FrameWorks Blog

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

The FrameWorks staff of Mission WV wishes you a very Merry Holiday and a happy New Year! We thank everyone who frequents our blog, website and/or facebook page. We thank you for openings your lives to youth who are in foster care and need to know that the community cares about them. It is important that we remember children in foster care not only during the holiday season, but all year long.

Below is our list of ways to support foster care all year long!

January - Write a note to a child in foster care that provides encouragement and advice for the new year. We will give the note to one of the children we work. We can also work with you if you would like to provide a specific child with care packages throughout the year.

February - Bake Valentine cookies and donate them to a group home facility. We can connect you with the facility!

March - Send flowers to a social worker who goes above and beyond to find families for the children they serve. A group of people could chip in on this and a member of our staff will help you with finding a social worker to give to if you don't already have one in mind.

April - Put together a "rainy day" care package for a kid living at a group facility. We can provide gift ideas.

May - National Foster Care Month! Make or join a team for "Walk with Me...for Youth in Foster Care."

June - Time for another care package that could include summer fun items.

July - Send a thank you note or a note of encouragement to a foster or adoptive family. They would probably really appreciate a small gift certificate for a family activity like a visit to the ice cream store or a night out to the movies.

August - School will be starting and a little back-to-school care package would be a great gift to a child in foster care.

September - this is a time of year when a lot of kids get to go school shopping with their families. Children living in a group facility typically don't get to enjoy that type of experience. A gift card to a clothing store would come in handy and one of our adoption workers could take a child for a one on one shopping trip. This way, the child would get to have a fun day and feel extra special.

October - Halloween! Send a residential facility a bunch of candy or Halloween themed baked items.

November - November is National Adoption Month! This can be a difficult month for kids who don't have a family to eat Thanksgiving Dinner with. This month, you can help out by attending a National Adoption Month event and saying a special prayer for children in foster care who are waiting for a forever family.

December - The holidays are here! You know what you can do!

If you would like participate in one or more of these suggested ways to help both foster parents and children in foster care - call us! Our number is 866-CALL-MWV - ask for Carrie Robey.

Carry-On Campaign back to school drive

2011-08-08T06:31:00.000-07:00

The Carry-On Campaign, launched in October of 2010 to eliminate garbage bags as luggage for youth in foster care, is organizing a back to school drive. Every kid deserves to start the school year with the appropriate tools they need for a quality education. We are reaching out to West Virginians and asking that you please donate a book bag filled with school supplies.

We've put together a flier with suggested items for the book bags. These are just suggested and all items are not required. To view this flier, please click HERE.

Once you have your donation ready for delivery, take it to one of the following drop-sites or call and talk to Carrie - our number is 866-call-MWV. We suggest, if a number is provided, that you call the drop-site first so they can expect you and your donation.

Thanks in advance for making a difference in the lives of youth in foster care. Again, if you have any questions at all, give us a ring.

FREE Camp Alert!

2011-06-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, this has been posted on our e-newsletter and you'll see it again on our quarterly paper newsletter, but it is really important! This is a FREE camp that is AWESOME! Your foster and/or adopted kids will love it and did we mention it is FREE!?

Royal Family Kids Camp is a National Camp for children between the ages of 7 - 11, who are or have been in foster care. There will be a camp in Putnam County and another in Cabell County. The camps are August 1-5, 2011. There are still available spaces for the Putnam County Camp! Contact Carol Phipps for camp applications. Give us a ring at 304-562-0723 and ask to speak with Carol.

A Family's Adoption Story

2011-05-10T10:51:00.000-07:00

Below is a story written by an adoptive mother. We hope that reading this story encourages you to open your life to adoption or foster care if it is something you've been thinking about. If you have already opened your life to fostering or adopting, we hope you enjoy reading about the experience of another parent. If you would like to share your story with us, we would love to hear from you.

A family's story:

In our family there is Jonathan, Cyndi (myself), Kinsington (Kiki), and Anthony. Everyone has been a foster/adopt child except for Jonathan- he is kind of the odd person out in our family.

I was very young when I was adopted. I was the only foster/adopt person ever in my family but I was never treated any differently. My parents have a biological child that is several years older than I am, my brother Christopher, who I am very close to.

When I became old enough I realized that I wanted to adopt children. I wanted to give someone a home just like I was given. In my work life as a therapist I saw several foster children that I realized their life would improve so much if they just had two things- consistent love and consistent guidance.

I completed the PRIDE classes and the home study and became a foster/adopt parent. I was blessed with Kiki who was turning 4 and Anthony who was turning 2. Here I was 24 years old single with 2 children who had very difficult past including abuse and neglect. When the kids were 9 and 7 Jonathan and I started dating he would come over every evening for dinner and leave at 9:00pm every night. Eventually Kiki said “ Can we just sign for him already he is here all the time anyhow and I pretty much already consider him my dad” So after a brief explanation to Kiki that we do not adopt him that would mean Jonathan and I would get married. “She said adoption- marriage what’s the difference you still become a family” Needless to say Jonathan and I were married 2 months later.

Kiki was scared of everyone at first hiding in corners, scared of having a bath, would get up in the middle of the night and hoard food. I thought how am I going to help her? Time truly was the answer she has blossomed into this wonderful full of life person that is willing to try anything. Kiki is a natural with younger children and loves to play with them and comfort them when they are upset. She is in every activity available it seems including, softball, basketball, pageants, volleyball, etc. Kiki is very passionate about the work Mission, WV does and realizes that there are several other children out there that need permanent homes. Kiki’s pageant platform is Mission, WV and every chance she gets she speaks about their mission and what others can do to help. Several people have stated they are surprised “a foster/ adopt kid participates in pageants”- her answer to them is simple “We are kids just like everyone else we just had a different path given to us than you to get to where we are today”

Anthony has the greatest laugh in the whole world and while Kiki and Anthony do not look much alike as biological siblings there bond is very strong. Anthony has epilepsy and developmental delays, but there is definitely something so wonderful about having a child like Anthony. I have learned to appreciate all the little accomplishments that I used to take for granted. When Anthony is happy for a full day, or a day with no seizures, a day was he learns to read a new word, or writes his name, a day where he is able to tell me how his feels- These days are the best days. I know several people have reservations about adopting a child with a medical problem or a learning disability but these children bring so much more to your life than you realize. Anthony has recently received approval from his doctors to go to Disney World. We had planned a Disney trip 3 times in the last 2 years but unfortunately due to Anthony’s health we were unable to go. So think about us in the third week of June as Anthony is going to accomplish one of his lifelong dreams- to see the castle at Disney World. You can bet that Jonathan, Kiki and I will be crying tears of joy as soon as we hit the parking lot.

We look forward to several more years working with Mission WV to help foster children across our state. We could think of no other organization that we would want to support more than this one.

Walk With Me....for Youth in Foster Care

2011-02-01T07:23:00.000-08:00

We have a walk name! The walk name is "Walk With Me" and the tag line is "for Youth in Foster Care." The Recruitment and Retention Collaborative voted on the name after reviewing all submissions and we are all really happy with the name. Thanks to everyone who submitted an entry - there were so many great ideas! The person who gets credit for the name of the walk is Julia Kessler from Children's Home Society - thanks Julia!

The date for this year's walk is officially set as May 21st! We will update soon with registration and start times for the day of the walk. Also, we will hopefully very soon have a website so that you can register your team or as an individual and start raising funds for youth in foster care!

A Home For the Holidays!

2010-12-21T12:28:00.000-08:00

Don't miss this heartwarming holiday special that will air on CBS on Wednesday, December 22, 2010, featuring all-star talent. See the joy of having a family through the eyes of a child -- not just for the holidays, but forever.

Melissa Etheridge, Maroon 5, Ricky Martin, Nelly, Katy Perry and Jimmy Wayne will perform. Presenters include Julie Chen, Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Holly Robinson Peete, Leah Remini, Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Mira Sorvino.

RAPP - Relatives As Parents Program

2010-12-01T08:18:00.001-08:00

Did you know that there are thousands of West Virginians who are taking care of a relative child? This is called a kinship family and it is a situation where a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or other family member is raising children instead of the biological parents. The Relatives As Parents Program, also known as RAPP, offers services and support to these families and there are RAPP support groups throughout the state.

On January 8th at 1PM, the Charleston RAPP group will be meeting to discuss the topic of child welfare provisions of WV State code 48 and 49. The discussion leader is Sara Thompson, Education and Outreach Services Librarian of the WV State Law Library. To learn more about Chapter 49 on child welfare, click this link: Chapter 49. To learn more about code 48 on Domestic Relations, click here: Chapter 48. The meeting will be held in room E-314 in the East Wing of the State Capitol Building in Charleston. Room E-314 is on the 3rd floor. There is free-metered parking on California Avenue.

Services to kinship families include cash stipends to RAPP groups, a resource library, workshops, a list serve, and kinship information and resources on the Mission WV web page. Additionally Mission WV maintains a warm line. Kinship caregivers can call 1-866-CALL-MWV to ask questions, receive resource information, or a listening ear. For more information about RAPP, contact Laura Lou Harbert at Mission WV. Her phone is 304-380-6775.

RAPP is a joint effort of Mission WV, the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, WVU Extension Services, The Bureau of Senior Services, and Legal Aid.

Join us for an Adoption Day Celebration!

