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Message from the CEO
Greetings friends and families of KFF. Happy May! Feels like spring has come and gone, and we’ve moved right into summer. Later this month we celebrate Mothers Day, and as we know, a good mom can make all the difference in a child’s life. Hats off to all the good moms out there! Enjoy your special day. Last week was an exciting time at our office. DCF Regional Director David Abramowitz (pictured on right) was here to officially sign our new contract, and with that we begin the next five years of service to the community. When we look back at our first ten years, we see many accomplishments however; there remains much to be done. The system of care that has been developed in Clay County is strong but we are confident that the partners involved can continue to help make it stronger. The children that come to our attention through issues of abuse and neglect deserve nothing less than our absolute best. KFF is proud to be the Community Based Care agency for our county, yet we recognize that the needs of children and families far outweigh what any one agency can do. It is only through the ongoing commitment of each of us - professional staff, paraprofessionals, parents (foster, adoptive and biological), relatives and non relatives, local and state governments, law enforcement, courts, human service agencies, mental health and substance abuse providers, domestic violence staff, educators, child care providers, churches and faith based groups, businesses, individuals and all other concerned community members - that we can make lasting and sustainable change. We thank you for all you have done and we look forward to continuing the journey. Irene
May 2014
NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER
Special points of
interest:
• Newly Licensed
Foster Parents • Mentoring Program • Training
Opportunities
Inside this issue:
Message from the CEO
1
New Interim Secretary for DCF
1
Day of Hope 2
Post Adoption Services
3
In-Service Trainings for Foster Parents
3
Dental Provider
4
Food Distribution
4
Irene M. Toto CEO
Robert Graham Board Chair
New Interim Secretary for DCF Named
Governor Rick Scott has named Mike Carroll as the new
interim Secretary for the Department of Children and Fami-
lies. Carroll is the Regional Managing Director for the Sun-
coast Region and has been with DCF for over 20 years.
May 2014 Page 2 Newsletter
Please Join KFF in Welcoming Our Newly Licensed Foster Parents
Hannah & Chris Fredrich Jennifer & James Laymon Pauling & Robert Morales
Ellen Siler Christina & Scott Griffin
Day of Hope
KFF and Emile’s Pack of Hope would like to thank our community donors, sponsors and supporters whose contributions ensured a memorable and very successful Community
Day of Hope. Contact KFF to get involved next year.
JOIN KFF’S MENTORING PROGRAM OR BECOME A FOSTER PARENTJOIN KFF’S MENTORING PROGRAM OR BECOME A FOSTER PARENTJOIN KFF’S MENTORING PROGRAM OR BECOME A FOSTER PARENTJOIN KFF’S MENTORING PROGRAM OR BECOME A FOSTER PARENT
For more information, contact Crystal Bennett at 904.278.5644 ext. 2016 or
[email protected] today.
Jennifer & Robert Fresh Monica Bennett
Maria & Virgilio Munoz Kara & Kyle Williamson
Christ’s Church Fleming Island & Mandarin Clay County Sheriff’s Office Fleming Island High School
Beta Club Big Air – Bounce Houses Origami Owl Chick-fil-a Fleming Island
First Coast YMCA Cold Stone Creamery
Latitude 30 WIC
Fleming Island High School NJROTC
Clay County Fire Rescue Florida Department of
Health Street Party Game Truck
Sonny’s BBQ Girly-Girl Parteas
Artsy Barn Amason’s Portable Toilets
Walmart Chocolate Shoe Boutique
Allstate Insurance 4imprints
T5 Sports Wear
Girl Scouts First Baptist Church of Keystone Heights
Miriam’s Basket See You at the Top
Crowns for Christ Heritage Makers
Bowtique Baby Klips & Giggles
Wendy’s United Healthcare Wildcats All-Stars
BACA
Congratulations
Carroll Lee Fenton has been named as one of our community’s outstanding “Fathers as Leaders!.’ Mr. Fenton was chosen because he has shown positive family values and has been active in his
children’s lives.
Post Adoption Support Group
KFF is proud to offer $250.00 per Clay County post adoptive family towards summer camp for their child. Contact Lynn Colleton for more information and an application. The deadline for
applications is May 15, 2014 and funds are limited.
The post adoption support group on May 1st from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm will present Katie Zanchettin and Anna Brynild, from the Central Florida Parent Center. They will discuss the IEP process. The presentation will
include IEP Jeopardy, an interactive live webinar. Feel free to bring your child’s I.E.P. and questions.
Join us at the KFF building located at 1726 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park
Refreshments will be served; limited child care upon request.
