Just a FYI for those of you who might be interested. The Fathoms of Fun Festival is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt in the South Kitsap Regional Park on 4/7/12 with events starting at noon but sign ups are at 11 am. The Kitsap Live Steamers will be providing the train rides as usual10 to 2. The actual opening day for the trains in April 14 10 to 4 on a donation base. Come and join the fun with both the Easter Egg Hunt and the opening day events for the Trains.

ExtendedFosterCareFAQs.docx

Teaching Appropriate Social Behavior and

a Healthy, Safe Awareness of One’s Sexuality

for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities

– Begin with the future in mind…

On Thursday, April 19, 2012 SEPAC CKSD will present 2 free presentations by Dr. Jean Edwards, Professor Emeritus, Department of Counseling and Special Education at PortlandState University. She is also a private consultant who works with treatment agencies around issues of social / sexual development and abuse for those with developmental disabilities. Past attendees have said the content has been extremely helpful for working with individuals with cognitive challenges on this crucial, yet difficult, topic!

FOR WHOM: Professionals, School Staff, Caregivers, and Employment Agencies, etc.

WHEN: April 19, 4-6 pm with Refreshments Available at 3:45pm.

WHERE: KlahowyaSecondary School Auditorium, 7607 Newberry Hill Rd, Silverdale, 98383.

WHAT: This presentation will address multiple ways staff can improve social skills and appropriate behavior for individuals of all ages with developmental disabilities as well as your role in working with students/ clients to prevent abuse in the future.

HOURS: TIP hours and attendance certificates will be available.

FOR WHOM: Family and Friends or Anyone who knows an Individual with Developmental Delays.

WHEN: April 19, 7-9 pm with Refreshments and Social/ Networking at 6:30pm

WHERE: KlahowyaSecondary School Auditorium, 7607 Newberry Hill Rd, Silverdale, 98383. . Childcare is free and available 6:45-9pm. Please RSVP for childcare to Sharon, 360-308-0187 or theupside.

WHAT: This presentation is suitable for parents and family members/ friends of individuals of

ALL ages with developmental disabilities. It will increase your awareness of ways to maximize

your child’s appropriate social skills as well as what to teach your child NOW to avoid abusive consequences in the future.

HOURS: Certificates of attendance will be available.

SEPAC CKSD is an information and support network for parents, professionals, advocates and anyone who works with youth with special needs. SEPAC is in the process of applying for their 501c3, non-profit status. Our presentations are available to anyone from any district. To view the speaker schedule, please go to http://www.cksd.wednet.edu/specialservices/Sepac.aspx .

Any questions, please contact Sharon Dommermuth, SEPAC co-chair, 360-308-0187.
theupside.

Clothing Works at Helpline House
Clothing Works is a clothing bank and vocational assessment program located at Helpline House
Offering no cost gently used clothing,
bedding and towels for the whole family
Open on Mondays and Wednesdays
9:30am to 12:30pm by appointment.
Call or email for an appointment
206-842-7621 ex 30
ddahlquist

There is still time to register for the Passport to College Regional Summit in Tacoma. Please consider attending this important summit and encourage licensed or unlicensed providers to attend as well, to learn more about resources available to youth in our care.

2012 Passport to College Regional Summit
What:
CONNECT. Meet other professionals committed to supporting youth in care and alumni and expand your professional network.
SHARE. Promote your organization’s programming and find resources in your community.
LEARN. Receive valuable information, tips, and tools that boost your organization’s performance.
Who:
* Social workers * School counselors
* Caregivers * Community-based organizations
* CASA * Higher education professionals
Training hours provided. (See website below for more details.)
When:
Friday, March 23, 9:00 am—5:00 pm
Where:
University of Washington Tacoma William W. Philip Hall
For more information and to register for this free event visit:
http://destinationgraduation.net/passport-summit-2012/
Several attendees
will win a
Kindle Fire!
www.destinationgraduation.