2010-11-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

The WV Recruitment and Retention Collaborative invites you to a day of celebration in honor of National Adoption Day. On November 20th starting at 2PM, participants can explore the Clay Center's Avampato Discovery Museum, which houses two floors of hand-on exhibits featuring more than 12,000 square feet of nonstop fun. At 4:30 we will head to the Intermezzo Cafe for refreshments and to hear guest speakers. Ending the celebration at 6 o'clock we will hold a candlelight ceremony outside of the Clay Center. Please feel free to join us at any time during the celebration event. To view the flyer for the event, please click here: Adoption Celebration Flyer

Open House!

2010-10-13T06:56:00.000-07:00

Mission WV is organizing another Adoption/Foster Care Information Open House in Beckley, WV on November 6th at 11AM. The event will take place at the Prosperity First Baptist Church located at 308 Prosperity Road Beckley, WV 25801.

At the Open House, potential foster/adoptive parents will learn more about waiting children in WV, the certification process to foster and/or adopt,what to expect as a foster parent, international adoption and how the adoption process works, and get to hear the personal story and advice of an experienced foster/adoptive parent.

By attending this event, you don't have to make any commitments, we just hope that you will join us to learn more about foster care and adoption if it is something you are interested in. If you have any questions about the Open House or would like an information packet about fostering and/or adopting, we can send that to you today! Just call 866-CALL-MWV or email Carrie at crobey@missionwv.org

Thanks and we hope to see you on the 6th!

Foster Care/ Adoption Information Open House

2010-08-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

Please click on the image above to download the flyer.

On Thursday September 30th at 6PM please join us for a foster care/ adoption information open house in Romney WV. If you don't live near Romney, don't worry, we plan on having one open house event in each region of the state. The first open house will be held at the Bank of Romney Community Building.

The open house is a no commitment relaxed atmosphere event for people who are interested in adopting or providing foster care in WV. An experienced foster mother who has also adopted will be at the open house to speak about the kind of real life experiences you can expect. Also, we will have speakers from the WV Dept. of Health and Human Resources, Children's Home Society and most likely Burlington United Methodist Family Services. At this event, you will be able to learn more about the foster/adoption certification process, waiting children and international adoption.

This open house is FREE and light food will be provided! If you have any questions or would like more information, please call 866-CALL-MWV or email crobey(at)missionwv.org

We hope to see you there and if you would like to help plan the open house events in either region I,II or IV, please call!

What exactly is PRIDE training and how do I sign up?

2010-08-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Any family who is interested in becoming certified to provide foster care and/or adopt a foster child, must complete the PRIDE training course and have a completed homestudy. PRIDE stands for Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education. The training covers topics including child abuse/ neglect, emotional and behavioral issues, discipline, and overviews of adoption and foster care.

While at the training you will have an excellent opportunity to meet with other families who are also going through the certification process. We also have a letter from a couple who took the PRIDE training and wanted to share more about their experience.

"My husband J and I completed the PRIDE classes last month. We were told we needed 27 hours of training to become foster/adoptive parents. We couldn't imagine what they would teach us since we already raised two boys and have two grandsons. Not that we know it all, but 27 hours?!?! Well, now we would like to say this: The classes provided us with so much information and necessary skills to prepare us for a child who has experienced losses. We had a wonderful teacher who did a great job sharing her knowledge and experiences. We learned things we didn't know anything about and now realize how important this information will be in caring for foster/adoptive children." - J & B from Pennsboro WV

We thank this couple for sharing their story and if you have a positive and encouraging foster/adoptive story to share, please email us! Our email is adopt@missionwv.org

If you are interested in becoming certified, please give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV and we will send you more information. Also, there is a calendar of PRIDE trainings listed on the WVDHHR website and can be viewed by clicking here: http://www.wvdhhr.org/oss/adoption/adoption_calendar/diary.asp

MWV is hiring 4 more Resource Navigators

2010-08-12T11:35:00.000-07:00

Mission WV is hiring four "Resource Navigators" to assist and provide resources to families within their own community. Navigators will be available for one on one discussion, attend foster/adoptive related media events, recruit foster parents and spread a positive message about foster care/adoption throughout their community and seek out resources for foster children and kinship/relative families.

If you are intersted in becoming a Resource Navigator, please click here to read more: Letter describing the position and requirements. After reading this information you may decide to apply and you can find the application by clicking here: Resource Navigator Application.

The deadline for the application is September 10th. If you have any questions, please call 304-562-0723 and ask for Carrie. Thanks!

luggage for foster children and youth!

2010-08-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

We would like to thank the Charleston Gazette for publishing this article: Luggage for foster kids to help our mission of providing luggage for foster children. We would also like to thank all of the kind people who have called in and donated luggage for foster children. There is a camp for foster children this month in WV and we are most certain all of the children will be able to leave camp with their belongings in luggage - not trash bags! Many foster children end up carrying their belongings around in garbage bags and we are trying to change that. With the kindness and generosity of others, we can accomplish this goal. Pictured above is just a portion of the luggage we have been able to collect as a result of this article. Thank you again and again.

If you have gently used or new luggage to donate, please call 304-562-0723 and ask for Carrie.

New Carrie's Kids Segments!

2010-07-21T07:22:00.000-07:00

News anchor/reporter Carrie Cline of WSAZ does a segment called Carrie's Kids. On this segment, Carrie interviews children form KY and WV who are legally eligible to be adopted and they are waiting on a forever family. The Carrie's Kids segments run every other TUESDAY on Channel 3 WSAZ news at approximately 5 o'clock PM. If WSAZ news isn't available in your area, you may watch the videos online by visiting www.wsaz.com/carrieskids

On July 9th, the owners of Camden Park generously opened their park to KY and WV foster children and workers so that Carrie could interview several children. Toby was interviewed while playing a game of air hockey and you can watch his video on the Carrie's Kids page linked above. If you live in WV, expect to see children from WV featured on August 10, September 7, October 5 and on November 2.

If you are interested in providing foster care or adopting a child/youth, please call us at 304-562-0723 or you can reach us by calling our toll free number at 866-CALL-MWV. You may also reach us by email at adopt(at)missionwv.org

Thanks for reading and please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you WSAZ news, Carrie Cline and Camden Park for making this wonderful day at Camden Park possible for foster children.

Announcement: Mini-Grants for adoptive and foster family support groups in WV

2010-06-08T12:16:00.000-07:00

Five $500.00 mini-grants will be issued to adoptive and foster family support groups in West Virginia. To apply for a mini-grant, please send your completed application packets to Mission West Virginia by June 25th, 2010. The grant application can be downloaded by clicking here: MWV Mini-Grant Application.

Preference will be given to newly formed or start-up groups. Preference will also be given to groups that have never received a mini-grant from Mission West Virginia before.

There are a few grant guidelines that can also be found by downloading the application.

If you have any questions about the application please call Rachel Probst at 866-CALL-MWV or email rprobst@missionwv.org

This project is made possible by the support of the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

Walk Me Home Photos!

2010-06-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

WOW! Walk Me Home was AWESOME again this year! Check out this animoto video of photos that were taken at the walk. We can always add more photos to the video, so if you have some to share - please send them our way!

Thanks again to everyone who took part in making this event so successful and fun!

Walk Me Home was a success!

2010-05-26T12:28:00.000-07:00

Pictured above: Kaitlyn Boyles, daughter of Rita and Bob Boyes, at Walk Me Home 2010

Thank you to everyone who made Walk Me Home a successful event this year! We were able to raise near $10,000 and around 150 people came out on May 15th to walk.

There have been a couple newspaper articles published about our walk, so please click on the links below to read more!

http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x631787634/Walk-for-foster-care-a-success

http://wvgazette.com/News/201005211040

We will be posting more photos soon!

Walk Me Home

2010-05-10T06:25:00.000-07:00

Click here to watch the Walk Me Home video: Walk Me Home

Walk Me Home is on Saturday and we hope to see you there! It is really important that we recognize National Foster Care Month and honor those who open their homes and provide foster care. In America, there are over 500,000 children in foster care and in WV there are approximately 4,000 children in the state's care. Please help us to recognize the compassionate people who make a difference in the lives of children by serving as foster parents, relative caregivers, mentors, advocates, social workers and volunteers. Thank to these people, many children and teens will either safely reunite with their parents, be care for by relatives, or be adopted by loving families.

There are approximately 1,000 children in WV who are legally eligible to be adopted. Some of those children as well as adoptive/foster families are featured in a video we have made that features the Walk Me Home theme song. To view this video, please click on the link at the top of this article.

We thank all of those who work to better the lives of children. And while a lot is being done to help our youth, more help is needed. According to information provided by the National Association of Foster Parents, if nothing changes by 2020:

- Nearly 14 million confirmed cases of child abuse and neglect will be reported
- 22,500 children will die of abuse or neglect, most before their fifth birthday
- More than 9,000,000 children will experience the foster care system
- More than 300,000 children will age of our foster care system, in poor health and ill-prepared for success in higher education, technical college or the workforce
- 99,000 former foster youth, who aged out of the system, can expect to experience homelessness.

So please, if you haven't already registered or sponsored a walker, visit http://www.walkmehome.org/ to do so!

We can't wait to see you all on Saturday!

Save the Date! Another FREE workshop!

2010-04-26T10:14:00.000-07:00

FREE Workshops on:

"What the Fostering Connections Act Means to You and Families" presented by Joanne M. Brown, JD, MSW, National Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues
AND
"An Overview of WV Grandparent Visitation and Minor Guardianship Law" presented by Honorable Mike Kelly, Eleventh Family Circuit Court.

