6 • The Southwest Portland Post
NEWS
April 2016
Boys & Girls Aid offers free seminar for foster parents in Southwest
By Jack Rubinger
The Southwest Portland Post
Boys & Girls Aid has a 130-year
history in Oregon and the need for
safety, security, and socialization for
teens is just as important now as it
was then.
“There’s a crisis in Oregon,” said Ryan
THE COUNTRY STORE
(Continued from Page 4)
Switch Shoes and Clothing
celebrates 10th anniversary
Co-owner Jennifer Robinson models a hat
at Switch Shoes and Clothing.
Switch Shoes and Clothing is
celebrating their 10-year anniversary
April 8 – 10 with a three-day sale,
door surprises, and events. A dance
party starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, April
8, a henna artist will be on hand from
noon - 4 p.m. on Saturday, and cake and
Imondi, director of communications &
marketing, Boys & Girls Aid. “There
are more than 8,000 kids in foster care
and 2,500 in Multnomah County. There
are just not enough foster beds, so kids
wind up in hospitals, unsafe homes,
and shelters.”
According to Imondi, “While teens
are perceived as an intimidating
population, they’re actually a great
champagne will be served on Sunday.
Sales will take place during the regular
daytime hours.
Located in Multnomah Village,
Switch opened in April 2006 as a retail
shoe store. After a baby clothes business
closed next door, Switch owners cut a
door through the wall expanding their
floor space offering items from small
independent designers in Portland
and Israel.
“In 2010, we doubled our size and
added clothing,” co-owner Jason Lensch
said. “We have stayed committed to our
core concepts and values throughout
our decade of business.
“Seventy percent of our Israeli shoes
and some of our clothing lines can only
be found at our store and nowhere else
in the country,” Lensch said.
He, and wife Jennifer Robinson,
another co-owner, chair the Multnomah
Village Business Association. They
coordinate Multnomah Days, the
holiday gala, flower baskets, and
securing more business members.
Rina and Moshe Menashe are the
other owners.
“The circle of women supporting
women is truly the heart of the
business,” said Rina. “It’s the heart of
Switch.”
Located at 7871 SW Capitol Hwy.,
Switch is open Mon. – Sat. 10 a.m. to 6
p.m., Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and
every first Friday until 9 p.m.
population at a turning point, so foster
parents can have real conversations,
set positive direction, and provide
meaningful input during this pivotal
period.”
Because foster parents are often busy
during the daytime working, Boys &
Girls Aid has established a day program
at their Johns Landing headquarters for
teens which accommodates 15 children
at a time.
The day program, open from 7 a.m.
to 6 p.m., also reduces foster parent
burn-out because it’s tough to reward
foster parents who need to take care of
themselves.
For those interested in learning
more about helping at risk teens,
Boys & Girls Aid is conducting a free
informational event at the Southwest
Community Center, 6820 SW 45th
Avenue, on Thursday, April 14, from
6 – 8 p.m. For more information, visit:
http://boysandgirlsaid.org.
“Regardless of age or background,
we believe children belong in families
that are permanent and stable. While
every child deserves a family, not every
child has a family. Between the ages
of 0 to 23, we have a focus on making
sure every child has a lifelong adult
connected to their future,” said Imondi.
“Kids in foster care are Oregon’s
most at-risk population. In fact, this
population is 63 times more likely to
be incarcerated than other groups.”
Londo Ramos has fostered 20 youth
over the last 3 years. Her 20th foster
child came just last week. Most children
in her home are teenagers, but she’s
had kids between the ages of 12 – 18.
Ramos and her husband follow up
with kids after they leave their care.
Most return home to parents and do
well. Some go into other treatment
programs and some to other foster
homes after completing the Boys &
Girls Aid program.
“Being a foster parent takes a great
deal of patience, love, and willingness
to be flexible,” said Ramos. “Most
youth in our home come from very
unstable home lives. We love watching
youth grow emotionally, mentally, and
in height. Most youth have never had a
family meal at a dinner table, no home
cooked food, or food that was not out
of a box.
“It’s hard to see youth fail and return
to detention, or see youth return to a
family environment that is unhealthy,
only to return to foster care or the
juvenile court system,” Ramos added.
“But the majority are successful.
And become law abiding, self-reliant
citizens.”
Ramos works for the State of Oregon
and the CARE Assist program. She also
works for the State of Oregon in the
Trauma Systems Program as a policy
analyst.
“Our programs offer an alternative
to detention and incarceration,” said
Elizabeth Vrooman, foster family
outreach coordinator, Boys & Girls Aid.
“We help kids get back on track during
during difficult periods of transition.
We also provide important life skills
coaching so kids can better manage
their futures.”
Boys & Girls Aid also offers a
new teen girl program for those
close to age 18 which teaches about
budgeting, setting goals, earning a
college diploma and fulfilling college
applications. On an emotional level,
the program provides role models
for healthy relationships, learning
the difference between healthy and
unhealthy relationships, and learning
how to articulate and advocate for
yourself.
Headquartered at 018 SW Boundary
Court, this nonprofit works to secure
lifelong connections for every child
in Oregon.
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Scott Ford, one of our readers, enjoyed a fabulous
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in South Waterfront. Where do you read The Post?
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