Info For Foster Youth

Foster Youth: Tips for Completing the FAFSA
http://www.nasfaa.org/redesign/ParentsStudents.html
Each year the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators updates a Tips for Foster Youth Worksheet on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).This guide is for financial aid administrators in helping youth in foster care complete the FAFSA. It addresses difficulties that youth in foster care and wards of the court may experience when filling out the FAFSA. This site contains many other helpful resources on student financial aid.
FosterClub All-Star Applications
http://www.fyi3.com/allStars/details.cfm
FosterClub is taking applications for its 2008 summer internship. Selected youth will attend an intensive leadership training session at the FosterClub headquarters in Seaside, Oregon They will receive training in public speaking, presentation, advocacy, and professional development to accommodate planning and facilitation of events. Applications are due March 1, 2008.

martin luther king day celebration, guest speaker victoria rowell

Victoria Rowell will be the guest and featured speaker at an upcoming event to commemorate Martin Luther King Day. The event is being co-sponsored by the Boston Church of Christ and Hope Worldwide. The event will take place on Saturday, January 19, 2007 at Lombardo’s in Randolph from 1:00 P.M. to around 3 P.M. Admission is free.

As you know, for over a decade, Victoria Rowell, through her Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan, has been making it possible for many of our foster children from the greater boston area to attend dance, art and theatre classes and sports events. In addition, this holiday season, some of your offices were helped by the Boston Church of Christ who provided your areas with holiday gift cards for teens and/or sponsored your children's holiday party.

To commemorate Martin Luther King Day and to show our thanks to Victoria Rowell for all she has done for our children over so many years, it would be very nice to have a good representation of foster families to attend this event. Staff are also very welcome.

Please let me know if you will be attending (and how many) so we can get an idea as to how many are going. Thanks!

Gift cards received at shopping night

At least two foster parents that I know of, have had issues with the gift cards for teens that night.
PLEASE let me know if yours reads "0" balance, There was an issue that we thought that we resolved. We have receipts etc and can "fix" the problem. Please PLEASE let me know if you had a problem! This was a problem statewide. Central office purchased them and they were not all activiated or something like that. Again, we thought we resolved it.

Educational Workshop at Cape Ann Office

I just wanted to let you know that I will be having an educational information workshop on January 16th from 3-5pm. You can feel free to drop by to obtain information re: foster youth and their eligibilities for college and post-secondary education. Foster youth, foster parents and providers are welcome as well. Please come by with any questions you may have. I will be forwarding a flyer to you next week if you would like to pass it on to any foster youth or providers.
Thank you,
Jennifer Hubbard
Adolescent Outreach Worker

SLEEPY's Discount

SLEEPY'S has offered a 20% discount on bedding!
I am not sure how it works, but just tell them you are an employee of DSS.
If you have a problem, let me know and I will get further info.

Important Google Info

A foster parent called to say that she had been informed that a bio mother for her foster child had found her information (address/phone) on google. This is a fairly violent and volatile woman who could pose a threat. She googled herself and found the information was readily available. She contacted Google and asked that she be blocked from their list because she is a foster parent and they took her off. She has checked again and it appears to have worked.

If you weren't aware this was possible, I thought people may want to know and pass this onto your foster/adoptive families!

Tax Season Info

If a child has been in your home for more than 6 mos during 2007, it is my understanding that you can use them as a deduction. If it is less than six months you can itemize what you spend on them. You may also be eligible for an earned income tax credit.

This is a head's up. Please consult a tax preparer for more info. Make sure your tax preparer allows you to use the child. Sometimes with foster care, even they don't know. Make them look it up! that is what you pay them for!

Carla

CoCo Key Water Resort Discount

We are excited to announce that Department of Social Services has been enrolled into the CoCo Key Water Resort E-Club Membership. As a member of this program, you are able to purchase online discounted tickets for the CoCo Key Water Resort.

Purchase tickets today by visiting our "Exclusive" CoCo Key Online Ticket Store in one or both of the following ways:

#1: Clicking on the following personalized online store web link (URL) on our Intranet site - password: GOL739 https://tickets.CoCoKeyWaterResort.com/affiliate.asp?ID=DA7DCC3A-1F10-4E3C-8894-5B8D66AF8CBD

#2: Go direct to our online store 24/7 at https://tickets.cocokeywaterresort.com and enter the following personalized Store Name: DSS SALEM

We hope you and your family will enjoy CoCo Key Water Resort!

Rotary Christmas Party

There's a nice story involving the holiday party the Hawthorne Hotel hosted Saturday for 100 foster children from the North Shore.
The Salem Rotary was the main sponsor, donating $2,500 to buy a present for each child.
And two Rotary members who took part have interesting connections to the event. Jeff Holloran, who owns his own Santa suit, played Santa Claus, as he has in past years. Jeff's mom works for the Department of Social Services.
One of the driving forces behind the event was Rotary President Juli Lederhaus, a human dynamo if there ever was one. Not only is she the general manager at the Hawthorne Hotel, but she is the mother of an adopted daughter and a foster daughter.
One of the foster parents in attendance was Mike Garvin, the former hotel manager.

Grandparents raising Grandchildren

The AARP foundation has a whole website for this!
www.aarp.org/grandparents
There is a great newsletter to sign up for called Grandcare News for grandparents raising grandchildren.