When: Saturday, May 22nd, 2010 - 10 AM to 3PM

Where: YWCA 305 Washington Ave. Clarksburg, WV 26301

Who Should Attend: Kinship families including grandparents raising grandchildren, Foster Parentes, Attorneys, Judges, FRN Directors, DHHR Staff, WVU Extension Services Staff, Private Agency Staff, CASA Staff and Volunteers, Social Workers, and other interested people.
Lunch and child care up to age 12 provided.

Preregistration for workshop and childcare must be made by MAY 14th. To register, call Mission WV toll free at 866.CALL.MWV (866-225-5698) or email Laura Lou Harbert at lharbert(at)missionwv.org

This workshop is a joint effort of Mission WV, the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, the Supreme Court of Appeals of WV, Legal Aid of WV, the American Bar Association, WVU Extension Services and the Bureau of Senior Services.

FrameWorks Newsletter Spring 2010

2010-04-16T08:02:00.000-07:00

We know you have been waiting in anticipation for the Spring 2010 issue of the FrameWorks Newsletter and now you are in luck! We hope you take a couple minutes out of your busy day to read the newsletter and comment as well. You can open a PDF file of the newsletter by clicking on the image above. If you have any problems opening the newsletter, please let us know.

What do you like most about the FrameWorks Newsletter and what would you like to see more of? Is there a topic you would like to learn more about? Let us know and we will try our best to get it into the Summer 2010 newsletter.

Also, if you would like to read past FrameWorks Newsletters, click here: Newsletter Archive

Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your day!

MWV has billboards!

2010-03-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

Mission West Virginia has billboards going up throughout the state! We hope that those who see our board, give us a call! There are two billboards in Clarksburg and one in Fairmont. There are three more and we will give an update soon so you can seek them out.

If you do live in Clarksburg or you are in the area, you can see our billboards on Rt. 50 near Minard's Spaghetti on "dealership row" and on West Pike St. just off of Rt. 50 headed into downtown Clarksburg.

The board in Fairmont is on Locust Ave at Beverly St. near intersection routes 250 and 19.

And out of curiosity, do you pay attention to billboards when you are out and about? If so, what makes one catch your attention. Where do you go to seek out information?

Thanks for reading!

Support foster/adoptive programming and win!

2010-03-18T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Hurricane Rite Aid has generously provided an Easter Basket valued at $216.87 to be raffled for a good cause. All funds raised from the raffle will be donated to Mission West Virginia’s FrameWorks program, which works to find loving families for foster children in WV.
The Easter Basket contains a Polaroid MegaPixel Camera, a remote control Mini Cooper, a Hurricane Redskin Hoodie, two Hurricane Redskin bears, Disney Pez, and a variety of candy and other goodies. You may purchase a one chance ticket for $1 or ten tickets for $5.

We hope if you live in the area you stop by and buy a few tickets!

Adoption/foster Resource Library

2010-03-03T08:07:00.000-08:00

If you are interested in learning more about adoption, foster care, kinship care, child behavior, mental health, parenting, etc. it is likely that you will be able to find the information in the FrameWorks' Resource Library. A variety of books,DVDs, periodicals and articles are available for loan and three (3) books can be "checked out" at one time. (Photocopied copies of articles and other publications will be provided and will not count toward your borrowing limit).

To view a complete list of the resources available through the FrameWorks' Library, click on the following link: FRAMEWORKS RESOURCE LIBRARY

Books are due back three weeks from the date of being mailed or given to recipient. A pre-addressed and stamped mailing envelope will be provided. Materials should be returned via media mail. If books are not returned within one month , the borrowing party will be responsible for the replacement costs.

Borrowing requests may be made by phone (1-866-CALL-MWV/304-562-0723) or by e-mail (rprobst(at)missionwv.org).

Requests may be made for materials which are not currently available through the resource library. Materials will be purchased based on funding availability and relevance of topic.

Thanks for reading the FrameWorks Blog and please call us if you have any questions.
866-CALL-MWV

Thanks and have a great Wednesday!

FREE Relatives as Parents Legal Workshop

2010-02-22T12:57:00.000-08:00

FREE Workshops on:

"What the Fostering Connections Act Means to You and Families" presented by Joanne M. Brown, JD, MSW, National Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues

AND

"An Overview of WV Grandparent Visitation and Minor Guardianship Law" presented by Honorable Mike Kelly, Eleventh Family Court Circuit.

When: Saturday, March 27, 2010 - 10AM to 3PM

Who Should Attend: Kinship families including grandparents raising grandchildren, Foster Parentes, Attorneys, Judges, FRN Directors, DHHR Staff, WVU Extension Services Staff, Private Agency Staff, CASA Staff and Volunteers, Social Workers, and other interested people.

Lunch and child care up to age 12 provided.

Preregistration for workshop and childcare must be made by MARCH 19. To register, call Mission WV toll free at 866.CALL.MWV (866-225-5698) or email Laura Lou Harbert at lharbert(at)missionwv.org

This workshop is a joint effort of Mission WV, the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, the Supreme Court of Appeals of WV, Legal Aid of WV, the American Bar Association, WVU Extension Services and the Bureau of Senior Services.

To view and download the flyer, visit this link: http://www.missionwv.org/frameworks/News.html

Kanawha County Schools Parent Educator Resource Center Support Group

2010-02-08T07:08:00.000-08:00

All families, Educators and Community members are welcome to attend the Kanawha County Schools' Parent Educator Resource Center Support Group.

Date: February 12, 2010
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: South Charleston Middle School
Topic: School Age Children and Medication and The Importance of Good Nutrition
Speaker: Bill McFarland, Owner/Pharmacist of Loop Pharmacy located in Charleston and St. Albans.

For more information you may contact KCS Parent Ed. Res. Center at 304-348-7715 or email perc(at)kcs.kana.k12.wv.us - if you bring a friend, both of your names will be entered into a door prize drawing.

All KCS employees may receive Staff Development Credit.

If you would like to have an event posted on the FrameWorks' Blog, please email crobey(at)missionwv.org

Thanks!

Walk Me Home 2010!!!

2010-02-02T07:05:00.000-08:00

FrameWorks is excited to announce that we have a date set for the Walk Me Home 2010 event! Please join us on Saturday May 15th at the Appalachian Power Park in Charleston, WV for a foster care celebration and fundraiser.

The website is now open for registration and we hope that you register soon! By clicking here: Walk Me Home 2010, you can visit the Walk Me Home website and either form a team, register as an individual, or make a contribution.

We are really excited to see everyone who attended the walk last year and we hope to see new faces this year. Walk Me Home provides a great opportunity for foster care supporters from all over the state to come together in celebration of those who dedicate their lives to improving the lives of children while also remembering the thousands of West Virginia children in the foster care system.

Last year, the weather was beautiful and we all had SO MUCH FUN! We hope that this year is just as wonderful and we will have prizes for the top 3 fundraisers and a plaque for the top fundraising team.

Funds raised from the event will go towards the Recruitment and Retention Collaborative and to FrameWorks Programming, which works to empower the lives of WV foster children and recruit families for children who are legally eligible for adoption and waiting for a forever family.

If you are interested in volunteering, we would appreciate your help!

We look forward to another great Walk Me Home event and hope to see you there!

12 ways to support foster care all year long

2010-01-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

After the blog article I wrote about resolving to make the difference in someone else's life this new year, one of our facebook "fans" asked for suggestions of how they could help to empower the lives of foster children and those who are dedicated to either finding or providing forever families that can provide a home filled with support and love. So, we came up with a list! If you would like to do everything on this list or just one thing on this list, it will provide more support and encouragement than you could ever being to realize. Also, if you would like any help in fulfilling any of the "ways to help" on the list below, just call us and we would be more than glad to help out.

Thanks for reading and we hope to hear from you. Do you have any ideas to add on to this list?

FrameWorks' 12 ways to support foster care:

1. January - Write a note to a foster kid that provides encouragement and advice for the new year.
2. February – Bake heart shaped cookies and donate them to a group home facility.
3. March – send flowers to a social worker who works hard to find families for children. A group of people could chip in on this and a member of the FrameWorks staff could help you with finding a social worker to give to if you don’t already have one.
4. April – put together a “rainy day” care package for a kid living at a group facility.
5. May – Make a team for Walk Me Home! The walk will be May 15th this year!
6. June - Time for another care package that could include sidewalk chalk/beach towel/sun screen.
7. July – Send a note of encouragement to a foster or adoptive family! They would probably really appreciate a small gift certificate for a family activity like a visit to the ice cream store or a night out to the movies.
8. August – School will be starting and a little pencil pouch full of cool pencils, pens and erasers would be a handy gift to give a foster child.
9. September – this is a time of year when a lot of kids get to go school shopping with their families and children living in a group facility don’t get to enjoy that experience. A gift card to a clothing store would come in handy and an adoption recruiter could go for a one on one shopping trip with one of their kids. This way, the kid would get to feel extra special.
10. October – My favorite, Halloween! Send a group home a bunch of candy or Halloween themed baked items. Maybe by now you have been buying for one special foster kid who needs a family and you would like to buy them a mask or something fun to wear on Halloween.
11. November – November is National Adoption month and a tough month for kids who don’t have a family to eat Thanksgiving Dinner with. This month, you can help out by attending a National Adoption Month event and saying a special prayer for foster children who are waiting for a family.
12. December – The holidays are here! You know what you can do!

