregivers that lists 12 hours of class time completed. Parenting classes are open to Foster/Kinship/Adoptive parents and also to professionals who work with foster/kinship/adoptive youth.

Scheduling varies by need, so please reach out to Ashley Avila for more information.

Car Seat Safety with Phoenix Children's Hospital

Love Your Texture - African American Hair Care

Love Your Texture is an organization that answers questions and educates foster caregivers on hair products and styling all textures of hair. The organization is eligible for funding through Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (under Ethnic Hair Care).

Boys & Girls Club

Foster Ed

Advocacy31nine

Are you a caregiver of a student in foster care? Do you need support navigating the special education system to get help for your student? Does your student have difficulty at school or exhibit behaviors that have a negative impact at school?

Advocacy31nine provides educational advocates at no cost for students impacted by foster care, kinship, or adoption in Arizona. Our trained advocates help you navigate the confusing maze of special education and help students get the support they need to THRIVE!

one-n-ten Support Groups

one-n-ten provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to connect with others, engage in fun, empowering programs, and get resources to be their best self. They also offer a monthly Parents' Group that is open to parents, teachers, counselors, or other trusted adults to ask questions about one-n-ten programs and services and how to best support their LGBTQ+ youth. For questions about Parents' Group, contact Gina at 602-279-0894 or gina@onenten.org

Arizona Grandparent Ambassadors

We are a statewide support and legislative advocacy network of, by and for grandparents raising grandchildren and non-parent caregivers raising children. We are the families who give these children safe, stable homes and keep them out of the foster care system. Join us as we work with legislators and policymakers to create positive changes for our families. Check out our website for information and resources, including parenting classes, respite services, support groups, therapy and parenting help, and more!

Raising Special Kids

Raising Special Kids began in 1979 as a grassroots effort of families, professionals, and community leaders determined to provide support and information for parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs. Today, Raising Special Kids serves as Arizona’s Family-to-Family Health Information Center, and as Arizona’s Parent Training and Information Center. Helping parents access information about health care, community resources, and support services so they can make informed decisions regarding their children’s care has been our mission from the beginning. We support thousands of Arizona families each year through our programs and services.

Raising Special Kids provides programs and services at no cost to families. No eligibility determinations are required. Any parent or family member of a child with a disability can take advantage of services provided in English, Spanish, and other languages.

  • Individual Consultation - Our staff of Family Support Specialists is comprised of parents and family members of children with disabilities who can relate to the challenges facing parents and family members who call for support. Our staff receives ongoing training on Federal and State programs, as well as community-based programs and resources, available to individuals with disabilities and special health care needs. We provide families with support for the full spectrum of issues a family may encounter from birth through age 26, and sometimes beyond. Raising Special Kids staff specializes in information and training in the areas of Education, Health Care, Behavior Support, and Transition to Adulthood. Families who contact us or are referred for individual consultation will receive: a call from one of our Family Support Specialists by the end of the following business day; compassion and understanding from our staff of professional, experienced, fellow parents or family members of a child with a disability; information, resources, problem-solving support, and strategies to help parents access and advocate for the support their child needs.
  • Parent-to-Parent support has always been the heart of Raising Special Kids. Each year, more than 300 families in Arizona are connected with veteran “mentor” parents who have walked a similar path and who understand the challenges of raising a child with a disability or special health care need.
  • Raising Special Kids’ Positive Family Coaching (PFC) program provides enhanced support to families of children receiving behavioral health services through AHCCCS. Through the child’s Child & Family Team (CFT), Raising Special Kids can provide support with education, health care system navigation, development of effective advocacy skills, and strategies for positive behavior support. Currently, Raising Special Kids PFC program is only available to families of children with Mercy Care and United Healthcare plans through AHCCCS, with more plans to come soon. If you have Mercy Care or United Healthcare and would like to receive Positive Family Coaching from Raising Special Kids, please contact your child’s case manager to request our Positive Family Coaching services. For more information, please call us at 602-242-4366.
  • Events & Trainings - At this time, most events and trainings are being held virtually. Trainings/workshops include topics such as Talking to Your Child About Sexuality, Understanding 504, IEP Training, High School Transition, Early Childhood Education, Positive Behavior Support, and more.

Family Involvement Center Resources

For plenty of parents, teachers, and school staff, anxiety is running high as school is back to in-person learning, and COVID-19 cases are rising again. So we want to remind you that support is available right now. Our team is trained to help with recovering from the psychological effects caused by the pandemic. Thanks to our partnership with Resilient Arizona, you can receive confidential help at no cost in group or one-on-one settings. This includes for supportive crisis counseling, education and development of coping skills. Again, services are 100% free and confidential.

Resilient Arizona providers are located throughout Arizona. If you live in Northern Arizona, call (928) 440-6181. If you reside in Central Arizona, call (602) 704-0440. And if you live in Southern Arizona, please call (520) 485-5858.

The available support also includes assistance with finding food, paying house bills, accessing free childcare, and other essential services. You can also dial 2-1-1 anywhere in Arizona 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit www.ResilientArizona.org. Feel free to email us at pac@familyinvolvementcenter.org if you have any additional questions.

