community
june1
2017
Lions Club Spam & Eggs
The Lions Club of Vernonia held its annual “Spam & Eggs” fundraiser on May 6 at
the R&S Market. The fundraiser is held to raise funds and canned protein items for
the Vernonia Cares Food Bank. The Club made several dishes to sample made from
SPAM. The Lions were able to raise over $250 dollars and 11 pounds of canned
food items. The Lions wish to thank R&S Market and the incredible staff for all
their help. And the wonderful and giving community of Vernonia. Thank You!
7
Where Do You
Read The Voice?
It was such a
fine sight to
see Sharon and
Randy Parrow
standin’ on
a corner in
Winslow,
Arizona, takin’
it easy and
reading a copy
of Vernonia’s
Voice. Next
stop...The Hotel
California?
George Tice, Tommy Sherman and Muffy Marshall of Lions Club of Vernonia,
present the donations collected during “Spam & Eggs” to Randal Harvey,
board member of Vernonnia Cares Food Bank.
Governor Signs Foster Sibling Bill of Rights
electronically and by phone. Other
provisions of the law provide for training
foster families and DHS caseworkers on
the importance of sibling relationships,
and creates a pathway for foster youth
to remain connected when their siblings
are placed in a permanent home.
“For us, the worst thing you
can endure in the foster care system is
to be separated from your siblings,” said
Baska. “Your siblings are like your best
friends from birth and nobody is going to
understand what you are going through
better than they are.”
In addition to testifying in front
of both the Oregon House and Senate,
members of OFYA visited Salem to
lobby for foster care rights for children
in the system.
“The voice of youth is essential
when any changes to the foster care
system are considered. The youth who
participated in developing the Sibling
Bill of Rights see that they can have
an impact on the world they live in,”
said Lisa McMahon, OFYC Program
Director. On the impact of the law,
McMahon commented, “Foster youth
see that the Sibling Bill of Rights is life
changing, it’s history – that this is law in
Oregon now, and their advocacy is why
it exists.”
“I think this is a huge win for
foster youth all across Oregon,” said
Baska, “so we can all grow up and know
who are siblings are and be part of their
life.”
Baska has been attending
Portland Community College and hopes
to enroll at Lane County Community
College next fall where she plans to
study Political Science. She remains
active in OFYA and serves on a Youth
Advisory Board for DHS, working
to help implement additional policy
recommendations from OFYA. In
2015 she was chosen for Foster Club
All-Stars, a national paid internship
position, and is currently working as a
Youth Development Specialist there,
mentoring new interns in the program.
Through its youth-led model
of civic engagement and leadership
development, OFYC have had legislative
wins each of the past four longer
sessions. Because of OFYC, foster
youth in Oregon now have: Assistance
Obtaining Driving Privileges (2009); A
Tuition Waiver for former foster youth
entering community college or state
university (2011); A Foster Child Bill
of Rights & Foster Child’s Ombudsman
(2013); access to savings accounts at
the age of 12 (2015); and the ensured
opportunity to participate in at least one
extracurricular activity (2015).
“Foster Care is the talk of
Salem right now.” said Baska “There
are a lot of legislators who are looking
at how we can improve our state’s foster
continued from front page
care system for our youth that are in it. I
think having all these youth from all over
the state talking about their experiences
and what they went through with their
siblings has been really impactful.”
OFYC members plan continued
work to improve foster care in Oregon
including improving training for
foster families and caseworkers on
conflict-resolution
and
LGBTQ+
youth; increasing youth engagement
around new placement and permanency
planning; and incorporating best practice
models for youth transitioning out of
care, suicide prevention, and foster
home inspections.
Children First for Oregon is a statewide,
nonprofit organization whose mission is
to make long-term systemic change by
advocating for the adoption of policies
and programs that keep children healthy
and safe, and strengthen families. Learn
more at www.cffo.org.
Mariolino’s
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Open for
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We have ice cream!
Cones-Shakes-Sundaes
Serving Vernonia since 1970
721 Madison Avenue, Vernonia
(503) 429-5018
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