Computer training for WV foster children

2010-01-11T08:03:00.000-08:00

During the week after Christmas, our e-impact tech program at Mission WV was able to team up with FrameWorks on a project that combined the mission of empowering foster youth's lives and teaching technology to the youth throughout our state. Thanks to a grant given by the Mollohan Foundation, Mission West Virginia was able to provide free computer training to a few of the foster youth who live at Stepping Stones, a group facility for foster children. The program called BIKISI, stands for Build it Keep it Share it. Youth who participate in the program are given the tools, parts, and knowledge to build a computer of their very own that they are allowed to keep at the end of the week.

“These young men were not able to visit with family over the holiday” said Susan Fry, Stepping Stones Executive Director, “and the positive engagement, knowledge and priceless opportunity this program afforded them certainly brought a smile to their faces during a time that is very difficult for many of our kids.”

We are so happy that this was such a good experience for everyone involved. We hope to continue seeking funds so that more foster youth can also have the opportunity to get involved in the BIKISI Program.

Happy 2010!

2010-01-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

The staff at FrameWorks hopes you have all had a wonderful holiday season and are now getting back into the routine of daily life. At the office this week, we are reviewing the past year and discussing our goals for 2010. 2009 was a great year and several of the children we work with were placed in permanent homes with loving forever families, but the work isn't finished until every foster child in our state has a family.

Leading up to Christmas and the New Year, I kept thinking about the children we work with who would be spending the holiday at a group home or treatment facility. We do all we can to make the holiday extra special for these children and I cannot thank everyone enough who donated gifts.

With each new year, many of us come up with personal resolutions to lose weight, finish a project, quit smoking, etc. I thought it would be nice if FrameWorks and our blog readers came up with resolutions to help others. For example, what can you do this year to make sure another foster teen doesn't spend another Christmas at a group home? Or, what can you do this year to empower the life of a foster child?

Please comment on this post with resolutions of how you plan to help out someone else this year. By making a donation, buying personal items, etc. What are your ideas?!

Thanks for reading!

Carrie

PRIDE Training - The Adoption Process

2009-12-22T10:28:00.000-08:00

There are several steps in the process of certification so that one can adopt, and one of the most important steps is called PRIDE. PRIDE stands for Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education and is a training is designed to prepare you for fostering/adopting and explain the details of becoming a foster/adoptive family.

The training is designed to help you gain the best possible understanding and preparation for parenting and adopted or foster child. The training provides an excellent opportunity to meet with other families and social workers, answer your questions, ease fears, dispel myths and educate yourself on children in the child welfare system. In a two parent household, both parents are required to attend training. The standard training in West Virginia is called PRIDE. Training schedules vary between agencies, however many try to accommodate workday schedules and host trainings on evenings or weekends.

At this point, you might be asking yourself why you have to take this training. You are probably thinking something along the lines of "I've raised 2 kids, I have grandkids, I know what I am doing!" However, we would like you to read the following story from two recently certified foster parents and hopefully this will ease you into being more comfortable with PRIDE training.

"My husband John and I completed the PRIDE training classes last month. We were told we needed 27 hours of training to become foster/adoptive parents. We couldn't imagine what they would teach us since we already raised two boys and have two grandsons. Not that we know it all, but 27 hours?! Well, now we would like to say this: The classes provided us with so much information and necessary skills to prepare us for a child who has experienced losses. We had a wonderful teacher who did a great job sharing her knowledge and experiences. We learned things we didn't know anything about and now realize how important this information will be in caring for foster/adoptive children."

We hope that you too are able to register for a PRIDE training and receive such wonderful instruction. If you are interested in becoming a foster/adoptive parents and would like to know more about PRIDE, please give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV. Or perhaps you have a PRIDE training story you would like to share?

Thanks for reading and for the PRIDE training calendar, follow this link:http://www.wvdhhr.org/oss/adoption/adoption_calendar/diary.asp

Winter 2009 Newsletter

2009-12-17T10:33:00.000-08:00

Hot of the press, come and get it! The FrameWorks Winter 2009 Newsletter has been completed! We hope you take a few minutes from your busy day to read our newsletter. Just click on the image above and a PDF file should open. Please let us know what you think and if there is anything you would like to see in future issues of "Open Your Life."

Thanks and Happy Holidays!

A Happy Adoption Story

2009-12-09T13:28:00.000-08:00

Please follow this link: http://www.wgal.com/news/21907362/detail.html to watch a video and read an article about a man, 93, who adopts his 64 year old foster son who has been living with him since the age of 14.

Do you have a touching adoption story you would like to share? We would love to post it on our blog or possibly in our newsletter.

Please give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV or send an email to adopt(at)missionwv.org

Have a wonderful evening!

Foster Parents Forming Statewide Group

2009-12-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

An article was posted in the Charleston Gazette today about the new group that is being formed in West Virginia. To read all about it, please click on the following link: http://wvgazette.com/News/200912040573

We hope you give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV and speak with Rachel if you are interested in participating!

Please vote for Mission West Virginia

2009-12-03T06:43:00.000-08:00

Chase Community Giving is giving away 5 million dollars to various charities and is letting YOU pick which ones! All you have to do is vote for your favorite nonprofit organization, (Mission WV!), and the top 100 organizations will receive 25k!!! We, like many nonprofit organizations, could really use this donation and we know that if our supporters and friends pull together, we can be a part of that top 100!

Please click here: Vote for Mission West Virginia! or on one of the two image links in this post and vote for us! We sure do appreciate it, and we would really appreciate it if you would ask all of your friends, family and neighbors to support us as well.

FrameWorks is a program of Mission West Virginia that works to find loving forever families for children in West Virginia who are legally eligible for adoption. With approximately 1000 children legally eligible for adoption and waiting for a family of their own, we could really use your help! It only takes a couple seconds!

Thank you very much!

Please give to WV Foster Children this holiday season!

2009-11-30T12:10:00.000-08:00

Have you been wondering what you can do to help someone else out this holiday season? If so, we have a great opportunity for you to make a foster child's Christmas extra special this year!

FrameWorks has teamed up with eight Rite Aid stores to receive gift donations for West Virginia Foster Children. With approximately 4,000 children in the WV foster care system, we ask that you open your life to them and give from the heart.

You can currently donate gifts to foster children at one of the eight Rite Aids at the following locations: Hurricane, Teays Valley, St. Albans, Charleston (South Hills), S. Charleston (McCorkle Ave.), Charleston (West Washington Street), Dunbar, and Huntington (5th Ave.). Barrels that have been decorated with art created by foster children are available at each store for the deposit of gifts.

Thanks for giving and if you have any questions or would like to donate directly to FrameWorks, give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV.

Happy Holidays!

More photos from the 2009 Adoption Day Celebration!

2009-11-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

Below are a few more photos from the 2009 National Adoption Day Event that was held at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV on November 21st. We had a great turn out and we hope that if you took pictures at the event, you will share them with us!

A recap of The National Adoption Day Event!

2009-11-23T12:17:00.000-08:00

WOW! The 2009 National Adoption Day event went better than we could have asked for! Almost 200 adoption/foster care supporters came together to celebrate the love and joys of adoption while remembering the thousands of children in the U.S. who are legally eligible for adoption and waiting for a forever family.

The event started off with two hours of play time at the Clay Center Discovery Museum. At approximately 5 o'clock, all of the children were asked to participate in a craft in which they decorated a luminary for the candlelight vigil. While the craft was going on, participants were treated to light snacks of fruits, vegetables and a delicious cake.

During the vigil, the luminaries surrounded the statue of children in the front court of the Clay Center. Being in the presence of so many wonderful families and children was inspiring and heartwarming. Seeing the candles lit at the vigil provided a beautiful image of how important it is to be the light of a child's life, which was the theme of this year's event. Following the same theme, all of our speakers beautiful stories provided a light of their own as we all reflected on the importance of opening our lives to children who are waiting for a family.

Speakers at the event included Michelle Bush, CASA Executive Director, Barbara Pryor, Legislative Assistant, David & Dawn Heatwole, Adoptive family and 2009 Angels in Adoption Recipients, and adopted teen Amber Beal spoke about adoption and the importance of coming together to celebrate such a special cause.

Thank you WVDHHR and the WV Retention and Recruitment Collaborative for sponsoring the event and thank you to every member of the R&R Collaborative - this was definitely a group effort and everyone did such a wonderful job helping out! Also, thank you to the Clay Center for your hospitality. We can't thank everyone who helped out enough!

Below are pictures of the event and we promise to keep them coming! If you took any pictures at the event and would like to share them, please send them to us - Email: crobey(at)missionwv.org

2009 National Adoption Month Drawing Contest Winners Announced!

2009-11-23T10:19:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who helped a child participate in this contest and thank you to all of the children who participated! Overall, we received 36 entries and choosing winners sure wasn't easy. We are posting the Grand Prize Winner and each 1st place winner in each age category. All winners, 1st through 3rd in each category, are posted on our website: 2009 Drawing Contest Winners.

Each participant who won will receive a prize donated by Sheetz and the grand prize, a digital camera with memory card, was donated anonymously. We would also like to thank our great judge and talented artist, Amanda Jane Miller of S.Charleston, WV. Thank you all so much!

The theme for this year's contest was "My Dreams"

The Grand Prize goes to Philip, age 11. Titled: "A New Beginning"

Age Category 4 - 6. 1st Place: Hayden (age6)

Age Category 7 - 9. 1st Place: Austin (age 7)

Age Category 10 - 13. 1st Place: Emma (age 11)

Age Category 14 - 18. 1st Place: Natasha (age 14)

Adoption Month Press Conference

2009-11-20T07:58:00.000-08:00

A National Adoption Month Press Conference was held yesterday at The Supreme Court Chambers in Charleston, West Virginia. The purpose of the conference was to promote awareness of the thousands of children in foster care and encourage West Virginians to consider adoption.

