LINK Families II
Linking Information Networks for Kids
An NYSCCC Program Initiative
Support for Adoptive and Foster Families Parenting
Children with Developmental Disabilities
2008 Support Network Grantee Awards
The NYS Citizens Coalition for Children, Inc. is pleased to announce mini grants awards to four upstate New York organizations chosen to develop local support and information networks for adoptive and foster families of children with developmental disabilities. NYSCCC will provide grantees with a $2,500 cash award, scholarships to attend the 2008 NYSCCC statewide adoption conference, and onsite training and technical assistance. The funded organizations will form project planning teams composed of adoptive/foster parents and local developmental disabilities service providers to plan and implement local support projects to benefit adoptive, foster, and kinship families in their community.
The overall goal of the NYS Citizens’ Coalition for Children’s Adoption and Foster Care Supports Project is to create sustainable support systems for foster, adoptive, and kinship families parenting children with developmental disabilities. Local support projects implemented with mini grant funds are expected to include a wide variety of new or expanded local support services and activities, such as, information and referral services, mentoring or buddy programs, warm lines, parent support groups, children’s groups, professionally staffed therapeutic groups, newsletters, social events, child care exchanges, or educational programs. NYSCCC will provide grantees with ongoing technical assistance to assist them to develop and implement support projects to meet their own local needs and circumstances and provide onsite training on locally identified issues. During the course of the project NYSCCC’s website will be redesigned and expanded to include online service directories for funded sites, interactive forums for parents, and other supports for both parents and providers of services. This program is made possible thanks to a grant to NYSCCC from the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. 2008 grantees and project contacts are as follows:
Cerebral Palsy and Handicapped Children's Association of Chemung County - Chemung and Surrounding Counties
Agency/Provider Contact: Linda Baney •607-734-7107• baneyl@chemungcp.com
Parent Contact : Victoria Saia • 936-6486Family Resource Network (FRN)– Otsego County
Agency/Provider Contact: Roxane Carpenter •607-432-0001 • carprl99@yahoo.com
Parent Contact: Karen Olmsted • 607-286-9311 • karenpaffenroth@yahoo.comNew Directions Youth and Family Services – Cattaraugus County
Agency/Provider Contact: Leslie Shellenbarger 716-358-3636 • lshellenbarger@ndyfs.org
Parent Contact: Jane Cain • 716-358-3200Saratoga Bridges – Saratoga County
Agency/Provider Contact: Patricia Paduano •518-587-0723• ppaduano@saratogabridges.org
Parent Contact: Louise Churchill-Thomas• 518-882-9472
2007 Support Network Grantee Projects and Accomplishments
During 2007, NYSCCC provided $2,000 mini grant awards, training, and technical assistance to five local organizations to sponsor the development of local parent/provider support and communication networks and provided ongoing technical assistance and training to local network sponsors. NYSCCC training and technical assistance activities included a half day support network sponsors meeting, 20 scholarships for attendance at the NYSCCC statewide adoption/foster care training conference, site visits to assist with local network development plans, and on-site training workshops for foster/adoptive parents, ongoing print and email communication and connection to NYSCCC online support activities and information resources.
The local support and information networks developed as a result of the grants provided by NYSCCC during 2007 increased families’ knowledge of and access to services in their communities, increased support services available for these families, enabled them to connect with and develop friendships with other adoptive/foster families parenting children with developmental disabilities, and develop and strengthen skills to better meet their children’s needs. Developmental disabilities service providers increased their knowledge and understanding of issues specific to adoptive and foster families. The five funded 2007 local support network grantees developed and initiated a wide variety of foster/adoptive caregiver support services including support groups,lending libraries, advocacy services, and training workshops, and social events. All grantees have made a commitment to continuing services beyond the end of the project year and engage in ongoing outreach to foster and adoptive parents in their community.
See Local Support Network Summaries for contact information and a description brief description of each local network supports services and accomplishments. Foster and Adoptive parents caring for children with developmental disabilities are encouraged to contact support network sponsors in their community to voice opinions and learn about project activities and support services.
To learn more about LINK Families II activities and 2008 project participation opportunities
contact Susan Collins, NYSCCC Program Director, scollins@nysccc.org
Back to NYSCCC Home Page Back to NYSCCC Programs
NYS Citizens' Coalition for Children, Inc.
410 East Upland Road • Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 272-0034 • fax (607) 272-0035
office@nysccc.org
07/14/2008