Fosters Crossing
FOSTER
CARE IS CHILD WELFARE
Weekly Bulletin of the Foster Parent Association
of Spokane
July
14, 2005
We know many of you have thought we were a
program of the past but the Foster Parent
Association of Spokane wanted me to deliver the message, “We may be moving
slowly these days, but our demise has been overstated!” Because of the budget
crisis in Olympia, our funding was pulled mid-April. Since that time, a
number of people have been working to answer emergency requests for
assistance, and spending most of our time trying to get enough funding to
continue to be able to provide support to our foster and foster/adopt homes.
Thank you for the phone calls and notes of
encouragement from many of you. It is a tough fight right now but knowing the
resilience and tenacity of you all and the dedicated people here at the
association, the support of the Foster Parent Association will continue as it
has for almost 25 years.
If you have a concern, please feel free to call
the office and leave a message. It may take a day or two but someone will get
back with you. If you have an emergency, call me at 998-8047. – Suzie Toews
Next Years Conference
We are beginning plans for next year’s
conference. If you are interested in helping in the planning, please send an
email to
SToews@fpas.org.
Mark your
Calendars
A summer picnic is planned for Saturday, August
27th. More information will be forthcoming in the next couple of
weeks. We would love to see you all there!
Funding Woes
have made us more creative! We are always looking for ideas as to how to
raise money for the foster homes’ needs. If you have any ideas please send us
an email!
Our new website
is almost up and running. Check it out at FPAS.org in the next week or so…
KIDZ CORNER
Fun
Kid's Activities for Summer Vacation
If you have a garden hose, lawn chair, note pad or coin,
you're in luck. Simple household items can keep your kids occupied during the
dog days of summer! Start with a
few of these suggestions and then take a look at
summer water games, relay races or art activities.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. .
Coin Adventure
Turn an ordinary neighborhood walk into an extraordinary adventure. Pick a
time when you have nice weather and
a bit of time to spend.
As you and your child step out the front door, flip a coin.
If its tails turn left. If its heads turn right.
Continue this at every corner. You never know where
you'll end up! This is a great opportunity to giggle with your kids and enjoy
some chatting.
Obstacle Course
A terrific form of exercise and play!
Super for summer parties and barbeques.
These obstacles are sure to delight you kids.
-Walking or hopping along a winding a garden hose.
-Crawling under lawn chairs.
-Balancing along a string.
-Walking with a ball between your knees.
-Add an oscillating sprinkler to any of the above!
Obstacle builders could be lawn furniture, a hose, string or rope, sprinkler,
balls, water balloons, jump rope
Add movements like jumping, rolling etc. What fun!
Be Prepared
Fill a large laundry basket with a good playground ball, a jump rope, and
roller skates, hula hoop and some side walk chalk. They'll be ready in a
pinch!
Slide Test Drive
This simple activity keeps my son busy for
quite awhile and his friends like it too!
If you have a swing set with a slide in your back yard.
Place a bucket or dish pan at the bottom of the slide.
Have your child place a toy car at the top of the slide and see if it will
roll into the bucket.
Ask him /her which cars were successful, which one failed and why they think
that was the case.
FAMILY
FUN DAY AT CAMP DART-LO
Join us for a day of FREE
family activities, FREE food, FREE swimming and FREE entertainment.
WHEN: Saturday July 16,
2005 10 am – 4 pm
COST: FREE
WHERE: Camp Dart-LO
14000
Dartford Drive, Spokane, WA 99208.
Camp
Dart-Lo is located on 51 beautiful acres
On the
Little Spokane River and has been
Owned and
operated by Camp Fire for over
60 years.
ACTIVITIES: Archery, hiking,
explore the bouldering hut, swimming, tours, face painting, activity stations
and enter to win prizes (men’s mountain bike, $250 Target gift card and Camp
Sweyolakan & Dart-Lo camp sessions.
QUESTIONS: Call
509-747-6191 Ext. 10
SPOKANE
FALLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE OFFERS
PREPARE FOR THE ADOPTION
EXPERIENCE
ADOPTION – A FAMILY MATTER
July 12 – August 2
Tuesdays 6-9 pm
Spokane
Falls Community College
3410 W. Fort George Wright
Dr.
Spokane,
WA 99224-5288
Building 18, Room 211
Here is a course that talks
frankly and realistically about the logistics and emotions of the adoption
experience. Instructor, Mary Murphy, JD, is an attorney and a social worker
who has worked professionally with parents considering adoption and/or foster
care. She is an adoptive and birth parent herself whose six children are now
grown. Guest speakers, including adult adoptees, will be invited to join the
group to share knowledge and experience.
COST: $85.00
Enrollment for each course is
limited to 20 people, so register soon!
Register for Course Item
#6740
To Register call 509-533-3140
More info call 533-3115
Spokane Clothing Room
Art and
Ruby Harper are always here to serve you when you need to use the Spokane
clothing room. You can call them at 325-4159 or email
aharper@icehouse.net
As
foster parents and caseworkers you know the news. You know what you have to
share. Please help pass it on!! If you’d like to contribute to this
newsletter, please call at 462-3777 and leave a message or send an email to
jsullivan@fpas.org.
You are
subscribed to this list. To unsubscribe, email.
jsullivan@fpas.org
_______________________________________________________________________
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referenced herein by the Foster Parent Association of Spokane ("FPAS") is
strictly informational and provided solely for your own general educational
purposes. It does not constitute, nor is it intended to take the place of
medical, legal or other professional advice.
Although every effort is used to insure its quality, FPAS cannot guarantee the
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without limitation, fitness for a particular purpose. Accordingly, FPAS will
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nor do they amount to a representation or guarantee, express or implied, that
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NO Wrong Door