ASA Now

ASA Now is a non-profit organization that ADVOCATES for, SUPPORTS, and ASSISTS children and families impacted by foster care. We are passionate about providing support to families and professionals by restoring hope and empowering them to better serve these children in need.

Services we offer include tutoring & extracurricular activities, food pantry, clothing, and meeting basic necessities. Other services include life skills for youth, respite care, therapeutic programs, family activities, peer-to-peer support groups, education and training on utilizing Jacob's Law to obtain behavioral health services, providing resources to families and caregivers to successfully navigate the foster care system, raising awareness, recruiting new foster families, and advocating for families and their children.

Arizona Helping Hands

Arizona Helping Hands provides essential needs for children in foster care in an effort to help every foster child feel safe and loved. Our programs provide beds, clothing, hygiene items, birthday packages, backpacks filled with school supplies, licensing safety items, foster footlockers, and more. Our services are open to kinship and foster families with a current Notice to Provider.

After hearing stories of caseworkers driving over six hours to pick up items like beds, clothes, and birthday gifts, we have decided to open a second Arizona Helping Hands location in Flagstaff, Arizona. This northern location is our first step in expanding access to our services across the state. To receive assistance from our Flagstaff location, please contact Matt Lipan at mlipan@azhelpinghands.org to schedule an appointment.

Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents

AZAFAP wants to support you and the children in your family (foster, kinship, adopted, biological). We are a non-profit, statewide organization that serves families who adopt children and provide foster and kinship care. Working in partnership with child welfare professionals and the community, our purpose is to support, educate, empower and provide a unified voice for Arizona’s foster and adoptive families, with the goal of increasing the well-being and stability of Arizona’s most vulnerable children. AZAFAP’s programming is open to all foster, kinship, and adoptive families in Arizona. Basic membership is free and includes a subscription to our monthly newsletter with information and resources, our online support groups, and some of our training. Premier membership is available for an annual fee of $75 for two-parent families and a discounted rate of $50 for single-parent families. Premier members are eligible to participate in all program activities. Our programming includes Family Connections events like camps, picnics, and staycations, Family Support Services such as training, Children’s Basic Needs with new shoes, jackets, toys and bikes, and Community Awareness events. Join us today before the Family Camp registration opens! Visit www.azafap.org/membership for more information.

Sign up on our Event Calendar! If you aren’t a member yet, check out our free membership so you can sign up! Ever need adult conversation during the week? We also have weekly drop-in chats on the calendar on Tuesdays and Fridays!

Papa John's Partnership

Southwest Human Development Head Start

Southwest Human Development is offering Early Head Start and Head Start Programs. The in-person classes will be small to encourage physical distancing while being socially together. There will also be virtual programs that families can participate in from home. In-person groups will be limited to 8 children with 2 or 4 teachers, depending on the length of the program day.

For children under 3 years old, the Early Head Start program offers a 10-hour program for working families designed to provide a high-quality learning environment while encouraging physical distancing, as well as a virtual curriculum families can participate in from home.

The Head Start program has in-person, small group programs offering 10 hours, 6 hours, or 3.5 hours of care in a high-quality learning environment designed to limit close physical contact, as well as a virtual option for families to participate in from their home.

Child Crisis Arizona Training

Child Crisis Arizona's spring program calendar is live! Classes include Adoption 101, Neurosequential Model in Caregiving, Trauma Informed Parenting Techniques, and more! All trainings are virtual via Zoom.

Email FCATraining@childcrisisaz.org to register for training or the support group!

STEP Training- TUCSON

Support, Tools, and Education for Parents (STEP) is designed to build positive relationships between family members. It provides a safe space to discuss topics that may be too difficult to talk about at home. These conversations are about peer pressure, stress, and the importance of working together as a team. When caregivers and children work together, it creates a stronger family! The Children’s Advocacy Center understands that family does not always mean a biological parent and child. STEP is a program that will benefit the whole family, including biological, foster, kinship, and adoptive families.

Families enrolled in STEP will meet virtually each week. Each session consists of different topics such as communication, stress management, substance abuse prevention and how to talk to your child about difficult topics (identifying potential child abusers, child abuse, healthy and concerning sexualized behavior), each session building on the next. Child care will be available when classes are offered in person again. For questions, please contact Jackie Ballesteros at jballesteros@soazadvocacy.org or 520-724-2148.

Christian Family Care Training

AZ.127 Foster Family Support & Connections

AZ.127 will be offering support via Facebook & Instagram mini-sessions of techniques and tools from the Trust-Based Relational Intervention program. Additionally, they will be matching mentor foster families with foster families in need of support.

Caring Connections for Special Needs

Yavapai CASA for Kids

Helen's Hope Chest

At Helen's Hope Chest, our mission is to engage the community to provide for the basic needs of children and teens in foster and kinship care. Helen's provides more than just clothes for kids in care. It is important that every youth who comes through our door feels a sense of confidence, acceptance, and dignity. Our boutique environment allows kids to choose their favorite items and feel like they are in a regular store, all at no cost to the foster/kinship family.