HERE IS VERY INEXPENSIVE ON-LINE TRAINING AVAILABLE FOR CAREGIVERS AND PROFESSIONALS REGARDING FASD. THERE ARE SOME VERY INTERESTING TOPICS COMING UP LATER, TOO.

NTI Upstream 2012 Webinar Series Optimal Outcomes for Children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders About the NTI Upstream 2012 Webinar Series NTI Upstream’s webinars are designed to help individuals and communities translate clinically-based research into strategies that serve families and children affected by prenatal substance exposure. This first series of webinars focuses on advanced topics in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. It has been developed with experienced clinicians, attorneys, child welfare, and social service professionals in mind. LEARN MORE AND REGISTER FOR WEBINAR 1: Controversies in Diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders: Implications for DSM-V Presented by Dr. Ira Chasnoff March 21, 2012, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EST Q & A 3:00-3:15 p.m. EST Price: $12.99 Brought to you by: Upcoming Webinars May 7 – Medication and Children with FASD – REGISTER NOW June 25 – Cybertraps for Children and Adolescents with Difficult Behavior – REGISTER NOW August 27 – FASD and the Courts – REGISTER NOW October 29 – FASD in Adolescents: Special Considerations – REGISTER NOW December 17 – Eight Steps to Managing a Child’s Difficult Behavior – REGISTER NOW Please visit www.ntiupstream.com/ntiwebinars for more information! NTI Upstream is a multimedia production and publishing company dedicated to advancing the conversation about the issues of health and social welfare. We specialize in producing resources that focus on the healthy development of children and their families, and are a recognized leader in translating information and knowledge into educational programs and materials accessible to both professionals and the public. Our catalog includes acclaimed works of narrative and research-based non-fiction, award-winning films and videos, and informative software, brochures, and training manuals www.ntiupstream.com info (877) 500-5726

YMCA Family Swim Passes Attached for the Month of May!

On the back, please have an adult put his/her name and address. Photo ID will be required. You only need one pass per family – not one for each of those who want to swim.

This is for foster homes or relative/kinship care.

Thanks

Shala Crow
Foster Parent Liaison
Whatcom & Skagit Counties
Recruitment & Retention
Foster & Adoptive Families
360.220.3785

Fostering Together is a program of Olive Crest
Our Families…..Our Children
www.fosteringtogether.org

Tip of the Day: The Period of PURPLE Crying
In my last tip sheet I reviewed how crying in new babies can elicit an anger response in inexperienced parents and caregivers that can potentially lead to child abuse resulting in severe injury to the baby that may result in permanent disability and/or death. There is currently a lot of research around the diagnosis of unexplained crying in small infants, and the new conventional wisdom is that crying due to “colic” is not a medical diagnosis that can be treated with formula changes, gas drops or other medications, but rather a devel-opmental phase. A new phrase has been coined called “The Period of PURPLE Crying”. http://purplecrying.info/
PURPLE is an acronym that means:
P—Peak of Crying – the baby cries more each week peaking at 2 months of age and dissipating between 3-5 months of age.
U – Unexpected – the crying can come and go and it is not related to eating or sleeping or diaper changes.
R – Resists Soothing – the baby continues to cry no matter what you do to try and soothe the symptoms.
P – Pain-like face – the baby cries as if she is in pain, even when there is no particular source.
L – Long lasting – the crying can last up to five hours or more per day.
E – Evening – the baby may cry more in the late afternoon or evening.
Here are some techniques to soothe a crying baby:
Swaddling
Swaddling can soothe even the fussiest of babies. This action helps the baby to feel secure and simulates the warmth and tightness of being in the womb.
Breastfeeding or Pacifier Use
Breastfed babies can be nursed when fussy to provide them with comfort. Nursing releases hormones in the mother and baby that help both to calm down, providing a quiet time to bond. Breastfed babies can be nursed even if they are not hungry, without fear of overfeeding. Often, the act of suckling in the comfort of a parent’s arms will help the infant to quickly fall asleep.
Infant Massage
Infant massage can provide babies with a soothing bonding experience with caregivers, and also helps to relieve any discomfort or gas that the baby is experiencing.
Gas Relief
Fussiness is often caused by a difficulty passing gas. Parents can provide their baby with gas relief by laying him on his back and gently moving his legs as though riding a bicycle.
Soothing Sounds
Infants are used to many soothing sounds while in the womb. Parents can try to simulate these sounds by making quiet “shh” or “whoosh” sounds repeatedly to the baby. Some babies are also comforted by hearing the voice of their mother or listening to soft singing.
Call a Friend or Relative
All parents need support, and sometimes taking care of an infant is just plain exhausting. Ask parents to keep a list of folks handy they can call for support. Isolation is dangerous for both infants and parents. Oftentimes there are local parenting support groups run by non-profit organizations that meet in a community center or library.
Michelle Terry, MD
Ask Dr. Terry
February 24. 2012
All Kids are Our Kids

