Connections

Regional News

Androscoggin, Franklin, and Oxford Counties

If you want to be included on my email list, please send me an email at: Lorraine.T.Belanger@maine.gov  For those of you who do not have email, I will continue sending information by mail.

Welcome

Welcome to Summer and James Traverse, of Lewiston. They joined MCF in January of this year. They are in the process of adopting a toddler and currently are fostering siblings.

Welcome to Catherine and Steve Parker and their son, of Mechanic Falls. Licensed about 2 years, they provided respite for many of our foster families until they joined MCF this month. They are in the process of adopting sisters.

I am very pleased to announce Louise Hamilton as our supervisor. Many of you know her from her many years at the Department as an Adoption worker.

Training and Support Groups

I encourage you to attend the support groups. It is a great opportunity to meet other MCF families and share the day to day needs of fostering. Your support workers and I can empathize and support you but no one knows about what you do except another Foster Parent!

The Lewiston support group has returned to the DHHS in Lewiston and takes place on the third Thursday of each month 6:30 to 8:30pm.

The Farmington support group is held the second Tuesday of each month at the Franklin Memorial Hospital.

Advisory Committee Member

Julie Lothrop, 364-7094, julianne1963@hotmail.com

Lorraine Belanger

Aroostook County

Congratulations

To Lola Willette, the Program Coordinator of MCF for Community Care covering Bangor North, on her promotion within Community Care. Lola will continue to oversee the MCF program and staff. She will also have other supervision duties in her agency in her role as Team Area Manager. Best of Luck!

Training and Support Groups

We had our Annual Christmas Support group gathering on November 30th, 2006 at the Caribou DHHS office. There were 20 foster parents and staff in attendance. We had a wonderful pot luck supper of ham and all the fixings. We had a “Dixie Swap” which was fun for everyone in attendance. We talked and laughed and enjoyed each others company. It was a great team building experience.

We did not have a support group meeting in December as everyone was very busy. We will be meeting monthly starting again in January 2007. We met during the day in January then in the evening in February. We will meet alternating day and night Support Group as some foster parents are unable to attend night meetings due to their schedules.

The new Aroostook County training booklet will be out the end of January. Please take advantage of the trainings offered to foster parent in this area.

Advisory Committee Members

Lisa Brown, 764-8358, LMB_321@hotmail.com
Joyce Gagnon, 868-5302, ourplace128@verizon.net
Colleen Stitham, 429-9184, topper110@yahoo.com

Michael Allen

Cumberland County

Welcome

We are very happy to welcome into Maine Caring Families Betsy and Jerry Grondin from Falmouth and Kathy Tarpo from Cape Elizabeth. We would also like to welcome back to our program Juli Laughlin from Naples. Welcome aboard everybody!

Training and Support Groups

There continued to be a few options for you to attend a support group each month. As I mentioned in the last newsletter DHHS will offer a group every other Wednesday evening from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. to be held at the DHHS building at 161 Marginal Way. One group per month will have a training component and the other one will be support only. Both will include pizza and childcare, if you need it. I send out reminders by e-mail on a regular basis as to when the groups are and which training is being offered. These groups include all Cumberland County Foster Parents.

• Tuesday, February 13, 2007 - 6:00-8:00 p.m., Spurwink/Fireside Room, Potluck
• No group in March as we will be holding our annual MCF Appreciation Day on March 10, 2007
• Tuesday, April 10, 2007 - 6:00-8:00 p.m., Spurwink/Fireside Room, Potluck
• Tuesday, May 8, 2007 - 9:30-11:30 a.m., Spurwink/Kaufman Building

Please mark your calendars and join us!  Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year!

Advisory Committee Members

Gail Parker, 799-1417, gailunderwoodparker@yahoo.com

Susan Hughes

Kennebec and Sagadahoc Counties

We had a wonderful Holiday party at the Unitarian Church in Waterville on Monday, December 11th. Many foster parents came to enjoy the festivities and each other’s company. Due to my new role, I was not the primary organizer for this event. Thank you to Suzette for organizing, cooking and coordinating the food. Despite the fact that this was supposed to be an event in which foster parents aren’t expected to work or watch any children, Maili Bailey was a tremendous support, and also arranged the use of the church and the kitchen.

District 4 had a children’s Christmas Party on Monday, December 4 at the Inside-Outside Playground in Waterville. Many children enjoyed decorating Christmas cookies, playing in the playground and especially enjoyed a visit with Santa!

Our next Maine Caring Families event will be a sliding party on February 22nd. District 4 will also have a skating party for all district 4 foster parents during the week of February school vacation.

Support Groups

Randolph

• Monday, February 26, 2007, 6-8 pm
• Monday, March 26, 2007, 6-8 pm

Advisory Committee Members

Pat Fortune, 582-2127, wfortune3@excite.com
Cookie Luce, 547-3385

Roger Brodeur

Knox, Lincoln, Somerset and Waldo Counties

We are happy to welcome two new families into the Maine Caring Families Support Program. Jessica and Chris Higgins live in Unity with their three dogs, biological daughter and foster daughter.

Mark and Crystal Plummer live in Newcastle and are brand new foster parents with their first placement! A hearty welcome to both of these families!

Advisory Committee Members

Maili Bailey, 474-7370, maili@prexar.com
Hattie Damon, 634-2711
Janet Nadeau, 487-5693

Julie Velez

Penobscot, Piscataquis, Hancock and Washington County

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday!

I would first like to thank Hannah and Nathan Tapley, and Kim and Rick Osgood along with their wonderful families and their support worker Desiree Libby for their hard work on the Maine Caring Families float in the Festival of Lights parade. I would also like to thank Mitch from A Family for ME for bringing us the Heart Gallery. The float looked fabulous and we won Best Float for a Nonprofit. Your dedication and hard work is amazing. Thank you!

I would like to welcome Tammy and Ronald Dunham to the Maine Caring Families Program. They have been providing a family for foster children for 3 years. They are a great asset to the program and we are very happy to have them.

Advisory Committee Member

Nathan Tapley, 973-7240, ntap23@verizon.net

Jean Leonard

York County

District One had 3 inquiries over the past month of interested foster parents who would like to become MCF foster parents. We are still trying to recruit MCF foster parents and hope to be able to educate people on teenagers and the high level of need for placements.

I would like to state my appreciation to all of the MCF foster parents in District One for their hard work and dedication they give our children in care daily.

Our next support group meets on Tuesday, February 13 at the Riverside Spurwink location from 6-8 pm. Keeping our teenagers safe and helping them to make good choices on their path to independent living is a frequent concern and we look forward to discussing this topic at the next support group.

Jennifer Needham and Destry Oldham-Sibley