Speakers included, Steven Canterbury (Administrative Director), Chief Justice Brent D. Benjamin, Justice Workman, and concluded with a touching adoption story from the E family about their special choice to adopt two different sets of siblings after first having a biological daughter. Spoken with love and compassion in his voice, the adoptive father's story was very touching and when his 9 year old adoptive daughter spoke, almost everyone in the crowd was in tears. His daughter, spoke of the many homes she had lived in while in foster care and about how happy she is now that she has found love in her new adoptive family with her new mommy and daddy.

Above: The E family with Justice Workman
Chief Justice Benjamin and Justice Workman spoke about their personal experiences with adoption as well as their professional experiences helping children who have been abused and/or neglected. As they mentioned, there are thousands of children in the foster care system and approximately 1,000 of them in WV are legally eligible to be adopted and waiting for a permanent family. Chief Justice Benjamin mentioned how important it is for West Virginians to help our children and realize the small things that are important in the life of a child. A child who is waiting to be adopted doesn't have a family of their own to come home to after school, a family to eat dinner with, or a family to be encouraged by.

Those who spoke, urged everyone listening to open their lives, hearts and homes to West Virginia children. There are so many wonderful kids in our state who are legally eligible for adoption, but sadly, their age or other circumstances keep them from finding a loving family. We at FrameWorks encourage you to please visit our website (click here: Waiting Children) or visit the State's site http://www.adoptawvchild.org/ and learn more about the children in West Virginia who are waiting for a loving family. Also, our number is 866-CALL-MWV and we are waiting to hear from you.

A special thank you to Nikki Tennis and staff of the Administrative Office of the Supreme Court of Appeals of WV for organizing and hosting this wonderful event.

Event Reminder!

2009-11-18T07:12:00.000-08:00

We hope to see you on Saturday at the Clay Center in Charleston, West Virginia for our big National Adoption Day Event! Below is a recap of the schedule:

Starting at 3 PM, event participants will have free access to the Discovery Museum, followed by refreshments and a luminary project for children at the Intermezzo café from 4:45 to 5:30. The celebration will conclude outside with a candlelight ceremony.

We hope that if adoption has touched your life in any way or if you would like to open your heart and life to adoption, that you join us.

If you have thought about adoption, what kinds of questions do you have? Please feel free to comment on our blog and we can get some discussion going! Or, if you feel more comfortable making a phone call, our number is 866-CALL-MWV. Thanks for reading our blog and we look forward to seeing you this Saturday at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV!

A BIG THANKS to IHOP of Barboursville, WV!

2009-11-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

Above: IHOP's friendly Staff

We had a wonderful event last night at the IHOP in Barboursville. We had several people show up in support of the event and met lots of new people. The highlight of the evening was seeing the Bo family with their daughter J. J’s adoption was finalized yesterday morning and we celebrated with cake and balloons!

Above: The B family entering IHOP

20% of proceeds between the hours of 5 to 9 PM will be donated to FrameWorks. The IHOP staff worked really hard for us and were very accommodating. We are most appreciative for everything Barboursville IHOP and their wonderful staff have done to help us empower the lives of West Virginia Foster Children.

Above, FrameWorks adoption worker, Carol Phipps,

talks with adoptive parent and friend of FrameWorks, Rita Boyles.
And below: Kellie Booton and Patti Harold, WVDHHR Social Workers

came out to support FrameWorks!We would like to thank everyone who came out in support of FrameWorks last night!

Have you ever thought about adoption or fostering?

2009-11-09T08:26:00.000-08:00

The FrameWorks PR Director and Americorp VISTA spent Nov. 5 - 8 at the Huntington Mall table fair. Shown above is a photo of the FrameWorks display and Mini Heart Gallery of WV. The Mini Heart Gallery, just like the large Heart Gallery, displays photos and profiles of children/youth in West Virginia who are currently legally eligible to be adopted and waiting for a family. If your business or organization would like to display the Heart Gallery at an event of conference, please give us a call.

We would like to thank the Huntington Mall for inviting us to this event and to all of Huntington Mall's Patrons who stopped by to talk to us about adoption and foster care in WV. Overall, the table fair was a great success and we sent out several information packets this morning to people who are interested in fostering and/or adopting.

If you missed us at the mall, we would love to talk to you about adoption or foster care - just dial 866-CALL-MWV. With approximately 1,000 children in the West Virginia Foster Care System who are legally eligible for adoption, we ask that if you are considering adoption, you stop waiting and pick up the phone!

Dine for Kids

2009-11-04T08:58:00.000-08:00

Please join us for another great opportunity to Dine for Kids on Thursday November 12th! That's right, all you have to do is go out to eat, have fun, and you are helping empower the lives of foster children! On November 12th, the IHOP at Barboursville Mall in Huntington, WV is donating 20% of all proceeds between the hours of 5 to 9 p.m. to FrameWorks.

FrameWorks is a nonprofit organization located in Hurricane, WV that works state-wide to find loving permanent families for children who are waiting in foster care and are legally eligible for adoption.

We hope you can join us and spread the word about our upcoming event. Thank you IHOP!

Advocating for the Best Interest of the Child - Free Training

2009-10-30T11:56:00.000-07:00

There will be a FREE training sponsored by the Regional Specialized Foster Parent Networks, Regions I, II, and III, with assistance from the Foster Family-Based Treatment Association and the Alliance for Children.

The trainer will be Julie Lynch, Esq. - Legal Director of Child Law Services, Inc.

Highlights: CEUs for Social Workers, Continuing Education Hours for Foster Parents/Adoptive Parents, and on site child care will be available.

First Training:

Where: Christ Church United Methodist 1221 Quarrier St. Charleston, WV

When: November 3rd, 2009

Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Child care will be provided for children not in school. Hours will count towards maintaining their certification as foster and adoptive families. Foster and Adoptive Families and staff can RSVP to myself or to the Alliance for Children at lbellomy(at)alliance4children.org or by calling 304.342.8477

FrameWorks' Adoption Myth Buster!

2009-10-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

What's thought: 45% of Americans think children in foster care have entered the system because of juvenile delinquency.

Reality: Children enter the system through no fault of their own, as victims of neglect, abandonment and/or abuse. The majority of these children liven with foster families, not in group homes or institutions.

What's thought: 67% of those considering adoption are concerned the biological parents will be able to take the child back.

Reality: Once a child has been legally made available for adoption, birth parents cannot claim a child or petition for their return.

What's thought: 46% of Americans mistakenly think foster care adoption is expensive.

Reality: Foster care adoption is not expensive, and there is financial support available.

What's thought: Only 37% of Americans think a person over the age of 55 can definitely provide a healthy and loving environment for a child.

Reality: 23% of adopted children live with an adoptive parent 55 years or older.

Do you have any questions about foster care or adoption, or maybe you have a concern that could possibly be a MYTH? Let us know, we would love to hear from you. Give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV or email adopt(at)missionwv.org.

This information is from "A Child Is Waiting - A Step-By-Step Guide to Adoption" by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

Earn CEUs and CLEs at a RAPP Workshop!

2009-10-20T12:48:00.000-07:00

To view a larger image of the flyer, please click on it and a PDF file will open.

On Saturday November 14th, there will be a FREE workshop on Grandparent's Rights and Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008. Grandparent's Rights will be presented by Heather McClung, Berkeley County Law Librarian and Foster Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act will be presented by Heidi Epstein JD, MSW, Director of Kinship Policy with the American Bar Association. The event starts at 10 AM and will be at the Berkeley Baptist Church, Winchester Grade Road, Berkeley Springs, WV. Lunch and Child Care (for children up to the age of 12) will be PROVIDED!Fore more information, please call 866-CALL-MWV or email Laura Lou Harbert at lharbert(at)missionwv.orgAgain, you may read more about the workshop by clicking on the image above.

Thank you and we hope to see you there!

Mark your calendars! 2009 National Adoption Month Event

2009-10-19T07:16:00.000-07:00

Please join us on Saturday November 21st at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV for an Adoption Month Celebration. Starting at 3 p.m. with free admission to the Discovery Museum for Adoption Month Event participants followed by refreshments and a luminary project at 4:45 and ending with an outside candlelight ceremony from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

This event has been organized and sponsored by the WV Recruitment and Retention Collaborative and the WV Department of Health and Human Resources. For more details, please click on the image of the flyer to open a larger/printable PDF file or call 866-CALL-MWV. We hope to see you there!

FrameWorks Features Families - WV adoptive families!

2009-10-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

Pictured Above: The Boyles Family

Last year, FrameWorks started an Adoptive Family Portrait Project to showcase the positive aspects of adopting through the foster care system. As a part of our 2008 National Adoption Month event, we displayed these photos throughout the lower rotunda of the WV Capitol Building and it was very inspiring to see so many loving families who have opened their lives and hearts to foster children. As a part of that project, the families agreed that we could continue to use the photos and their stories to continue this showcase of love. While not all of the participating families have yet been added to our website, you can read several stories by visiting our website, click here: WV Adoptive Families.

2009 Drawing Contest Update!

2009-10-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

We have great news! Sheetz is making a donation to the 2009 National Adoption Month Drawing Contest for the purchase of gift cards for prizes! We now have a very nice Sony Cybershot Digital Camera with a memory card for the grand prize winner, and funding to provide gift cards to many of the children who participate!

