Cobb County Foster & Adoptive Parents Association

Monthly Newsletter
September / October 2006
Archived:
August 2006 \|

Holiday Happenings
Gift Drive Once again this year we have volunteers to spearhead a gift drive for our Cobb County Foster Children. Please contact Laurie Strother ASAP with ages and genders of all children in your care. Our sponsors have requested all information by November 1st, 2006. (If a new child joins your home after Nov 1st please let Laurie know their info as soon as you can) Laurie Strother 770-419-5582
GEORGIA'S ADOPTIONCELEBRATION
"Celebrating Adoption" is held each year in November to commemorate National Adoption Awareness Month. This fun-filled event celebrates children who have found permanent and loving homes through public, private, and international adoptions 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m Zoo Atlanta 800 Cherokee Avenue Atlanta, Georgia You must bring a flyer with you in order to receive free admission to Zoo Atlanta,limit of 2 adult tickets per family. Zoo members, please use your pass. Flyers are available to download here. “Foster and Adoptive Families-R-Special” November 12 7:30—9:30 Shop in your local Toys R Us and experience a private stress free evening while enjoying raffle prizes, refreshments, and special activities for the kids. For more information, click here. ONGOING RAFFLE Don’t forget about the computer raffle! We are still selling tickets until the December Christmas party where the winner will be announced! Please turn in the $ for any sold tickets and return unsold tickets to Laurie Strother. Please pass the word, sell some tickets! Feel free to sell them to your friends, family and co-workers Etc.
*"Loving your children like they were our own"*
Membership dues due in October. Cobb FAPA’s new fiscal year will run from September thru August so dues renewals can be paid at the October meeting or can be mailed to the address below. Dues for the year is $20. Foster Parents of Cobb County PO Box 1583 Kennesaw, GA 30156
back to top

From Our President

I hope everyone is well. I am looking forward to our monthly meeting.

On October 12, Tony Blash will be our guest speaker. Tony is on the board of A.F.P.A.G (Adoptive Foster Parent Association of Georgia) as the Legislative Policy Chairperson. He is the Legislative Lobbyist with A.F.P.A.G and can assist us with issues and concerns that we face as foster and adoptive parents in our community. He will share important information concerning the legislative advocacy process with us. We need increased involvement of both adoptive and foster parents regarding advocacy on behalf of foster families. He will also share how as individuals we can become one voice and get the attention of our local politicians.

Please use our website, www.cobbfapa.org. Go to the Contact Us page to ask your questions in advance or come prepared with questions and concerns.

We also want to continue to extend an open invitation to all DFCS workers. This is a partnership we value and appreciate. Together we can make the difference for our foster and adoptive children. This month’s meeting we also hope to have Jymme Reed, the region #5 representative with A.F.P.A.G to attend. Jymme will be able to provide a wealth of information for everyone.

On October 24^th Mary Dean Harvey with the Department of Human Resources, who spoke at the A.F.P.A.G meeting at Jekyll Island and was appointed by Governor Sonny Purdue, will be speaking at the Cherokee County Meeting. There will be visitors from other counties foster and adoptive associations. Please let me know if there are any concerns or questions you may want addressed. Support groups, all associations, family, friends, church members and neighbors are invited to attend.

Ann Marie Miller, President

Upcoming Cobb Foster & Adoptive Parent Events (CobbFAPA)

October 12 Tony Blash—Speaker
October 24 Cherokee County FAPA Meeting (Speaker Mary Dean Harvey)
November 16th Speaker TBD
December 16th Christmas Celebration

Updates & Ongoing

Board Update: We have had two Board Members resign their positions during the past few months. Our board currently consists of officers only:

Ann Marie Miller — President
Gwen Charles — Vice President
Karyn Ballard — Secretary
Laurie Strother — Treasurer

In order to succeed as an organization we need volunteers! Please consider joining us we need you! It is our desire to partner with the community around us, make them aware of our needs and realize the benefits of working together for the children in our care. Please consider getting involved today! Join the board, volunteer to help on a special project and/or please make suggestions! This association’s main purpose is to support Foster and Adoptive families and we appreciate your input.

Treasurers Update: Currently FAPA has $355.67 in checking and $759.89 in savings.

Non-Profit Status: CobbFAPA is moving forward to pursue our 5013C status. This will move us into a non profit status and will give us an advantage in obtaining community support. We have given a deposit to a representative to begin the process.

DFCS Invoices On Line:
www.dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov - In the search box type form 526

Upcoming training around town

Training held at the Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa BLVD, Roswell, Ga 30075, the 2^nd Wednesday of each month from 10am to 12pm. Building A, room 252 RSVP for attendance and limited Childcare. More information: (770)641-9591.

October 11th:

FEMA IS-22 Are you ready, an in depth guide to citizen preparedness. Emergency response at home. In spite of our world situation, do we know what to do in case of an emergency, especially since we are not the only ones in the home? Come listen for smart tips in what to do in a natural emergency such as a hurricane, tornadoes or other disaster

November 8th:

Car Seat Safety You hear that each time there is a car seat safety check point that very few of the seats are accurately installed. This is a must for caseworkers transporting children as much as it is important for foster parents that are caring for them. Come learn more about how to keep your foster child safe in your vehicle, also in keeping liability off of yourself by installing it the correct way.

It's Fundraising Time!

As an organization we are very low on resources. In order to effect change we are going to have to raise some capital. We want to offer quality speakers and programs and provide networking opportunities for the members. Our Fall/Winter fundraiser will be putting together a cookbook. This will be a joint effort with DFCS. There are several ladies from DFCS who have already volunteered for the committee! We have chosen a publishing company online that is very user friendly and makes it really easy. We will receive a log-in for the cookbook site and you will be able to enter your own recipes and information or there will be those of us designated that will do it. Please begin collecting your favorite recipes right away. In order to have printing and editing time we will need to begin inputting the information ASAP! If you would like to be on the cookbook fundraiser committee, please contact Karyn Ballard @ 770-633-1844.

“A hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove...but that the world may be a different place because I was important in the life of a child”
Forest E. Whitcraft
(American Scholar, Teacher & Scout Leader 1894– 1967)