1

Schenectady County Office of Children & Family Services

106 Erie Boulevard

Schenectady, NY 12305

518-388-4456

www.schenectadycounty.com

During 2009, you will hear about more initiatives to bring more families into our programs and improve the outcomes for our children.

With all of these things that we have done, we can and want to do more. We are looking for new and creative ways of achieving our mission of f in ding mo re famil i es and individuals willing to share the journey with our children. So I am asking you to look at these pages and think about other ideas or strategies that may bring us more families who will become resources for these children. We are interested in any idea, and ask you to contact us with any of your suggestions. Thank you for your time, your thoughts and above all, your willingness to help us find for our children the thing that they deserve – a loving home.

Over the past several years, and with the kind help and dedication of many individuals, the efforts to find caring families to open their doors to children in need has been o u t s t a n d in g . S i n c e 2 0 0 2 , Schenectady County has found permanent loving homes for 149 children.

Due to the creative energy of my colleagues at DSS, we are now able to share with you a resource page on Schenectady County’s website: www.SchenectadyCounty.com. Our page is filled with information about our programs and services and includes photos and stories about young men and women waiting for a permanent home. The “Gift of Love” campaign, launched in 2008, has helped deliver our message, and creates real images of what our work really means. Our homefinding unit staff has given tirelessly of themselves and are often found at events, on television or radio,

sharing information about becoming a foster or adoptive parent. Thanks to the strong relationship that has been forged with Proctors (especially CEO Philip Morris), Schenectady County was able to host the Capital Region Heart Gallery at Proctors, and we received a great response from that event. Continuing this relationship, our message is now displayed before each movie shown at Proctors (you can see the slide on page 4 of this newsletter).

A Message from Dennis Packard, Commissioner of the Schenectady County Department of Social Services

I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e :

A Message from The Commissioner

1

An Adoptive Teen’s Perpsective

1

ParentsPlace 2

From the Desk of Lori Pirrone

2

Autumn Training Dates Announced

4

A Letter from Foster Parents

4

Calendar of Events 3

L a t e S u m m e r / F a l l 2 0 0 9

Adoption has offered me some of the best things in my life. Adoption has given me a new family that I can also call my own. I am very thankful to the Heart Gallery for helping me connect with my new family. There are many other kids in the Heart Gallery who would also be very glad to find a new family. Adoption can give them a father who listens to them in a time of need, unlike the father who previously may never have been at home or who may have walked off when they were too young to remember. Adoption can provide them with a mother who gives them the tender love and

kindness that mothers are known for, but which they may have been denied when they were younger. Most importantly, adoption can supply a teen with the security and comfort which are only found in a family.

Should teens or tweens be denied the right to a loving, caring family because of their age, or because they are not perceived as "perfect" children? No. Potential adoptive parents may choose to raise a baby because it gives them the satisfaction of raising that child as their own. For this reason, many

teens are overlooked for adoption because they are thought to be too fresh and wild or too hard to handle. But adults should look back on their own time as teenagers and remember the hardships they had to face during those years. Imagine not having a father or mother, and consider how much harder those years would have been without a parent.

As a teenager who has been part of the Heart Gallery and is now adopted, I can tell you that it is a tremendous advantage to have a father who listens to me talk about

my hardships and provides me with useful advice, and a mother who cares for me in more ways than I can thank her for. Although the process of adoption can seem long and tedious at times, and you and your child may feel some stress and growing pains as you learn to live together as a family (and my parents can attest to this), the gift of adoption grants you the opportunity to truly make a difference in the life of a teen, which can enlarge and enrich your own life, and pay great dividends of fun and love.

By Ben Medina McGrath

An Adopted Teen’s Perspective on Adoption

Caseworkers Tracy Toscano (center) and Debbie Van Alstyne (right), appear with host Ann Parillo

(left) on the Schenectady Today show on SACC-TV.

2

“A child enters

your life and

fills a special

place in your

heart. A place

you never

even knew

was empty!"

The Great Escape Lodge

The Heart Gallery at the Great Escape Lodge! From the Desk of Lori Pirrone, Adoption Supervisor

my child welfare career! Probably one of the things I like the most about participating in the Heart Gallery is that we all celebrate the joy when a child finds a forever family. It doesn't matter if the child is from Clinton County or Schenectady County we all are excited for that child.

We are thrilled to have the Heart Gallery at the Great Escape Water Park and Lodge throughout the month of August! It is very exciting to have it in such a family friendly venue during peak season!!" The staff at the Great Escape are graciously opening the park to our Heart Gallery kids on August 25, 2009 from 2-6pm. This is an opportunity of a life time for our children! We are very thankful to Becky Valenti, Alexa Eaglestone and Peter Sequeira for assisting us

The Capital Region Heart Gallery is a visually stunning exhibit of portraits that capture the unique personality and spirit of some of our very special children. The children in the Heart Gallery are regional children awaiting adoption. Since its inception in 2005, 78 children have been a part of the Heart Gallery. Of those 78 children, 25 placements and finalizations have occurred, 17 children have changed their goal to Independent Living, 7 children are currently visiting families, 1 child developed a visiting resource and 2 children had unsuccessful placements.

I think I can speak for all of us who work on the Capital Region Heart Gallery. We are very happy with the success of this recruitment tool. The word is spreading about the need and it truly

has been one of the highlights of

with making this happen and for sharing our enthusiasm in finding forever families for our waiting children!

Future venues will include:

• Sept 2009-Wilton Mall

• Oct 2009-Parsons Child and Family Center in Albany

• Nov 2009-Proctors in Schenectady

• Dec 2009-Crandall Library in Glens Falls

We hope to see you at one of our Heart Gallery events!

