Welcome to the 2020 February issue of Foster Family News, a monthly newsletter for current and potential Fairfax County foster parents.

Table of Contents
Fostering Success: Joel Choi Nurture Yourself in The New Year Spotlight on the In-Service Training and Home Study Unit Paint Party Frequently Asked Questions: Can the youth in my home have a cell phone? If they already have a cell phone, what are the parameters around allowing them to use it? Who pays for the cell phone?	Story in Statistics: Children Adopted from Foster Care Donors and Sponsors Highlights: Cakes4Kids Upcoming Trainings and Conferences

 

Joel’s placement in foster care began unexpectedly at 16 years old. His life has been full of ups and downs since that fateful day seven years ago but he has persevered to reach his goals. He tells his story of how he made it through those years and worked to become the accomplished 23-year-old young man he is today. He also shares words of wisdom and encouragement for teens and foster parents.

 

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In February, it seems like everyone has already forgotten their New Year’s resolutions. Our best intentions to be timelier, exercise more, eat better and get more sleep can be hard to attain without the proper plan. What if instead, you commit to a better overall strategy for self-care?

As a foster parent, too often efforts to take care of oneself can fall short because so much time and energy goes into work and family. We hope that these suggestions from the Parenting Education Programs can help you to intentionally practice self-care so that you can be the foster parent you want to be.

 

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The work of the In-Service Training and Home Study Unit in Foster Care and Adoption is about helping to equip foster parents to support children in care, as well as providing “special” home studies including child-specific and interstate cases. Supervisor Amanda Macaulay shares about her team and how they help Fairfax County foster parents.

 

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Foster Care and Adoption hosted a paint party for foster parents. During this morning of self-care, participants were able to connect with other foster parents and learn techniques for managing stress, while enjoying light refreshments. It was a great chance to relax and have fun painting a masterpiece. Thanks to all the parents who took time out of your schedule to participate. We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future!