RPS NEWS FROM THE DESK OF MIKE NASON

November is

National Adoption Month

On November 5, 2014, Channel 5 News Reporter, Ursula Madden began a monthly series on children waiting to be adopted entitled “The Waiting Child” segment. In October, the Department of Children’s Services (DCS) was approached by Channel 5 with the idea of focusing on the children in DCS custody who are available for adoption but without an identified home. The DCS Regional Administrator, Merlene Hyman and the DCS Central Office discussed the idea with Channel 5 to present to the community that there are numerous children who are in DCS custody who need and deserve a home and family of their own. Emmanuel Gaines (pictured above) was the first child to be interviewed for this segment. Emmanuel met with Ursula Madden at the Stax Museum for the taping of the first episode. During the taping, Emmanuel and Ursula Madden were given a tour of the Stax Museum and both posed for a “dress up” photo shoot in front of the green screen.

Emmanuel was 14 years old when he entered custody and is now 16. Emmanuel is a caring youth who needs a home where there is love, nurturing and someone who he can turn to when he ages out at the age of 18.

November is National Adoption Month and we are proud that Emmanuel has the opportunity to be the first child featured in “The Waiting Child” segment on Channel 5. Thanks also to Ursula Madden and Channel 5 News for the featuring of this segment.

Information provided by Kisha Burnett of the Permanency Team

THE ADMINISTRATION AND STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN’S

SERVICES WANT TO WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

OF

Ursula Madden interviewing

Emmanuel Gaines at

The Stax Museum

VOLUME #1 ISSUE #5

Emmanuel Gaines

with Ursula Madden

of Channel 5 News

The Department of Children’s Services

Resource Parent Support Unit One Commerce Square, 40 S. Main, 8th Floor

Memphis, TN 38103 Michael Nason, Team Leader

THE DATE OF THE AIRING OF THE “WAITING CHILD

SEGMENT HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISIZED.

NOVEMBER 2014

Anniversary Congratulations

Congratulations are in order for the following Resource

Parents on their November anniversary dates.

Anniversary Years as

Name Date Foster Parent

Robie Abston 11/9/12 2

Paula Jordan 11/19/11 3

Roosevelt & Carla Hobson 11/23/13 1

Minnie Williams 11/19/10 4

Angela Ware 11/4/13 1

Sontidra Stewart 11/27/13 1

Martha Greer 11/8/02 12

Felix & Jennifer Vasquez 11/4/13 1

Dennis & Jessica Wheeler 11/30/10 4

Evelyn Smith 11/19/04 10

Waketa Carpenter 11/27/13 1

SHOUT OUTS

We would like to express

appreciation to the following

resource parents for their

willingness to open their homes to

difficult temporary placements of

teens in an emergency situation:

George and Janet Perry

Osie Russell

Darla Young

Please see the article on the need

for emergency beds at the bottom

of page 4.

VOLUME #1 ISSUE #5

NOVEMBER 2014

FOSTER PARENTS DAY OUT Sunday, December 21, 2014

2 Free sessions 12-4p or 4-8p Reservations required at (901) 761-7529.

These 2 sessions are closed to the public and only

open for foster children, resource parents and

their birth children.

Email kidstationmemphis@comcast.net

Website:

kidstationonline.com

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Performance Improvement Plan According to Policy 16.8 section L. & M., Resource Parents are required to

attend in-service training. This policy states that DCS RPS staff will assess completion of the annual training requirements for each approved family member. The time period for completion of the training is their anniversary date of the approval as resource parents.

First Year Traditional 14 hours Second Year Traditional 14 hours First Year Kinship 17 hours Second Year Kinship 14 hours Third Year (All) 15 hours

If the training requirements are not met, a Performance Improvement Plan PIP (formerly called Correction Action Plan or CAP) will be completed with those family members and documented in the resource home file. Performance Improvement Plans can be written for other reasons beside training violations but training is the most common. When a Performance Improvement Plan is written on a family there is a time limit usually (30, 60 or 90 days). The Resource Parent agrees to correct or make improvements before actions will take place, such as, closing your resource home. Please be mindful that we do not want to close your home but we want you, your family, and the children we serve to be safe and complaint. If you have any questions about the performance improvement plan, please contact your RPS worker.

Submitted by: Jarrita Jones

The Packed In Love Christmas Party for kids in DCS homes is scheduled for December 13 from 11:30-1:30. The deadline to add new children has passed. If you are not sure if your children were registered for this event please contact your RPS worker. Participants must be present to receive gifts and must stay for the whole 2 hours.

Location

White Station Church of Christ

1106 Colonial, 38117

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.

VOLUME #1 ISSUE #5

NOVEMBER 2014

December 13 11:30-1:30

Page 3

VOLUME #1 ISSUE #5

NOVEMBER 2014

The daily rate for emergency placements is $50 for up to 3 days, instead of the rate of $28.11 for ages 11 and above or 24.49 for 10 and under.

Upcoming Board Payment Call in Dates

November 19-20 for dates November 1-15

December 4-5 for November 16-30

December 18-19 for December 1-15

Supplemental call in dates will be announced at a later date.

Emergency Placements List

Occasionally a need arises for a temporary emergency placement in traditional homes. Usually this occurs late in the day or evening and sometimes involves a weekend or holiday. In many cases it is for a child, likely a teenager, whose level is higher than a Level 1, such as, a Level 2 or 3. Normally we do not place a higher level child in a DCS home because DCS homes are approved only for level 1 placements. Usually such placements go to one of the agencies in the area that is approved for higher levels. But those higher level placements are rare and the openings that arise fill up quickly. In these emergency situations the Placement Division contacts a representative in Central Office who oversees the agencies and begins searching state-wide for an appropriate placement. Sometimes an agency will know of a bed that will be open in a few days or a week. Placement is quick to reserve that bed but what will they do with the child while they wait for the available bed? Where will the child go in the meantime? That’s where the temporary Level 1 DCS home placement becomes invaluable. One of the barriers to the emergency placements has been the fear of them staying for long term and becoming permanent placements. That did occur a few years ago but that hasn’t happened recently. As always is the case, the placements do not stay in your home without your consent and the child(ren) can be moved when you are unable to care for them any longer. The general time frame is 1-3 days but can go up to 7 days. There is, at least, one reward for accepting emergency placements: you are paid $50 for up to 3 days instead of the $28.11 a day for age 11 and above or 24.49 for age 10 and under.

If you would like to be included on the emergency placement list please notify your RPS worker.

Website:

https://apps.tn.g

ov/fpv/

Phone

1-877-318-5064

Page 4