MAFF Newsletter Summer 2013

Check out the list of foster parent awardees! Two from the Salem office this year J

 

 

In this issue: Safe Sleeping for Infants, Window Safety, Helping Previously Traumatized Children Cope with Tragedy, Foster and Adoptive Parent All-Star Awards View this email in your browser Share   Tweet   Forward to Friend   Safe Sleeping for Infants   As parents and foster parents of infants know, getting a child to sleep is rarely an easy task. But despite struggles at bedtime, it is important for parents to remember safe sleeping practices. Sadly, at least 40 infants die each year in Massachusetts from sudden unexpected infant death—and review teams have found that many of these deaths occurred when infants were in sleep positions and environments that are considered unsafe. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) has a series of recommendations for parents of children under one year old to follow to help reduce the number of these preventable infant deaths.  According to the MDPH, the safest place for an infant to sleep is on his or her back, in the same room with a parent or caregiver, and in a separate sleep space, such as a safety-approved crib or bassinet. Substantial research has found that placing infants on their backs reduces the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The MDPH encourages caregivers to sleep in the same room as infants to promote bonding and enable supervision, but recommends babies sleep on a different surface to reduce the risk of suffocation or an adult rolling on the infant while sleeping in the same space. Parents should place children in cribs or bassinets with firm mattresses using well-fitting sheets. The MDPH recommends that infants are dressed in a sleeper or a sleep sack to avoid over-bundling and overheating.  To reduce the risk of suffocation or strangulation, infants’ sleep environments should be free of soft mattresses, cushions, blankets, pillows, bumper pads, wedges, stuffed animals or toys, plastic sheets, strings and cords. Parents are also urged to look for safety information on cribs, bassinets, and bedding. The MDPH urges caregivers against leaving an infant sleeping unsupervised in a car seat, stroller or baby swing.            Officials also ask parents to be aware of where they place their child’s crib, making sure it is not near a furnace or space heater. The MDPH says an adult bed is not a safe setting for an infant to sleep, with or without another person.  Bed sharing is particularly hazardous when the infant is placed to sleep with soft bedding such as pillows and blankets or on soft surfaces like a sofa, futon or chair. Bed sharing is also particularly dangerous if the caregiver is using alcohol, drugs, or medications that cause drowsiness or is sick or unusually tired. MAFF will be holding a training on safe sleeping practices for foster parents in the fall. Please look for the training schedule in the mail or online at www.mspcc.org/MAFF.    Summer Safety: Preventing Window Falls    With summer weather upon us, public safety officials with the Boston Public Health Commission are urging parents to use precautions to keep children safe around windows.  Window falls can be prevented by following these safety tips: •      Lock all unopened doors and windows •      Keep beds, furniture, and anything a child can climb on away from windows •      Open windows from the top, not from the bottom •      Install child safety window guards •      Be sure children are always supervised   Officials encourage parents to use window guards on windows over 12 feet off the ground in homes with children under seven years old. Window guards cannot be substituted with window screens or burglar/security bars which are wide enough to allow a child to slip through. Bars should be a maximum of four inches apart.  For more recommendations on window safety and information on where to buy window guards please visit www.bphc.org/kidscantfly.     Foster and Adoptive All-Star Parent Awards     MAFF Legislator of the Year Award Winner Senator Stanley Rosenberg, MAFF President Cheryl Tellier-Haddad, and MSPCC Director of Policy & Planning and the event’s Master of Ceremonies Nancy Allen Scannell. MAFF President, Cheryl Tellier-Haddad, DCF Acting Commissioner Olga Roche, Goldie Rogers Award Winner Ruth Silva and John Rogers, son of Goldie Rogers.   On June 2, MAFF joined with MSPCC and the Department of Children and Families (DCF) to host the 28th Annual Foster and Adoptive Parent Recognition Awards in Framingham. “Each one of our foster and adoptive parents throughout the Commonwealth has made a real difference in the lives of the children we serve and it is an honor to pay them tribute,” said DCF Acting Commissioner Olga Roche. Forty-four families were honored with Foster Parent All-Star Awards and five families were given Adoptive Parent All-Star Awards. Ruth Silva, of Brockton, was chosen to be the 2013 recipient of the Goldie Rogers Award. This selective award is named in honor of foster parent and child advocate Goldie Rogers who tragically perished in a fire while attempting to rescue foster children from her burning home. Silva has taken 230 adolescent boys into her home over the past 20 years, providing each with guidance, support, and a stable and loving environment.  Senator Stanley Rosenberg was honored with the 2013 Lisa Anne Jenkins MAFF Legislator of the Year Award for his work on behalf of foster families in the Massachusetts. As a former foster child, Senator Rosenberg is the founder and co-chair of the Massachusetts Legislature’s Foster Kids Caucus, which is the first of its kind in the nation. “It’s so important to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the thousands of foster families in Massachusetts,” said MAFF President Cheryl Tellier-Haddad. “We are so thankful to foster parents for providing nurturing homes for children who need their love and support.”     