April 2023 Issue 61

Fostering Sibling Connections

Sibling relationships are unique and essential to children's emotional, social, and cognitive development and are the longest-lasting relationships that a child can have in their lives. Siblings often provide a sense of security, support, and a shared history that can help children navigate difficult experiences such as foster care. However, when siblings are separated from each other in the foster care system, it can lead to feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression.

Sibling contact in foster care can help mitigate these negative effects. It can help children maintain their sense of identity, connectedness, and belonging. Moreover, it can provide them with emotional support, shared experiences, and a sense of security during a time of uncertainty. In many cases, siblings can offer each other a sense of stability and familiarity that other relationships cannot.

Unfortunately, sibling contact in foster care is not always prioritized, and many siblings are separated from each other. According to a report by Casey Family Programs, up to 80% of siblings in foster care are separated from each other, and only 35% of these siblings have regular contact.

This lack of sibling contact in foster care can have long-term negative effects on children's well-being. Children who are separated from their siblings may experience a range of negative outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and trauma. They may also struggle with attachment issues and have difficulty forming healthy relationships later in life.

To ensure the well-being of children in foster care, it is critical to prioritize and support sibling contact. Sibling placement should be prioritized whenever possible, and caregivers and DCS should work together to ensure that siblings have regular and meaningful contact with each other. Moreover, caregivers should advocate for and encourage sibling contact whenever it is safe and appropriate to do so. This will ensure that children in foster care have the support and stability they need to thrive.

There are several things that caregivers can do to support sibling contact:

1. Collaborate with DCS: Contact the DCS Specialist and request sibling contact. This can usually be approved to occur at the caregiver’s discretion, as long as it is safe and appropriate for the siblings to have contact. If there are barriers, such as transportation issues, the DCS Specialist can look into accommodations such as a transportation referral. If there are safety concerns, the DCS Specialist can provide the information, including any restrictions or alternatives that are available.
2. Coordinate with the other caregivers: Caregivers should coordinate with the other caregivers to ensure that contact is scheduled at a convenient time and location for all parties involved. The DCS Specialist can facilitate the initial communication, or caregivers can engage during CFT meetings or court hearings.
3. Schedule regular contact: One of the most important things caregivers can do to support contact between siblings in different foster homes is to schedule regular communication between the siblings, including telephone calls, video chats, or visits. This can help the siblings maintain their connection and strengthen their bond.
4. Communicate with the children: Caregivers should communicate with the children and keep them informed about upcoming visits, as well as any changes or updates to the schedule.
5. Attend events together: Caregivers can attend events together with the siblings, such as birthday parties or school performances, to show support and help maintain the sibling bond.
6. Share information: Caregivers can share information with each other about the children's likes, dislikes, and interests to help facilitate conversations between the siblings during visits or phone calls.
7. Advocate for sibling rights: Caregivers can advocate for sibling rights and ensure that the children's needs are being met, including their need for contact with their siblings.
8. Open a bed for sibling placement: If it is safe and appropriate to place siblings together, a caregiver can request to open a bed for the sibling. If necessary, a licensing exception can be made in order to keep siblings together. Ask your licensing worker for more information on this process.

Bike Rodeo and Repair Fair

Spring Time is Bike Time! The weather is great, and kids are out on their bikes to enjoy the weather, get some exercise, and have some fun! In the last couple of years, you may have received a bike from Recycle Your Bicycle, and now it needs a new tube, seat cover, or even a little tune up for your kids to continue to enjoy it! In partnership with Phoenix Children’s Hospital, you are invited to bring those bikes back (or any bike you are riding) to the volunteers at RYB and get it ready to ride for spring! We will also make any adjustments to make sure seats, handlebars, and even helmets are set up correctly for your child. Even if your bikes are ready to go, come join us at our Bike Safety Rodeo! This event is for ages 4-14 years old. Note: Families need to be at least a free Basic Member first in order to register.

Active Parenting of Teens Workshop

Empowered Connections Conference

Foster Arizona is helping to connect and empower youth, ages 13 - 19. The Empowered Connections Conference will include opportunities for teens to:

• Explore careers
• Learn life skills and coping strategies
• Connect with resources specific to their age group
• Make problem-solving and communication fun

DATE: April 29, 2023

TIME: 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

LOCATION: ASU West, 4701 W. Thunderbird Rd., Glendale 85306

COST: Free for youth in DCS care

REGISTER: Click this link to register and get more details: https://rock.fosterarizona.org/registration/ECC2023

Please register each youth and choose a track schedule of breakout sessions that interests him/her the most. We encourage the guardians to allow the youth to pick out their own track for the day!

QUESTIONS? Email Deanna Mendoza: deanna.mendoza@fosteraz.org

Chandler TRAC Volunteers Needed

Living/Parenting in Two Worlds

Guardian Tips - Updating Personal Information

The only thing that is constant is change, and that includes our personal information. Caregivers have the ability to make some changes to personal information in Guardian, such as the primary email address and primary phone number. You can also update your payment preferences from a physical check to direct deposit and vice versa. View the tutorial below.

Caregivers cannot update their physical address or name in Guardian. If licensed, you must contact your licensing agency, and they will submit an amendment to your license. If you are a kinship caregiver, you can contact Warmline for assistance.

If you need assistance with anything and are unsure who to contact, please reach out to the Warmline. You must leave a message with your name, provider number (if you know it), and the child's name, date of birth, and date of placement/departure: 877-543-7633, option 3.

Therapeutic Foster Care Info Sessions

Dear Caregivers,

We thank you for your ongoing commitment and support to the children and families you support in our community. We are writing today to discuss a growing need in our community to support more children in a family setting. There are opportunities to support children in need by being a Therapeutic Foster Caregiver. We believe that many community caregivers have the skills and experience needed to be successful in serving children with higher therapeutic needs. Children in therapeutic foster care need consistent and stable caregivers with behavioral health experience and skills in order to help them on the path to succeed in their next family environment.

We would like to invite you to attend a virtual information session with the agencies that support Therapeutic Foster Care to help share information regarding the licensing experiences and differences from community care. These information sessions will review 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.

Virtual Information Sessions:

• Every 2nd Thursday of the month (6pm)
• Every 4th Saturday of the month (10am)

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

Sincerely, Gillian Vanasse, Assistant Director for Foster Care Supports

PAX Tools

AHCCCS has teamed with Tucson-based PAXIS Institute to offer PAX Tools Workshops at no cost to Arizona families and caregivers!

What is PAX Tools? PAX Tools is a set of practical behavioral strategies that adults can use in their daily interaction with young people. These strategies help improve cooperation, reduce unwanted behavior, and help build self-regulation and positive behavior.

Arizona Caregivers are Talking About PAX Workshops! “This is one of the best trainings I have taken in a while. The app is helpful.” “Training was awesome, and I also like the app which will become very useful. I think all care givers should take the course and it should be part of the curriculum for foster care - love the program. I have been spreading the word. Thank you for a great training event”

Caregivers who participate in a 2-hour, virtual PAX Tools Workshop will receive all the materials needed to use PAX Tools in a variety of settings. Additionally, every participant in a PAX Tools Workshop will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Here are upcoming PAX Tools Caregiver Workshop dates with links to register:

• April 13 6-8:30pm MST https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WKSRT9C
• April 18 9-11:30am MST https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W8V3QDV
• April 27 12-2:30pm MST https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/W8MKGBJ

For more information, email paxarizona@paxis.org.

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, 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!

Christian Family Care Training

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.

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, a 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.

Aviva Children's Services - Tucson