We are excited about this year's drawing contest as entries have slowly started making their way into our mailbox, however, we feel that more time should be allotted for the children/youth to submit their art and we have extended the due date until October 28th. We will be accepting art for the drawing contest as long as it is post marked by October 28th! So please, spread the word and submit your children's/youth's artwork - they have a great chance of winning a prize. Also, art is such a wonderful creative outlet of expression and with this year's theme "My Dreams" we hope that the children and youth who participate are able to realize their strengths and know that their dreams and goals are limitless.

We are so grateful to the donor of the digital camera and to Sheetz for providing prize money for this great cause. Thank you to everyone who has helped out, we can't wait to post photos of the art after the final submissions are made. To learn more and download the entry form, please click here: 2009 Drawing Contest.

2009 National Adoption Month Save the Date!

2009-10-08T11:31:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Please reserve November 21st on your calendar because you are going to be busy that day hanging with us!

On Saturday November 21st we are getting together at the Clay Center in Charleston for some fun at the museum followed by snacks, cake, hot chocolate!, and a candlelight vigil in celebration of National Adoption Month. We plan to have several great speakers and this event provides a great opportunity for West Virginians to join together to celebrate adoptions and remember the hundreds of thousands of children who are currently in foster care.

More details will come shortly so please don't forget to SAVE THE DATE!

News from the Children's Home Society of WV

2009-10-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

The Children’s Home Society announces that US Senator Jay Rockefeller has nominated one of our many dedicated families as “Angels in Adoption.” This award is used to recognize those who reach out to vulnerable children and provide them with a safe and loving home. The parents, David and Dawn Heatwole have an amazing story that has touched the lives of many children.

Senator Rockefeller's press release: Tribute to the Heatwole Family and the Heatwoles' story:

Dawn and David had been married several years when they were told that it was unlikely they would be able to have children. Rather than becoming discouraged, the couple decided that they would like to adopt a young boy from Russia who they had found out about through their church. While waiting for the lengthy international adoption process to go through, Dawn and David decided to become foster parents.

In April 2005 the Heatwoles undertook the challenge of caring for a 7- month-old boy with serious medical problems. Less than a year later the child was placed on a donor list because he required a liver transplant. As his condition continued to worsen, Dawn's sister volunteered to be tested and proved to be an appropriate donor match. The surgery was successful and their adopted son, Adam, is now a healthy 4 year old.

Shortly after bringing Adam into their home, David and Dawn took in another infant foster child, Ethan. Nine months later they welcomed Ethan's brother Asa into their growing family. In January of 2007, the Heatwoles were able to adopt Pasha from Russia, and they did not stop there. In May of 2008, they also accepted Adam's sister as another precious child in their home.
Over the past 5 years, the Heatwoles have provided a safe and loving environment for nine children. They have opened their home to children in need, and have fought to ensure that children are the top priority in the foster care system. Dawn and David have endured the challenges that accompany ailing and drug dependent infants, as well as the challenge of helping a non-English speaking child adapt to a new culture.

To see a photo of the family, please visit the Children's Home Society website: http://www.childhswv.org

West Virginians reaching out to help foster children.

2009-10-05T10:56:00.000-07:00

Many thanks are in order to those of you who work to empower the lives of foster children and help our mission of finding loving forever families for children who are waiting to be adopted.

Recently, we received a donation from a preschool class and we hope this great idea inspires you to think of creative ways you can raise funds to help your favorite nonprofit organizations. We would like to thank Gianna Blake and Mrs. Heather's 3 year old afternoon preschool class at Hills and Dales Preschool in Wheeling, WV for their recent donation. Rather than spending money on take home treat bags for a school birthday party, the money was donated to our CELEBRATIONS program which funds special events for children in the foster care system.

Gianna's mother, Marla Blake, wrote "foster care and adoption is near and dear to our hearts and we are happy and honored to help out in any way possible. Thank god for your dedication and commitment to this incredible cause." We are touched by Marla's words and so thankful to Gianna and her preschool class. We would also like to thank Pfizer Pharmaceuticals who is going to match the donation made by the preschool class.

We would also like to thank the Huntington Mall who has given us permission to display the WV Heart Gallery in the mall. The display is in the window front of what used to be Steve and Barry's - on the left side of the main door to the store. Steve and Barry's is in the hallway that leads to Dick's Sporting goods, so if you go to the Huntington Mall, please stop by and take a look at the gallery. Thank you Huntington Mall!

Sunday's Child Column

2009-09-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

There are many children in the state foster care system that are legally eligible for adoption and seeking a loving forever family. To see photos and read information about these children you can visit the West Virginia Adoption Resource Network by clicking here: Adopt a WV Child or by visiting the waiting children page of the FrameWorks website by clicking here: Waiting Kids.

Another way that we reach out to find potential adoptive parents is a column called Sunday's Child. Sunday's Child spotlights the photo and a brief description of a child who is waiting to be adopted.

There are several papers in WV that have agreed to publish Sunday's Child and we are most appreciative of their efforts to help us find loving families. To view the most recent Sunday's Child Column online, you can visit the link below. Not all of the papers who participate publish the column online, so check your local paper for the Sunday's Child column. If you don't see the column in your local paper and would like to help us get it published, give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV. Thanks!

Recent Sunday's Child Column:
The Journal
The Herald Dispatch
The Charleston Gazette

Fall 2009 Newsletter

2009-09-23T06:59:00.000-07:00

Check out what FrameWorks of Mission West Virginia has been up to, read about our featured adoptive family, fall in love with two featured youth who are legally eligible for adoption, learn about upcoming news and events, and more!

You can open and read the Fall 2009 Newsletter by clicking on the picture above or by visiting the link: http://www.missionwv.org/frameworks/documents/fall2009newsletter1_000.pdf We hope that you take a few minutes to read our newsletter and share it with friends. You can read past newsletters by visiting: http://www.missionwv.org/frameworks/Newsletters.html

If you are currently a FrameWorks newsletter reader, what do you like most about the newsletter? Or perhaps, there is something you would like to see featured? PLEASE, let us know! We would love your input. Thanks!

Save the Date!

2009-09-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

This is a "Save The Date" notice for a workshop the Relatives As Parent Program is hosting on Saturday November 14 at Berkeley Springs, WV. The workshop will be presented by Heidi Epstein JD, MSW, Director of Kinship Policy, with the American Bar Association in Washington, DC. The subject is provisions of The Fostering Connections to Success & Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.

Who should attend? Relative Caregivers, Attorneys, Judges, FRN Directors, WVU Extension Service Agents, Private Agency Staff, CASA Staff and Volunteers, Social Workers, and other interested people.

Detailed information and registration will be available as arrangements are finalized. Mission WV, Inc. is coordinating the workshop. The contact person is Laura Lou Harbert at 866-CALL-MWV.

We hope you can attend! Feel free to call with any questions!

2009 Drawing Contest

2009-09-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

In celebration of National Adoption Month, which is November, we are having a drawing contest that is open to foster and adopted children/youth who live in West Virginia and are between the ages of 4 to 18. With four age groups, there will a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prize for each age group and the Grand Prize Winner will receive the prize of a digital camera that was donated by an anonymous sponsor!

The theme for the contest this year is "My Dreams." Last year's theme was "Family" and the photos posted on this blog post are from the 2008 Drawing Contest.

The art will be displayed at different locations throughout the month of November during events that celebration National Adoption Month.

For all of the details and the entry form, please visit: http://www.missionwv.org/frameworks/SpecialProjects.html

We hope you encourage your children/youth to participate and we look forward to hearing back from you all. Do you have any suggestions about spreading the word for the drawing contest? If you have any ideas or suggestions, please give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV. Also, if you would like to make a donation to go towards prizes, that would be appreciated as well.

September 13th is National Grandparent's Day!

2009-09-11T06:12:00.000-07:00

Did you know that Grandparent's Day was started by a West Virginian? That's right, the founder of what is now a National Holiday was started by Marion McQuade of Fayette County, West Virginia. This year, National Grandparent's Day will be celebrated on September 13, 2009.

The first Grandparents Day was proclaimed in 1973 in West Virginia by Gov. Arch Moore. In 1978, President Carter signed legislation proclaiming the first Sunday after Labor Day as Grandparents Day. The purpose of Grandparents Day is three fold:

- To honor grandparents
- To give grandparents an opportunity to show love for their children’s children
- To help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer

According to the 2000 US census there are over 24,000 children in West Virginia living in grandparent headed households. The Relatives as Parents Program in West Virginia offers support to grandparents raising their grandchildren. Services include special events, support groups, workshops, a web page, a list serve, a lending library and resource materials.

We hope you take a moment or two on Grandparent's Day to recognize and celebrate your own grandparents as well as others in our state. Do you have plans to celebrate Grandparent's Day? We would love to know what you have planned.

For ideas on how to celebrate Grandparent's Day, please visit http://www.grandparentsforchildren.org/

FrameWorks Updates

2009-09-03T06:07:00.000-07:00

First, we would like to announce that the Carrie's Kids segments that were filmed at Camden Park will start airing on Tuesday September 22nd on WSAZ and then will air every other Tuesday after that! Carrie's Kids segments are shown during the 5 o'clock news. FrameWorks staff will be standing by the phone lines in case you are interested in the featured child or want to learn more information about adoption - our number is 866-CALL-MWV.

Secondly, we would love it if you would sign up for our E-newsletter! Do you see the gray and green box on the upper right hand side of this page? YES?! Please click that box and you will receive our E-newsletter! We promise we won't spam your mailbox or share your address.

Thanks! If you have any problems signing up for the E-newsletter, please let us know. And as usual, if you have any questions about adoption, foster care, or kinship care, please call us. Thanks and have a wonderful day!