Foster Parent Awardees Gail & Louis Teixeira, Acushnet Kathleen Singer, Adams Toni & Mark Carmody, Amesbury Lori & Frederick Michaud, Attleboro Michele & Raymond Auletta,     Belchertown Stacey Weatherbee, Bridgewater Kelly Chuckran, Canton Kelly Blackburn, Charlestown Alice Sullivan, Charlestown Aida Rodriguez, Dedham Artemis Boynton, Dorchester Brenda Devaughn, Dorchester Melissa Romano, East Sandwich Tammi & Shaun Brierly, Gardner Shelly & Donald Phillips, Greenfield Silke Kistner, Halifax Tammy & Paul Flanagan, Holliston Rebecca Ganieany & Phai Kim, Holyoke Angela Marshall, Jamaica Plain Benedicta Robles & Rogelio Acosta, Lowell Erica & Roger Rains, Ludlow Janice & Brad Barrows, Lunenburg Velma & Hollis Baptiste, Mattapan Debra King & Amy Garland-King, New Bedford Kristen Hannan, North Andover Kimberly & Kevin Mello, North Dartmouth Tara Bean & Greg Waldrup, Peabody Lisa & Michael Phillips, Raynham Tara & Chris Ferragamo, Revere Elizabeth Kirkland, Roxbury Dawn Audet, Russell Christyne & Wayne Tremblay, Salem Noreeen & Robert Selvage, Saugus Dana & Jason Cusimano, Shelburne Falls Kelley & Jeffey Lane, Somerville Isabel Espiritusanto, Springfield Alice Preston, Springfield Ann Taylor, Springfield Sharon & Frank Taylor, Sterling Kristen Wigandt, Stoneham Edith & Ronald Graham, Wales Vikki & Peter Bosse, Walpole Normanda & Mariano Ponte, Westport Marguerite Savage, Worcester   Adoptive Parent Awardees Leslie & Matthew Plunkett, Ayer Lester Hoiberg & Michael Albor, Hanover Tracy & Michael Norton, Methuen Victoria Souza & Jeffrey Medeiros, Somerset Kristine LeClair, Westminster   Goldie Rogers Awardee Ruth Silva, Brockton     After the Bombings: Helping Previously Traumatized Children Cope with Public Tragedy By Karen Seif, LICSW   In the aftermath of a tragedy like the Boston Marathon bombings, most children will need extra attention and care. But children who have previously experienced trauma may have distinctive needs. A public tragedy will not necessarily retraumatize a child, but parents should be prepared with the knowledge that professional help, self-care, community support, and ongoing skill building can prevent retraumatization and facilitate healing. Parents will often need professional support, and should not have to manage the ripple effects of a public tragedy alone.   Recommendations to parents for all children after a public tragedy: Remind children that they are safe.   Limit media exposure.   Maintain daily routines.   Share statistics and reassure children that events like these are very rare.   Help children see any good that may come from the tragedy, like helpers and heroic actions.   Guide for Adults After Traumatic Events From trauma expert Elizabeth Keller Dupree Provide safety: Know the factors unique to each child which help him or her feel comforted and safe. Encourage autonomy: Give children age-appropriate tasks to help them feel empowered. Emphasize the positive:  Provide positive reinforcement to children. Appreciate the human capacity for resilience: Chose to view the child as having the capacity to heal and convey this belief to the child.   Additional suggestions to parents of children with previous trauma histories: Utilize your own support system and practice self-care. Parents need to have the skills to cope in order to help their children heal.  Develop a plan for your own self-care.   Review and practice self-regulation strategies with your child.   Consult with professionals working with your family. Professional supports that utilize cognitive behavioral therapies are recommended, including self-regulation and relaxation skills.   Identify a specific support person at school and potential resources for respite care.   Monitor your child for changes in behaviors and symptoms, and immediately seek or reinforce professional support if needed.  Resources MAFF will be holding a training on trauma for foster parents in the fall. Please look for the training schedule in the mail or online at www.mspcc.org/MAFF.   For information on mental health services call the Kid’s Net Helpline at 1 (800) 486-3730. You can also call 2-1-1, a confidential helpline and resource for information on mental health services.  For the hearing impaired call (508) 370-4890 TTY.   For information on respite care please contact your Kid’s Net Director.   For more resources on talking with children about tragedy please visit: www.mspcc.org/MAFF-Resources.     Olga Roche Named Acting Commissioner of the Department of Children & Families In April, Olga Roche was named Acting Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, replacing Angelo McClain who left the position to become executive director of the National Association of Social Workers. Roche has worked for DCF since 1987 in a number of roles. Most recently she served as Deputy Commissioner for Field Operations, overseeing 29 area offices and 3,000 employees.  She also brings extensive experience in juvenile justice, having previously worked for the Department of Youth Services and as a probation officer in juvenile court in Puerto Rico. A licensed social worker, Roche has a Masters of Social Work from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and a Bachelors of Social Work from Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Roche lives in Worcester and is fluent in Spanish. Other New Leadership in Key Agencies John Polanowicz, Executive Office of Health & Human Services Secretary Kathy Betts, Executive Office of Health & Human Services Assistant Secretary for Children and Families Cheryl Bartlett, Department of Public Health Commissioner Thomas Weber, Department of Early Education and Care Acting Commissioner Stacey Monahan, Department of Transitional Assistance Commissioner Peter Forbes, Department of Youth Services Commissioner Joan Mikula, Department of Mental Health Deputy Commissioner of Child and Adolescent Service       Copyright © *|2013|* *|MSPCC|*, All rights reserved. unsubscribe from this list    update subscription preferences    Facebook   Twitter   MAFF Website

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