Post by mary on Feb 5, 2007 18:36:17 GMT -5
New service aims to keep kids where they belong-- at home
Mon, February 5, 2007
By KATHY RUMLESKI, FREE PRESS REPORTER
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London mother Shelly Stringer had bipolar depression, abused alcohol, was in a relationship with a controlling man and had been a ward of the Children's Aid Society while growing up.
These are all red-flag indicators for workers involved in child welfare.
Stringer's little girl eventually landed in CAS care.
"It was a struggle for me to find support that I needed," Stringer recalled.
At one point, little Davina was in six foster homes over a nine-month period.
Several years later, Davina and Shelly are together again, but the pair have to deal with a number of issues, including Davina's post-traumatic stress after being abused by a caregiver.
Stringer believes her daughter and other children do best when they can remain with their parents and receive support from community agencies.
"Davina has progressed a great deal, just being under my care and living with me where she feels safe and happy," Stringer said. "She's stable; she has got consistency and love."
A groundbreaking pilot project kicking off this month in London aims to keep families intact and reduce the number of children in CAS care.
Family Networks, which some say is the first of its kind in Canada, is a partnership of many agencies, led by the local United Way and CAS.
Families will have access to to professionals and services needed to keep members together in a safe environment.
The three-year project will soon open offices in the East London Y and at a temporary location until June at Beacock library branch. Network services will be available round- the-clock.
Wendy Pol, a social worker with the CAS of London and Middlesex, was involved in helping plan the levels of support families want and need. She talked to agencies, community centres and families themselves to get a broad understanding of what is needed.
"Very clearly, (families) said they wanted neighbourhood-based services, non-judgmental, non-stigmatizing," Pol said.
Stringer was pleased to hear the attempts the network is making to steer clear of passing judgement.
"Parents don't need to feel like they're being judged. I was judged. I was asked (by a social worker) 'How can you parent when you're bipolar?' "
Sandy White, who helped bring community leaders together in the project's infancy (when it was being called a parent mentoring program) in her capacity as a city councillor and a CAS kinship service worker, said one of the network's strength will be providing role models for parents. Some of the mentors are single moms.
"Often parents just need someone to teach them to parent. It makes a huge difference for children to have that long-term connection to their families."
Stringer, who talks to parents going through situations similar to hers to offer support, is hopeful this project will make a difference to families because it's definitely needed.
"I see so many (cases) where . . . stuff could be worked on at home with the kids there still."
A lot of leadership, expertise and commitment from a wide range of people and agencies has brought this project to fruition. Some had to put differences aside to achieve this goal.
Over the next three years, and hopefully longer, the goal now will be to remember the children who are benefiting and continue to work together.
Mon, February 5, 2007
By KATHY RUMLESKI, FREE PRESS REPORTER
Got coal but wanted cashmere? Shop eBay.
London mother Shelly Stringer had bipolar depression, abused alcohol, was in a relationship with a controlling man and had been a ward of the Children's Aid Society while growing up.
These are all red-flag indicators for workers involved in child welfare.
Stringer's little girl eventually landed in CAS care.
"It was a struggle for me to find support that I needed," Stringer recalled.
At one point, little Davina was in six foster homes over a nine-month period.
Several years later, Davina and Shelly are together again, but the pair have to deal with a number of issues, including Davina's post-traumatic stress after being abused by a caregiver.
Stringer believes her daughter and other children do best when they can remain with their parents and receive support from community agencies.
"Davina has progressed a great deal, just being under my care and living with me where she feels safe and happy," Stringer said. "She's stable; she has got consistency and love."
A groundbreaking pilot project kicking off this month in London aims to keep families intact and reduce the number of children in CAS care.
Family Networks, which some say is the first of its kind in Canada, is a partnership of many agencies, led by the local United Way and CAS.
Families will have access to to professionals and services needed to keep members together in a safe environment.
The three-year project will soon open offices in the East London Y and at a temporary location until June at Beacock library branch. Network services will be available round- the-clock.
Wendy Pol, a social worker with the CAS of London and Middlesex, was involved in helping plan the levels of support families want and need. She talked to agencies, community centres and families themselves to get a broad understanding of what is needed.
"Very clearly, (families) said they wanted neighbourhood-based services, non-judgmental, non-stigmatizing," Pol said.
Stringer was pleased to hear the attempts the network is making to steer clear of passing judgement.
"Parents don't need to feel like they're being judged. I was judged. I was asked (by a social worker) 'How can you parent when you're bipolar?' "
Sandy White, who helped bring community leaders together in the project's infancy (when it was being called a parent mentoring program) in her capacity as a city councillor and a CAS kinship service worker, said one of the network's strength will be providing role models for parents. Some of the mentors are single moms.
"Often parents just need someone to teach them to parent. It makes a huge difference for children to have that long-term connection to their families."
Stringer, who talks to parents going through situations similar to hers to offer support, is hopeful this project will make a difference to families because it's definitely needed.
"I see so many (cases) where . . . stuff could be worked on at home with the kids there still."
A lot of leadership, expertise and commitment from a wide range of people and agencies has brought this project to fruition. Some had to put differences aside to achieve this goal.
Over the next three years, and hopefully longer, the goal now will be to remember the children who are benefiting and continue to work together.