Families with a current foster or kinship placement are encouraged to call us at 480-969-5411 to schedule an appointment.

Christian Family Care Thrift Store

Did you know, Christian Family Care’s Thrift Stores have been around since 1996? Previously known as Family Attic, our Tucson and Phoenix thrift stores help fund our adoption, foster care, and counseling programs. Make a donation, shop, or volunteer at our thrift stores. Don’t miss out on all of the amazing discounts we offer. All foster/adoptive families in Arizona receive a 25% off discount when shopping at our thrift stores. Just show the cashier this Thrive article for the discount. Visit https://cfcare.org/get-involved/#thrift-stores to learn more!

Tucson Resources

Spreading Threads is a grassroots, nonprofit community clothing bank that provides free clothes to foster youth in southern Arizona. The organization was founded by two foster moms in Tucson who have fostered and adopted several children in Arizona. Your donations go directly to local children in need. The second Saturday of each month, foster, adoptive, and kinship families can visit the clothing bank. A Notice to Provider will be needed. The clothing bank events are held at 2945 N Flowing Wells in Tucson.

A Mighty Change of Heart

A Mighty Change of Heart provides FREE duffle bags to foster children with new, age-appropriate items inside: 2 outfits, shoes & socks, underwear, book, diapers/wipes, hygiene items, and more. These bags have the children’s names embroidered on them, and are something that they can call their very own. They have delivered over 3,500 bags across the state.

Please check out their website for more information: www.amchaz.com. If your family, business, church group or school would be interested in holding a donation drive, please contact A Mighty Change of Heart. Items are always needed.

Warmline Supports Kinship and Foster Families

The Foster Parent Warmline is available for kinship families and licensed foster parents. While not an emergency number, Warmline staff can assist with information, timely communication, and support. It is not intended to discourage or replace direct and regular communication between the DCS Specialist and the out-of-home caregiver. You can reach the Warmline by calling 1-877-KIDSNEEDU (1-877-543-7633) and selecting Option 3. Please leave a message with your name and contact information in order to receive a call back.

Children's Heart Gallery

More than 70 percent of the children in need of forever families are adopted by their relatives or foster parents. For the remainder, special recruitment efforts like the Heart Gallery are used to connect them with a forever family.

The children featured in the Heart Gallery represent all ethnic groups and range in age from toddlers to teenagers. Some have special behavioral or medical needs, some are without siblings, and others are in groups of siblings.

Eden, Meadow, Phoenix & May

Eden is the oldest brother of the four siblings. He cares deeply about his younger brother and sisters. Eden enjoys reading and running. He hopes to learn more about electronic coding in order to make it into a career one day. Eden is very intellectual, determined, and outgoing. He is very easy to hold a conversation with.

Meadow does well in school and would rather be learning than doing other activities with her free time. She is very protective of her sister and brothers. Meadow enjoys watching tv, eating any type of food, and playing volleyball.

Phoenix is more introverted than his siblings but is kind and caring. Eden describes him as "determined." Phoenix is proud of accomplishing anything that he strives to complete. He enjoys playing basketball, reading, playing video games, and watching tv.

May is the youngest of the four siblings. She enjoys school, especially science. May is outgoing and has a fun and unique personality. She enjoys watching and drawing anime, singing, dancing, listening to music, and watching TikTok videos.

Eden was born in 2006. Meadow was born in 2008. Phoenix was born in 2009. May was born in 2010.

Angel V.

Angel is an incredibly articulate, respectful, and outgoing teenager who has a passion for fashion and makeup. Angel makes friends easily and enjoys meeting new people. She likes to volunteer and is working towards getting a job. She is independent and able to advocate for herself. If she is not doing her makeup, you can find her outside playing soccer or basketball. Angel plans on graduating high school and attending cosmetology school.

Angel was born in 2006.

Devonte H.

Devonte is a hilarious and outgoing young man who loves being active. He loves to play football and basketball. He is a very loyal fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Boston Celtics. When it is too hot to play outside, Devonte loves to play video games like Madden 2K and Fortnite. He also like to listen to hip hop music, especially his favorite artist, Polo G. He enjoys watching TV as well, and his favorite show to watch is Power Rangers.

Devonte is most excited about meeting new friends and playing sports this year at school. His favorite subject in school is math. He is still deciding whether he wants to go into the Army or become a professional football player.

Devonte was born in 2008.

AZ Families Thrive is published monthly by the Arizona Department of Child Safety to inform foster, kinship, and adoptive families across the state. Rhiannon Schaudt-Hobkirk created this edition. Please feel free to email with questions, comments, or content you may be interested in seeing in future editions. Sign up to receive email updates when new issues are posted.

Interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent? Call us: 1-877-KIDS-NEEDU (1-877-543-7633) or email us: FosterAdoption@azdcs.gov. Visit us online: www.azkidsneedu.gov.

To report child abuse or neglect: 1-888-SOS-CHILD

Created By
Rhiannon Schaudt-Hobkirk
Appreciate
NextPrevious