Tip of the Day: Safe Sleep—Colic
In a study that is getting press today, that has yet to be peer reviewed and published in a medical journal, research-ers in San Francisco surveyed 154 mothers at their babies’ 2 month old well child care visit at pediatric clinics in San Francisco regarding whether or not their infants had colic. The results showed nearly 29% of infants whose mothers had a history of migraine headaches had colic, compared with 11% of those whose mothers did not have migraine headaches. And I am sure all of that crying probably helped trigger more migraine headaches!
This study really spoke to me on a personal level because I had terrible migraine headaches when I was pregnant with my first child, and my baby also had a world record case of colic… he cried so much that both of his grandmoth-ers commented on the screaming baby they heard while exiting the elevator to the maternity section at the hospital on their way to meet him all those years ago, “We hope that is not ‘our’ baby”.
Colic, typically described as the rule of 3’s:
Starts in earnest when an infant is around 3 weeks old Crying goes on for 3 or more hours per day for 3 or more days of the week Lasts until age 3 months (or so)
Although colic affects about 20% of infants, and is usually attributed to a gastrointestinal complaint or milk intoler-ance, the reality is that there is no known reason for colic, and unfortunately there is no “cure” save the tincture of time and lots of loving from parents and caregivers.
This research has implications from a medical reason because the scientists hypothesize that colic may be a mi-graine variant and that children with colic will be more prone to migraine headaches in childhood and adulthood. The research also has social implications for all of us who work in the child welfare realm because many infants who suffer “shaken baby syndrome” are infants younger than six months who are described as chronically fussy or colicky.
As I say all the time, pediatricians are all about the prevention of illness and injury and anticipatory guidance is usually given during a scheduled office visit. But anyone can give guidance to help keep children safe and sound. While screening mothers under Department supervision for substance use, some may report that they have mi-graine headaches that necessitate opiate use (in reality narcotics for headache pain is a rare treatment reserved for occasional use in case of the “worst” headaches). In any event, if a mother reports that she is having chronic mi-graine headaches, anticipate that that child may have a higher than average risk of developing colic.
Fussy babies are more likely to be abused early in life, so an elevated level of concern can be taken into considera-tion if babies in “at risk” households are described as having colic or crying a lot. Please be prepared to have ideas on how to soothe a crying baby to share with parents, because most of the time, a reason for the crying cannot be attributed to an organic medical condition.
Michelle Terry, MD

resource family training institute

training for foster parents, adoptive parents, and kinship care providers

http://fosterparent.dshs.wa.gov

presents:

“the paper trail”– documentation training

for caregivers

· Have you ever wondered what your records should include?

· What should you document?

· How to appropriately document?

· What you must report?

· And to whom you must report?

This 3 hour class will help you unravel the mysteries of record-keeping and

help you create your own “Paper Trail”. This is an excellent class for both

new and experienced foster parents and relative caregivers.

Thursday, March 01, 2012 Christian Life Center 1780 SE Lincoln Room 202 Port Orchard, WA. 98366 Time: 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

To register Contact: Lynne Welton, MA (253) 983-6435 lywe300 Linda Falcocchio, MSW (253) 983-6474 fali300

Pre-Registration is Required

Contact for Special Needs 10 days prior