Fist Pump Friday

Happy Friday! 

As we close out the week, here's a few things that got us talking this week. They definitely deserve a fist pump!

Community graduation party for teens. Will you be attending a graduation open house this spring for friends or family? What if there was a whole group of students who graduated and never had a party or acknowledgment of their achievement? A  group of folks in Cedar Valley is making sure all foster youth in their area get to celebrate! You're invited to come encourage youth earning their diplomas and G.E.Ds. See more.

Great foster parent stories. To be a successful foster parent, you need patience, flexibility and a willingness to be part of a team (among other things!). I heard a powerful story this week about all three, as a family who initially became licensed intending to adopt later changed their perceptions about how how their family could help others. They've since become involved in foster parenting and helping birth families. In a twist, they may end up adopting after all, as one of their youth may need an adoptive home. It's great to see families discover new strengths.

Waiting child stories. It is always a good moment when we receive a request to remove a child from the Iowa KidsNet photolistings. This means potential adoptive homes or a permanent connection to a supportive, caring adult has been identified. Meet other Iowa children still waiting for this permanent support.

Iowa Aftercare Services Network. In all 99 counties, Iowa youth aging out of foster care can connect with the Iowa Aftercare Services Network to be assigned a self-sufficiency advocate and learn more about available support as they transition to young adulthood. See this week's news story highlighting this important resource!

What in your life deserves a fist pump this week?

Why Social Workers Matter

Let's end this Friday on a positive note! March is National Social Work Month, a time to raise public awareness about social work and to thank those engaged in this important role.

Folks at the National Association of Social Workers asked social workers around the country one very important question - why are social workers important to our nation's future?

You can see what they had to say in the video below. One of my favorite responses: "People like my mommy help make it all better." 

Thanks to Iowa's social workers who make a difference!

Hugs Help Kids in Foster Care

Starting Valentine's Day weekend, we'll be piloting a new campaign in western Iowa, called Hugs Help Kids in Foster Care. 

2011 Campaign logo

Inspired by this story here, one of our recruiters came up with the idea to connect with the community on the issue of foster care in a new way. Last year in Woodbury County there were approximately 700 out-of-home placements of youth. In Council Bluffs, in Pottawattamie County, there were nearly 600 out-of-home placements.

The goal of Hugs Help Kids in Foster Care is to raise more community awareness for these counties. We'll be out at seven locations from Feb. 12 - Feb. 26, hoping to gather 700 Sioux City "hugs" and 600 Council Bluffs "hugs" from community members to show their support for Iowa youth in foster care. We'll ask you to sign your name as a symbolic "hug" of support, and you'll get a free chocolate "hug" in return.

Hugs are about connection. Every young person deserves to be connected to a supportive and caring adult in his or her life, and youth thrive when they have this support. Our hope is that more adults will consider how they can offer that support and guidance, perhaps as a foster or adoptive parent or in other ways, to young people in their community.

Here's where we'll be if you want to stop by in February! See you then!

Council Bluffs locations:

• Feb. 12, 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Mall of the Bluffs food court, 1751 Madison Ave
• Feb. 19, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., K-Mart pharmacy, 2803 E. Kanesville Blvd
• Feb. 26, 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Shopko, 3271 Market Place Drive

Sioux City locations:

• Feb. 12, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hy-Vee on 3301 Gordon Drive
  Feb. 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hy-Vee on Singing Hills Blvd
  Feb. 19, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Hy-Vee on 2827 Hamilton Blvd
  Feb. 23, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the Wilbur Aalfs Library (Gleeson Room), 529 Pierce St.

Thanks, and an early Happy Valentine's Day to you!

Celebrating service

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?"

Monday is the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and it's also a day when we come together to try and answer that question through service in our neighborhoods, our communities and our cities.

There are a lot of great ways to give back across the country, and if you have some time to lend a hand, here's a great place to get started.

I think about that question, and I think about the ways our foster and adoptive parents have answered it. We asked a simple question last year when we launched our "I Did It" campaign. The question we posed to families was "Why did you become a foster parent?" Here's what they wrote back.

"I did it because I saw a huge need in our community, and I wanted to be part of the solution."

"I did it because these children are our future and if we can make a difference in even one child's life then maybe we can make the future better." 

"I did it to help families keep their family together."

"I did it because I wanted to keep siblings together."

"I did it because there is always room for one more person at your table."

"I did it because their birth mother asked for help."

"I did it to help give a child a good, solid start toward adulthood. So many children don't get that."

"We did it because it is not their fault that sometimes there are bump in the road."

"I did it because I am thankful for what our family has."

The list goes on and on. There are a lot of different reasons, but they all capture the spirit of Dr. King's question—What are you doing for others? 

Thanks to all of our foster parents, adoptive parents and community partners who work with youth for choosing to answer that question in such a profound and life-changing way.

Do you have a MLK Day of Service project happening near you? Let us know how it goes!

5 New Year's resolutions to consider

Maybe you've already made some New Year's resolutions this year (or broken a few!). Either way, we have a few simple suggestions to add to your list. :)

1. Encourage one person this year to consider foster care. Is there a family in your neighborhood or church who you have always thought would make great foster parents? Tell them! Share how great you think they are with kids, and ask them if they've ever considered it. Many people have become foster or adoptive parents simply because someone asked them. And regardless of whether they end up pursuing more information, that kind of compliment is very meaningful.

2. Take a new kind of training class. If you are a current foster or adoptive parent, consider stepping out of your comfort zone with a new training class this year. For example, maybe you've never fostered teens, but have been thinking about it for awhile. A teen-focused training would be a great way to explore the idea and ask questions.


3. Thank a social worker. Social workers have a tough and sometimes thankless job. How about brightening someone's day with a simple card thanking them for choosing this field and for the difficult work they do for kids and families?


4. Write your legislator. Handwritten letters can make a big impact on legislators, who get countless emails and form letters. Tell your legislator that you hope he or she will support initiatives this year that benefit kids and families and provide support for youth in foster care. IFAPA has some great resources posted about legislative issues involving foster care and adoption in Iowa.

5. Be a friend. If you really want to do something special this year, consider getting involved as a mentor or permanency partner with a teen in foster care or a young adult who has recently aged out of the system. Even simple support, like sharing life advice on getting a car loan or renting an apartment or just being there to listen when someone needs to talk, can make a big difference. Check out some great ideas from Foster Club. You can also connect with Iowa youth in care through Elevate.

Did you make any New Year's resolutions this year? Let us know how it's going!