1

I've been a foster mom with DCS since May, 2007 and

have had nineteen children so far. Their ages have been two

weeks to 17 and they have been male and female, black,

white, Hispanic, American Indian and a combination of all

the above. You show them love and they all teach you

something about them and about yourself. You learn we are

all different and all the same.

My first resource worker was Donyale Dunn and as a

fellow social worker, I loved visiting with her each month and

gaining new insight into my role as a "Second Mom". I was

truly sad when she transferred to work with youth. I have had Dwight Walker as my Resource

Worker for years now. I love Dwight for his continual support and respect for me as a fellow

professional and a foster mom. He advocates for me when I need him and he advises me

regarding adoption inquiries. He is a great listener.

I have learned from many training classes and really appreciate White Station Church

of Christ for offering babysitting and lunch. Their Christmas Party for our children with gifts

for the last three years has truly been a blessing. They demonstrate the real love of Christ.

The two children I have now were reunified with their parents after one year. I helped

with weekend visits and daily phone calls and when they went home, I sent all of their

belongings home- a car load of clothes and toys and stuffed animals and blankets. They

wound up coming back to me two months later following the death of their infant sister. They

only had the clothes on their back and a small garbage bag of clothes. So I started all over

again. This time they were also missing their parents and grieving the loss of their sister. As

an LCSW I provided grief counseling for them and their Mom and placed the five year old in

our grief camp called Camp Braveheart where I was a counselor. It's been over a year since

they came back and there does not seem to be an end in sight. I am praying about adoption if

this option comes up and pray for God's Will for them.

I do not participate in the social activities except for the Christmas Party as I work full

time and am a single parent. My whole family had stepped in to be their Grandparents, Aunts,

Uncles and cousins and my two grown sons count them as their younger siblings. It is a

blessing to be a foster parent and I promote this to everyone at work. They always act like we

are "angels" for taking in children and loving them and giving them up. We are not angels- we

are their warriors and they are our little blessings.

From The Desk Of Mike Nason

3

2

https://www.dropbox.com/s/3sfjqx6pb6lcuuk/Empowered%20To%20Connect%20Flyer.docm?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/inibpt1av7id8bq/Volunteer%20Req%20Ltr%20Memphis%20RP%20and%20Staff%20

2015.doc?dl=0

Upcoming Events

See the web links below for more information

Friday 4/10 - 8:30am - 5pm &

Saturday 4/11 - 8:30am - 5pm

Sycamore View Church of Christ

1910 Sycamore View Rd.

Memphis, TN 38134

Saturday, June 27, 2015

Overton Park, 1914 Poplar Avenue

8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Registration Begins at 8:00 a.m. Walk Begins at 9:00

a.m.

3

Imagine you are standing in line at a grocery store and a stranger asks you a question about one of the

children in your care. Before you answer, think about how you would feel if a friend told a stranger

something personal about you or your family.

Respecting confidentiality helps build relationships with the child and

the child’s birth family by showing respect for all of the family members

and their personal stories.

How Does Confidentiality Impact You? You may not think that

maintaining confidentiality will impact you one way or the other.

However, it can greatly impact your license and your current

placements. The following are some things that could happen to you—

and have happened to other families in Wisconsin—after breaching

confidentiality.

Here Are Some Other Guidelines You Might Find Helpful

Introduce the children in your home—but by first name only.

Don’t mention the child’s birth parents’ names or reasons why a child is in care.

Most experienced families find a clever way to change the subject or focus on something else about the

child. It’s better to talk generally why you are a foster parent or why kids come into care. Setting

boundaries around who you talk to and what you talk about with others regarding your foster children

will help to maintain confidentiality. It also helps to think about these situations before they arise.

4

to Our New Resource Parents Since Last Newsletter

Barnes, Mary & Kenneth – Kinship

Jacobs, Tim & Angela – Traditional

Coleman, Keyundah – Kinship

March Anniversary Congratulations

Name Date Years as a Resource Parent

Keny & Tracy Hatley 3/7/13 2

Glenda Hines 3/1/11 4

Jason & Marie White 3/28/11 4

John & Jennifer Walck 3/25/13 2

Vickie Simmons 3/9/13 2

Lula Walker 3/27/14 1

Marcella Davis 3/13/13 2

Williams & Kirby Dorrough 3/31/14 1

Samuel, Kim & Emily Gibson 3/25/13 2

Velma Maxwell 3/9/14 1

Maurice Crutison 3/23/10 5

Other Activities in May Foster Parent’s Night Out

To Be Announced

Super Saturday May 30

Details will follow later

5

2015 Board Payment Call in Dates

March 20 & 23, 2015 for March 1-15

April 7-8, 2015 for Mar 16-31

April 22-23, 2015 for April 1-15

May 6-7, 2015 for April 16-30

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

Website: https://apps.tn.gov/fpv/

Phone 1-877-318-5064

Tidbits from the Resource Parent Bill of Rights