Carrie's Kids - Day at Camden Park

2009-08-31T11:32:00.000-07:00

Above: Carrie Cline interviews foster youth

On Saturday August 29, the owners of Camden Park offered free admission to West Virginia and Kentucky foster children who are legally eligible for adoption with no identified resource. These children were able to enjoy a fun day at the park and get interviewed by Carrie Cline of WSAZ to be featured on Carrie's Kids, a segment that features children who are legally eligible for adoption.

Below: Carrie Cline interviews foster youth

We had a great day at the park, filmed several segments, and had tons of fun! We would like to thank Camden Park for being so generous and helping us to recruit forever families for these children. We would also like to thank WSAZ and Carrie Cline for her dedication to find loving families, the social workers who used their personal time on a Saturday to bring the kids to the park, and everyone else involved.

Above: Foster Youth at Camden Park

Those who worked together to make this event possible include: Mission West Virginia, Inc., Children's Home Society, Kentucky Health and Family Services, WV DHHR, Carrie Cline of WSAZ and the owners of Camden Park.

If you are interested in adoption, please call us at 866-CALL- MWV or email adopt(at)missionwv(dot)org.

FrameWorks Adoption Myth Buster

2009-08-25T11:07:00.001-07:00

Myth: Adoption is too expensive and I can't afford it.

Fact: There is NO COST to adopt a child through the West Virginia DHHR. While private adoption agencies may differ in cost, there is NO cost to adopt through the state. Also, subsidies are also available for special needs children to assist with general and medical care.

Do you have any questions about foster care or adoption that FrameWorks could answer? We are here to bust all of the common myths about adoption and offer you factual information about the process of fostering and/or adopting a WV foster child.

For more information, check out our FAQ web page by clicking here: FrameWorks FAQ Page

Give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV or email adopt(at)missionwv(dot)org

Are you a foster and/or adoptive parent who reads our blog? We would love for you to leave comments of encouragement to those who might be thinking about starting the process.

Thanks!

The Heart Gallery of WV

2009-08-20T10:18:00.001-07:00

The Heart Gallery is a traveling photography exhibit that features portraits of West Virginia’s foster children who are eligible for adoption. The exhibit, named “The Heart Gallery of West Virginia – Portraits of Hope”, seeks to bring a face and give a voice to children who need and deserve the love of a family. By sharing their stories, the Heart Gallery hopes to touch hearts and find families for the children ready for adoption. Recognizing the need to accomplish this goal, photographers from across the state have volunteered their time and talent to create intimately compelling portraits of some of West Virginia’s waiting children.

The purpose of the Heart Gallery is to feature children who have yet to find their permanent family. Many of the children featured have waited years to be matched with a family who will love and support them to adulthood and beyond. Every child deserves to grow up with love, support and the safety of a family.

The goals of the Heart Gallery of West Virginia are to spotlight children available for adoption, recruit families for children featured in the Heart Gallery, and recruit additional foster and adoptive families for West Virginia’s children.

We are always seeking out new venues to host the Heart Gallery. Please contact us with suggestions or ideas. Thanks! 866-CALL-MWV

Our Photographers

The Heart Gallery wishes to extend a special thank you to our photographers for volunteering their time and putting their own “heart” into this project. These photographers are as full of hope and courage as the children they so beautifully portrayed. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts and appreciate their willingness to share their creativity and talents.

Dewayne & Ginnie Lowther - Parkersburg, WV
John Fluharty - Charleston, WV
Nicki Starcher - Parkersburg, WV
Paul & Dottie Bibbee - Parkersburg, WV
Ric MacDowell - Lincoln County, WV
Kim Earl - Charleston, WV
Courtney Bell - Huntingon, WV http://www.courtneybellphoto.com/
Amanda Glass Photography - http://www.amandaglassphotography.com/
Tonya Rohrbaugh - Country Charm Photography http://www.countrycharmphotography.com/
Rebecca Kiger Fotografia - http://www.rebeccakiger.com/

WV Recruitment and Retention Collaborative

2009-08-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

Mission West Virginia has partnered with several foster parents and private and public agencies in WV to form a foster/adoptive family recruitment collaborative. By bringing together several entities from across the state, we are working to combine efforts to recruit new families who are open to foster parenting and adoption in the state of WV.

The group met yesterday, November 18th, at the Mission WV office in Hurricane, WV. The group meets every third Tuesday of the month and if you are interested in joining us and would like more information, please call 866-CALL-MWV. The R&R Collaborative is currently planning events to celebrate National Adoption Month, which is November.

Yesterday's meeting was attended by representatives from Mission WV, National Youth Advocacy Program, Children's Home Society, Braley and Thompson Inc., the Administrative Office of the Courts - Division of Children's Services, and the WVDHHR.

Youth in Transition Conference

2009-08-14T06:59:00.000-07:00

FrameWorks' AmeriCorps VISA Memory Cooper who is currently working on a mentoring program for youth aging out of foster care recently attended the Youth in Transition Conference at Cedar Lakes in Ripley West Virginia.

According to Memory, "The Youth in Transition Conference was a great success. It is one of few conferences held throughout the year for youth that are transitioning out of foster care. This conference brings the youth together in a fun environment where they can learn valuable information to help prepare them for their life's journey."

At the conference, youth attended many workshops that gave them valuable tools and information to prepare them to live on their own, these included: T.H.I.N.K (which discusses the importance of abstinence), Career Path and Planning, College Readiness, Goal Setting, a Panel Discussion from college students, and stress management.

Among those who attended the conference was special guest, Karen McKay, who played her banjo while entertaining youth and staff.

The Conference was organized by the WVU Center for Excellence in Disabilities' Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. Phone: (304) 558-6067

Top 10 Reasons to Adopt a Teen!

2009-08-13T07:10:00.001-07:00

There are many reasons to adopt a teen and there are several "Top Ten Reasons Why" lists floating around the Internet, but I found this one especially fun and up-to-date. I give complete credit for this list to the County of Fresno Dept. of Children and Family Services.

TOP TEN REASONS TO ADOPT A TEEN

1. NO DIAPERS TO CHANGE, NO BOTTLES, FORMULA OR BURP RAGS REQUIRED.

2. WE SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT.

3. WE WILL BE READY TO MOVE OUT SOONER...BUT WE WILL ALWAYS COME HOME TO VISIT.

4. YOU DON'T JUST GET A CHILD, YOU GET A FRIEND.

5. WE WILL KEEP YOU UP TO DATE ON THE LATEST FASHIONS AND TRENDS.

6. NO MORE CARPOOLS; WE CAN DRIVE YOU PLACES.

7. WE CAN PICK UP AFTER OURSELVES AND HELP AROUND THE HOUSE...WHEN WE WANT TO.

8. WE CAN LEARN FROM YOU AND WE CAN TEACH YOU TO BE MORE PATIENT, UNDERSTANDING, KIND AND EMPATHETIC.

9. WE CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO PROGRAM YOUR CELL PHONE AND IPOD, AND TEACH YOU HOW TO WORK YOUR COMPUTER.

10. WE WILL BE PART OF YOUR LIFE; SOMEONE TO SHARE OUR LIFE DREAMS; ACHIEVEMENTS AND HOLIDAYS WITH.

In WV there are many teens who are waiting for a forever family. If you would like to learn more information about adopting, please call FrameWorks at 866-CALL-MWV

CELEBRATIONS!

2009-08-10T13:01:00.000-07:00

Celebrations!, our newest project, is helping to fund special events for children in the foster care system. Celebrations! was created to create special days and positive memories for children growing up in the foster care system. Donations are used to fund expenses for birthday parties, proms, graduations or other special events.

Check out the latest CELEBRATIONS! story:

Breanna and her brother were adopted by their aunt. Their worker wrote that the children “had recently moved to a new location with their aunt. The home has minimal furnishings. The aunt works 2 jobs to pay the high rent and uses what is left for the kids basic needs. Her adoptive mom will help her decorate and organize her room. She has many friends over and would like a room to be proud of. “

Breanna’s aunt wrote about the room makeover:

It was a great joy to watch them. We have all gone through some very emotional days while going through the adoption process. I cannot thank this organization enough for making the end of the process a better celebration. Breanna was so excited to shop for decorations to match the paint she chose. ...Breanna and her new sisters became a little closer as they all worked on her room together. Once again I would like to express sincere gratitude for all that was given to our family through this experience.

Breanna wrote:

I am writing this letter to you to thank you for the money for my room. I really enjoyed shopping for my room. I also enjoyed spending time with my sisters. My room is not quite finished yet with the painting the ceiling. But I love it and so does my friends and family. Thank you so much my room looks amazing.

Items bought for the bedroom makeover:

New bed sheets (brown and white)
New paint (brown and pink and white)
A brown basket (little)
A new laundry basket (white)
New curtain (pink and white and brown)
New curtain rod (dark brown)
Picture frames (pink)
A new bathroom rug (blue and yellow)
Another basket to hold stuff (white)
New picture

Before photos:

After photos:

Hovah Underwood Memorial Award

2009-07-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

Pictured above, MWV Board Member, Lynn Bennett, and

MWV Executive Director, Dr. Charles Chandler,

present the award to recipient Linda Hoffman.

We would like to take this opportunity to utilize the FrameWorks blog by announcing that Mission West Virginia, Inc. has announced the winner of the Hovah Underwood Memorial Award for Community Service. The 2009 winner is Linda Hoffman, an instructional aide at T.A. Lowerly Elementary School in Shenandoah Junction, WV.