Fondly,

Lori

The Heart Gallery display inside the Great Escape Lodge

Our Adoption Quilt

♦ New York State Adoption Service has a new feature - a video gallery! To view videos of children who need families, go to: www.ocfs.state.ny.us/adopt/videoAdopt.asp

♦ Things of My Very Own: Now when a child is placed in your foster home, you can ensure that they have everything the need from the first moment on. Schenectady County Children & Family Services now hosts an on-site transitional aide room, where you can pick up 48 hours worth of free clothing, school supplies, and personal care items. The room is located at 106 Erie Boulevard in Schenectady; please call your caseworker to schedule an appointment. If

you receive a child after hours, you may call the Things of My Very Own Administrative Office (630-6137) until 8pm. All services are free. For more information, please contact your caseworker or visit www.tomvo.org.

♦The Quest for Grace has opened a shop that provides many things that a foster child may need. Some of the items are: clothing, (spring, summer, and winter - sizes range from infants to teenage), pajamas, socks, underwear, jackets, onesies, bibs, blankets, jackets, books, toys, & backpacks. Please call Michelle at (518) 301-5662 to set up an appointment to pick up the items you may need. There is no charge for this service.

Resources and Tips for Foster & Adoptive Parents

3

October Events

September Events

Tuesday Nights in Aug—US Water Ski Show Team performances, behind Jumpin’ Jack’s in Scotia. 6:30pm. FREE.

Aug 18—Family Movie Night, Esposito Park, Rotter-dam. 7pm. FREE. Movie: King Fu Panda.

Aug 20—Music Mobile, Central Park, Schenectady. 10am. FREE.

Aug 20—Family Movie Night, Shafer Park, Duanes-burg. 7pm. FREE. Movie: Hotel for Dogs.

Aug 25—Family Movie Night, Freedom Park, Scotia. 7pm. FREE. Movie: Hotel for Dogs.

August 2009 Su Mo Tue We Th Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

August Events

Sep 7—Labor Day holiday. Schenectady County Offices closed.

Sep 11-13—St. George’s Greek Festival, Downtown Schenectady. 11am-11pm Friday and Saturday, 12pm-5pm Sunday.

Sep 12—History Fair, Mabee Farm Historic Site, Rot-terdam Junction. FREE.

Sep 14—Fall Foster Care Training Session Begin. Please see back page for more information

Sep 26—Stockade Walkabout, Stockade Historic Dis-trict, Schenectady.

Sep 27—Celtic Day in the Park, Schenectady Central Park, noon-7pm. FREE.

Oct 12—Columbus Day holiday. Schenectady County Offices closed.

Oct 17—Farm & Foliage Day, Various Locations. Farm tours, demos, pumpkin painting, hayrides, more. 11am-4pm. FREE. Call 518-388-4355 for details.

Oct 30—Trick or Treating on Jay Street in Downtown Schenectady. Please call 518-388-4355 for more de-tails.

October 2009 Su Mo Tue We Th Fri Sat 1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31

September 2009 Su Mo Tu We Th Fri Sat 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

4

Say Cheese!

The Heart Gallery is

looking for professional

photographers to

volunteer their services

for the Heart Gallery. If

you are a photographer,

or know someone who

is, please call Lori at

388-4399 to help out!

“Temporary

Care Can Make

a Permanent

Difference”

A Letter from Foster Parents

If you’ve ever considered fostering a child, now is the time. A child is waiting for you!

Training sessions for prospective foster/adoptive parents begin on September 14. In order to begin the home study process, you are required to attend all 11 sessions in the training. Sessions begin promptly at 5:30pm, and end at 8:30pm. Training will be held at 106 Erie Boulevard in Schenectady. Please note: for all evenings, it is necessary that you make arrangements for child care while you are participating in the training each week. If you have any questions, please call

the Foster Home Finding Unit at 388-4541.

The Fall 2009 Training Dates are as follows:

Monday September 14 Wednesday September 16 Tuesday September 22 Wednesday September 30 Thursday October 8 Wednesday October 14 Wednesday October 21 Tuesday October 27 Thursday October 29 Monday November 2 Wednesday November 4

Can You Help Us Find More Foster Parents? If you are able to help us share informational brochures with prospective foster/adoptive parents, or would like to invite our staff to give a presentation to your church or community group, please call the Foster Home Finding Unit at 518-388-4456 to let us know. Currently, our greatest need is finding homes for older children (teenagers and up to age 21) and sibling groups. Please help us in our search for more quality foster homes for the children in our community!

Autumn Training Dates Announced

Did You Know?

Tootsie Rolls were the first wrapped

penny candy in America.

We feel that we had a small glimpse into the demands of your job as we listened to the tumultuous stories the homefinding unit regularly experiences. These stories make us especially grateful for your diligence; we are convinced that it takes a very special individual to do your job as well as you do.

Going into the process, we felt confident that we were making the right decision to work in partnership with Schenectady County DSS; you have solidified our decision. We are excited to work with you and look forward to blessing lives together.

Thank you, Debbie!

Recently, Debbie Van Alstyne, a caseworker with the Foster Homefinding Unit, received a letter from a couple who made the decision to become foster parents.

Dear Debbie:

We want to thank you and the homefinding team for making the certification process an enjoyable experience.

Your efforts to ensure our transition into foster parenting have been tremendous. We sincerely appreciate your patience in thoroughly answering our questions. You promptly return phone calls and emails and you consistently arrive on-time for home visits. In doing so, you have made us feel that our time is valuable and we are important to you and the Department of Social Services.

Edwin, one of our Heart Gallery children