May is Foster Care Awareness Month

Dear Friends of Our Kids in Care:

It seems that ZOOM and Webinars are becoming the new normal for people to connect with one another on ways we can care for our children and youth in the foster care system.

Check out this upcoming webinar on Wednesday, May 6: at 7P.M.

Panel addresses Metro Detroit Social Services and Utility Challenges

from the COVID-19 Pandemic

Christ Church Cranbrook will host a Zoom webinar "Hunger, Thirst, Shelter, Support and COVID-19: Mending the Social Safety Net during a Pandemic" on Wednesday, May 6 at 7 p.m., with leaders of social service organizations and utilities that address food security, affordable housing, foster care, homelessness, and water services. This webinar is free and open to the public, however, registration is required to gain access.

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__kZ_t0knTCqxl8wlFntn5g

CREATIVE WAYS ABOUND

It's heartwarming to see how people across the state are finding some creative ways to continue to support our foster/adoptive families, youth and child welfare workers. Here are just a few examples: WASHTENAW COUNTY FCC REGION met on a Zoom meeting:

They reported about a foster parent support group that meets weekly by Zoom and how much the parents appreciate this.  Janet Chen, convener, stated that several congregations in Washtenaw County are working with the Safe Families program provided through Bethany Christian. Alyssa Siletti of Our House shared how they serve youth through two group homes available in the area.

EMPOWERED TO CONNECT VIRTUAL CONFERENCE

Washtenaw FCC , Judson Center and  DHHS provided an Empowered to Connect virtual conference with permission now to log into the 2018 conference.  The 2019, conference will be available soon.   

Use this link to view the Empowered to Connect 2018 Simulcast at your convenience until May 31, 2020http://2018etc.inciite.com/ Password: (caps matter) ETC20181 **please note that a detailed, time-stamp schedule is available at this link: https://3ta6r2hz.pages.infusionsoft.net/   Please copy and paste the link into your browser. If you experience any technical issues regarding the conference please contact Connor Robinson by phone at 734-436-1367 or by email at Connor_robinson@judsoncenter.org. To download/print conference materials use this link: https://showhope.org/rewind-resources/

SOUTHWEST FCC REGION donated 420 2 oz. bottles of hand sanitizer in response to the urgent request last month for face masks, gloves and hand sanitizers for our Wayne County child welfare workers and foster/adoptive families.

RESPONSES TO URGENT REQUEST LAST MONTH

The Bharatiya Hindu Temple of Troy answered the call immediately and provided these face masks. Also pictured are masks from other congregations that are pitching in as well.  So far there have been an estimated 2000 masks already provided in just three weeks! However, our child welfare workers report that many, many more are needed.  

Please consider spreading the word and inviting others to help.  In this simple way we can HELP PROMOTE MAY AS FOSTER CARE AWARENESS MONTH.