Pictured above, Linda Hoffman accepts the award.

The award is made annually to a deserving citizen who has excelled in helping others, especially children. Emphasis is given to the volunteer aspect, which was very important to its namesake, Hovah Underwood, wife of the late Governor.

Mrs. Hoffman is a caring influence at school, and continually goes the “extra mile” to be of service to children. She is equally involved in the church and civic areas of Jefferson County and nearby Maryland. The Hovah Underwood award was given at the West Virginia Leadership Conference, formerly the Volunteer Conference.

Grant Awarded to Mission WV!

2009-07-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

The Robert H. Mollohan Family Charitable Foundation, Inc. has awarded a grant of $2,500 to Mission WV, Inc. through a Community Grant Program.

This grant will be used to support the BIKISI program, which operates under the E-impact program. BIKISI (Build it, Keep it, Share it) is a youth computer education program that takes place in rural communities throughout West Virginia. During a one week training, youth are provided with the tools, parts, and knowledge needed to build their own computer. At the end of the training, the student is able to take the computer home with them. BIKISI is in partnership with the Workforce Investment Board and Regional Education Service Agency (RESA).

Memory Cooper, FrameWorks AmeriCorps Vista, submitted the grant applications. Congratulations Memory! Memory recently joined us from Indianapolis, IN and we are happy to have her as a part of our team. She is working on the first phase of a project that will work to help foster care youth who are at risk of aging out. Youth, aging out of foster care, are often unprepared for transition to adulthood. This project will target those youth and coordinate community wide efforts to assist these young people in transition. The project is a collaborative effort of Mission WV, Children's Home Society, West Virginia's Promise, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. A grant from the Benedum Foundation was received by Mission WV, Inc. to fund the program.

Walk Me Home...to the place I belong.

2009-07-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

On May 23rd 2009, the National Foster Parent Association, the WV Recruitment and Retention Collaborative and Mission,WV sponsored a walk called "Walk Me Home...to the place I belong" to raise funds for foster care programming throughout WV. Foster parents, adoptive parents, social workers, friends, family, everyone, joined together to make this event a success and we were able to raise over 15 thousand dollars!

On Saturday July 18th, Melvin Gravely, National Foster Parent Association Board President presented FrameWorks' employee Rachel Probst with a check for the remainder of the funds that were raised online.

Also, Saturday July 18th marked the date for the second meeting of the WV chapter of the NFPA. At the latest meeting, the group developed a mission statement: To Support and Advocate for WV Resource Families.

The group developed strategic directives and went over bylaws and 501(c)3 information. The next meeting will be held on Saturday, September 12 in Morgantown, with exact location still to be determined. An interim board will be elected at the next meeting. For more information on joining the WV chapter of the National Foster Parent Association, please give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV.

Again, thank you to all of those who made Walk Me Home a success. We look forward to next year's walk!

Check us out!!!

2009-07-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

In partnership with the WV Department of Health and Human Resources, FrameWorks has developed a billboard that is now on display at three locations in the Charleston area. It is our hope that potential foster/adoptive parents, relative caregivers, potential volunteers, and leaders in the Charleston community will all notice our billboard and either call or visit our website.

If you live in the area, please check out our billboards! You can find one by the Wendy's Parking lot in Kanawha City, another one is at 5414Maccorkle Avenue when heading to the mall and is on the left (the mall where Gabriel Brothers is), and a third one is in St. Albans on Rt. 60 just a little past Value City on the right side of the road. If you see one of the billboards, please let us know. We would like to thank Kanawha Valley Advertising for providing a discounted rate for the billboards. Mission WV is a certified nonprofit organization and we are always looking for free or discounted media, so if you have any connections or suggestions, we are all ears!

Also, in other news, we would like to again thank Carrie Cline for the work she is doing to find permanent families for waiting children. After the segment on Adam was aired we received 11 calls!!! We just love hearing from new potential parents who can provide loving families to children in our state. After all, there are no unwanted children in WV, just unfound families.

Our Condolences

2009-07-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

On Thursday July 9th, a couple who was known for adopting special needs children was killed in their home. The couple’s names were Byrd and Melanie Billings and they lived in Pensacola, Florida. Together, the couple had 16 children, 12 of which were adopted – several having Down Syndrome, Autism, and other disabilities.

While three men have been arrested for the murder of these parents, the whole story and what is referred to as a “complex web of relationships” hasn’t been released. According to the media, the family did not know any of the murder suspects and robbery was one of the reasons for this horrible tragedy.

The Billings were a wealthy couple who wanted to share their wealth with children who were in need, but “didn’t imagine their family would grow so large.” The FrameWorks staff would like to send our condolences out to the family and friends of this family. It is sad to see that such a loving family who opened their lives and their hearts to so many children have had such untimely deaths. To read more about the story, please click on the following link: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31887302/ns/today_people/

Carrie's Kids

2009-07-10T12:55:00.001-07:00

FrameWorks has teamed up with Carrie Cline at WSAZ Channel 3 to help find loving, permanent homes for children available for adoption. Every Tuesday on First at Five tune in to WSAZ Channel 3 news to watch "Carrie's Kids," a short segment that features foster children who are legally eligible to be adopted.

On June 9th, Carrie interviewed Adam, a 13 year old boy who enjoys fishing, swimming, riding his bike, and exploring the outdoors. The segment was filmed at Ritter Park in Huntington and we are excited for it to air on Tuesday June 14th on WSAZ's 5 o'clock news. Also, you can see Adam's segment and others online by visiting http://www.wsaz.com/carrieskids

We would like to thank Carrie and WSAZ for this partnership as we are very excited about this new opportunity to recruit families for waiting kids.

What is a Home Study?

2009-07-09T07:49:00.000-07:00

A home study is a series of meetings between you and an agency social worker. Once you have applied to adopt, all 50 states require by law that applicants go through a home study, which is a study of a family and their home. This process involves education and preparation as well as a gathering of information about the applicants. As an applicant, you may need to gather documents such as:

Birth Certificates (for yourself and your spouse if applicable)
Your Marriage License
Child Abuse Clearance
Personal References
An autobiographical statement
Some agencies may require a health statement
You are usually asked to verify your income by providing an income statement

You will also go have several interviews with your home finder. It is important to know that the home finder isn't doing a "white glove" inspection, but is learning more about you and your family to verify that the child will be entering a safe and healthy environment.

While it may seem intimidating to face the entire process and gather all of this information, if you are armed with accurate information you can face the home study experience with confidence and the excitement of knowing you will be welcoming a new child into your loving family.

On average, a home study takes between three to six months.

If you have any more questions about the adoption process of home studies, please call FrameWorks at 866-CALL-MWV or email adopt@missionwv.org

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Dine for Kids

2009-07-07T06:58:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday August 26th, 2009, if you eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner at the Southridge Bob Evans in Charleston, WV 15% of the proceeds will go to FrameWorks! All you have to do is give the cashier our flyer when you pay your bill! Please download and print the flyer by visiting: http://www.missionwv.org/frameworks/News.html

Please distribute the flyer to all of your friends and family and don't forget to bring it with you when you Dine for Kids!

The flyer can be used when you carryout or dine in. We hope this is a successful event and we look forward to seeing you at Bob Evans on Wednesday, August 26th!
The Southridge Bob Evans is located at 2809 Mountaineer Blvd.

Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2009

2009-07-02T06:46:00.000-07:00

As I was browsing foster care related news stories this morning I came across a very inspiring story of a young lady who was raised in foster care and recently earned her doctorate in Pharmacy. In that article I found some very interesting information about the Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2009, which was written to support programs throughout the nation that provide mentoring for children in foster care. With an overwhelming amount of research that shows that caring adults can make a difference in the lives of children (73% of mentored teens achieve higher goals generally), mentor programs offer a cost-effective approach to empowering the lives of foster children and youth.

This bill, if passed, will provide millions of dollars throughout the US to establish or expand mentoring programs. From what I was able to find, states will be eligible to receive up to $600,000, volunteer mentors will be offered student loan forgiveness in federal loans up to $20,000, and there will be a national $4 million public awareness campaign.

Volunteers who participate in the mentoring program will be eligible to receive $2,000 of loan forgiveness for every 200 hours they serve.

If you are interested, you can call your United States Senator and Member of Congress and ask them to support the Foster Care Mentoring Act of 2009. (Call 202-225-3121 for the U.S. House and 202-224-3121 for the U.S. Senate.)

Carrie

Miss West Virginia!

2009-07-01T08:47:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, June 30th, we were pleased to have a meeting with Miss West Virginia 2009, Talia Markam. We would like to congratulate Talia on her accomplishment and we are very excited to partner with her on our common goal of finding permanent loving families for foster children in West Virginia.

Talia is an advocate for children and their right to have a safe home and a loving family. She is very educated and passionate about issues surrounding foster care and we couldn't be more excited to work with Talia during the upcoming year. We will keep you updated on this partnership and again, CONGRATULATIONS Talia!

The children pictured in this photo are legally eligible to be adopted. If you have any questions about adoption and/or foster care, please contact us at 866-CALL-MWV or email adopt(at)missionwv(dot)org

FrameWorks Blog

2009-06-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

Thanks for stopping by!

We hope that you visit our blog often and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have about adoption and/or foster care in WV. There are currently approximately 4,000 children in the WV foster care system, and nearly 1,000 of those children are legally eligible to be adopted. For more information, please visit http://web.missionwv.org/frameworks/index.html

Thanks for stopping by and we will be posting again soon!

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