There will be a drawing for a Walmart Gift Card. RSVP with [email protected]
Page 3 May 2014 Newsletter
Post Adoption Services Available to Clay County Residents
KFF provides services to families in Clay County who are in the process of or have adopted children, including children adopted by relatives/non-relatives, foster parents, through the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) and private adoptions. Pre and post adoption services consist of case management, including referrals to community resources, crisis intervention and counseling. For those in the process of adopting, “Core Adoption” classes are also provided. These classes offer an overview of the adoption process. For those who have already adopted, post adoption support group meetings are held monthly at the KFF office.
To access these services or to obtain more information call 904.278.5644 ext. 2083 or [email protected].
Clay County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association
A great opportunity to network with other foster and adoptive parents and receive ongoing training hours. Monthly meetings are held on the 4th Saturday of each month from 11am - 1pm
Asbury United Methodist Church, 16 College Drive, Orange Park
Please contact Martha Jackson at 904.424.2297
Foster Parent Monthly In-Service Trainings
Please join us each month, at the KFF office, for an opportunity to network with other foster parents while receiving trainings on topics of interest. What’s better than free food and free childcare, while receiving 2 hours of training and meeting other parents? Mark your calendars for the following: Tuesday, June 25: FDLRS/Child Find: Screening & Assistance for children w/ Special Learning Needs (Deb
McLaughlin/FDLRS/Child FInd) ** Sams Club will be on-site from 6pm-6:30pm with a special offer Thursday, July 17: Caring for & Handling Drug Exposed Infants
Thursday, August 21: Understanding Trauma & Recognizing its impact on Academic Success
All trainings will be from 6pm-8pm in the KFF 2nd Floor Conference Room
Please contact Crystal Bennett at 904.278.5644 ext. 2016 to RSVP and be sure to include the names and ages
of all children and the number of adults attending.
Learn How to Create a Safe Sleep Environment for Your Infant, Visit: http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/child-welfare/safesleep/caregivers
Main Office: 1726 Kingsley Avenue
Suite 2 Orange Park, Florida
32073 Phone 904.278.5644 Fax 904.278.5654 Because every child
deserves a loving home!
Page 4 May 2014 Newsletter
We’re on the Web:
http://kidsfirstofflorida.org/
KFF Contacts
Main Office: 904.278.5644 Irene M. Toto, CEO, ext. 2013 Kevin Davidson, CFO, ext. 2006 Nora Milne, CPO, ext. 2007
Jennifer Clark Program Director, ext. 2111
Shawna Darling Program Director, ext. 2060
Willie Davis Foster Parent Payments,
ext. 2091 Marvin Hardy
Licensing, ext. 2066 Diahann Sutton
Licensing, ext. 2100 Gordon Lopez, Placement
ext. 2072 Eric Wetzel, Independent Living
ext. 2047
Florida Kinship Center Warmline 800.640.6444
A toll-free listening line for grandparents and other relatives raising children in Florida. The Warmline provides caregivers with emotional support and informational
Training Opportunities
Training opportunities are available to parents and caregivers at: www.qpiflorida.com. Topics
include Trauma Informed Care. Parenting Teens, and Issues of Love and Loss in Foster Care.
Dental Provider in Clay County
The Baker County Health Department, in cooperation with the Clay County Health Department and the Clay County School District provides dental treatments to local children and young adults ages 3-20. For an appointment, call 1.866.617.8708 ext. 2283 or 2311. Children can be seen at the Green Cove Springs office or on the dental van which serves 4 schools in Clay County.
The program serves children who have Medicaid, Access Health Solutions, or KidsCare Atlantic Dental Insurance. If a child in your care, who is served by Kids First of Florida, does not have the above mentioned insurance and needs dental treatment,
please contact Mary Elwood at 904.278.5644, ext. 2043.
Did You Know?
You Can Apply for Public Assistance
On-Line at:
http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/
Or at the KFF Office by Contacting
Sheryl Zuniga at 904.278.5644 ext. 2071
Newsletter by Email: Contact Mary Elwood at [email protected] or call 904.278.5644 ext. 2043.
Food Distribution Food is available for foster and adoptive families and families of children in relative
and non-relative care. Pick-up is by appointment only. Both services can be accessed
by contacting Martha Jackson at 904.424.2297
Preventive Health Care Periodicity Schedule
Physical Exam: 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15months, 18 months, 24 months, 30
months, 3 years of age and annually thereafter Dental Exam: every 6 months, beginning at age 3 Vision Screening: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 years of age
Help a Child and Earn a Little Extra Spending Money Refer a Friend!
That’s right, refer a friend to be a quality foster parent with KFF. You will receive $100, once they are licensed. Call Crystal Bennett at 904.278.5644 ext. 2016
Do you Suspect Abuse, Neglect or Abandonment of a Child?
If so, you may report this information in one of three ways: By Phone: 1.800.962.2873 By Fax: 1.800.914.0004
On-Line: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/