P age A 5
T he P ortland O bserver • A ugust 2 4 , 199 4
Conference For Parenting
Grandparents
“Keeping Fam ilies Together” is
the theme o f O regon’s first confer­
ence about parenting grandparents
and relative care providers, which
will be presented by the Urban League
of Portland Aug. 26-27, at Emanuel
H ospital’s Lorenzen Center.
“W e hope this historic confer­
ence will help focus attention on the
needs of an often forgotten group of
parents,” said Urban League Presi­
dent and CEO Law rence J. Dark.
“G randparents raising a second gen­
eration need our help to be effective
parents and hold their fam ilies to ­
gether.”
The conference stems from an
innovative program the Urban League
created in 1992 to serve the needs of
an em erging class: the parenting
grandparent. A 1991 survey o f 322
parenting grandparents in North and
N ortheast Portland found that 89%
were raising children in a home with-
out biologic parents. Drug and alco­
hol problems, incarceration and aban­
donm ent were am ong the chief rea­
sons for parental absence.
Despite their w illingness to take
on a parenting role, many grandpar­
ents are unprepared for it. They en ­
counter institutional obstacles such
as lack o f legal custody, poor access to
benefits and services, and lack o f
educational resources and emotional
support.
The program provides peer sup­
port, education and advocacy for pa­
renting grandparents and relative care
providers. T he program is based at
the L eague’s M ulticultural Senior
C enter in N ortheast Portland and has
135 active members from four metro
counties. “ K eeping Fam ilies T o ­
gether” is being organized so that
parenting grandparents and service
providers from around Oregon and
Southw est W ashington can share in-
formation that will help preserve fami­
lies.
Keynote speakers include Dr.
Lenora Poe and Irene E n d ic o tt Dr.
Poe leads a G randparents as Parents
support group in O akland, C A. She is
also the author o f Black G randpar­
ents As Parents. Endicott is an inspi­
ra tio n a l sp e a k e r an d a u th o r o f
Grandparenting Redefined: Guidance
For T oday’s Changing Family.
The conference registration fee
is $20 per individual or $3 5 per couple.
G randchildren 18 and under may at­
tend free. Registration includes ad ­
mission to the two day conference,
Friday lunch and dinner, and refresh­
ments. The conference runs from
8:30am to 4:30pm Friday, with din­
ner at the M ulticultural Senior C en­
ter from 7 to 9pm. Saturday’s pro­
gram runs from 8:30am to 11:30am,
with an outing at Portland A rt M u­
seum at 2pm.
The Salvation Army Family Services
Helps Local Children Prepare For School
The Salvation Army Family Ser­
vices program is helping local chil­
dren in need get ready for school.
Family Services is providing 50
needy Portland children, ages 5-11,
with back-to-school clothing, sup­
plies and haircuts to help kick o ff the
new school year. In addition to free
haircuts, the children will receive a
com plete clothing outfit and shoes,
and abackpack and lunch box. School
supplies based on grade level, such as
paper, pencils and scissors, also will
be distributed. Interpreters will be on
hand to assist Russian-, V ietnamese-
and Spanish-speaking children.
Children selected for the first-
annual program are members of fam i­
lies who have received assistance,
such as food, counseling and utilities,
from the Family Services program.
Family Services provides assistance
for low-incom e families or those fac­
ing em ergency situations.
“There is a real need for assis­
tance this time o f year,” said Loren
K urtz, F am ily S ervices director.
“Back-to-school is an exciting time
for children, but also can cause anxi­
ety or em barrassm ent if a student is
not as prepared as other classmates.
O ur goal is to help these children start
off on a positive note.”
The program is made possible
through donations o f clothing and
supplies from churches and com pa­
nies in the Portland area. For ex ­
am ple, City Liquidators is donating
backpacks, lunch boxes and school
supplies, and local salon stylists are
offering free haircuts.
The Salvation Army Family Ser­
vices program provides emergency
assistance, including food, counseling
and utilities, for low-income families.
Crim e Stoppers:
Sex
Offender
Arrested
Homicide
ning from the area at or about the
time of the crime.
Investigators are attempting to
locate what they will only say is "a
vehicle o f interest.” The vehicle is
described as a maroon, late model
Toyota Camry, with a “Gold Trim
Package”, and Oregon license plates
ending with the numbers 1-0-4.
Crime Stoppers is offering a cash
reward of up to $ 1,000 for informa­
tion, reported to Crime Stoppers,
that leads to an arrest in this case, or
any unsolved felony crime, and you
can remain anonymous. Call Crime
Stoppers at (503) 823-HELP.
Portland Police Bureau detec­
tives, in cooperation with Crime
Stoppers, are asking for your help in
solving a homicide.
On Monday, August 1,1994, at
approximately 11:00 in the evening,
Joan Borisch, a 42-year-old white
female, who lived at 13605 SE Mar­
ket Street, was found shot to death in
her home. The motive appears to
have been a residential robbery or
burglary.
According to investigators, sev­
eral people in the neighborhood heard
gunfire and saw three subjects, de­
scribed as “young appearing", run-
A California man was charged
in connection with two Kenton
neighborhood burglaries, and the
rape of a 63 year old woman.
Starting in late July, Kenton
neighborhood officers noted an in­
crease in prowler calls during early
morning hours. Then, on Aug. 2, a
63 year old woman was sexually
assaulted in her home on North
Wabash Ave. On Aug. 4, a woman
on North Baldwin Ave reported
that a man had attempted to break
into her home, but had fled when
the woman discovered him and
called 911. Officers found that the
suspect description in both inci­
dents was similar. A red import car
was also described as a possible
suspect vehicle.
On Aug. 9 at about 5:30am the
police observed a similar vehicle
driving through the neighborhood.
The officers arrested the driver of
the vehicle, Eric Sidney Thomp­
son, 33 on traffic violations.
Subsequent investigation led
to Thompson being charged with
burglary and two counts of rape.
He is being held in jail on $ 130,000
bail and a parole detainer from
California.
Detectives said that Thomp­
son was on parole in California for
robbery and burglary, and was on
a 30-day pass to visit his mother
who is ill.
Public Help Sought In Hit And Run Accident
sidewalk, striking Blocker. Blocker
was seriously injured, and trans­
ported to Emanuel Hospital.
The driver o f the vehicle was
described as being a 60 year old
male, with glasses and grey and
brown colored hair.
Anyone with information on this
incident can call Officer Denise
Kuemper, of the Traffic Investiga­
tions Unit at 823-2209.
Witnesses to an August 3rd,
1994 Hit and Run accident are being
sought by investigators. The inci­
dent occurred at about 2:35 p.m. at
NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and
NE Mason St.
Reportedly, 44 year old Ronnie
Blocker, of Northeast Portland was
standing on the comer when a newer
beige or cream colored Cadillac
jumped the curb and drove onto the
Child Shot In Accident
Sophan Thon, a 13 year old boy,
died after suffering from an acciden­
tal gunshot wound to the head Sun­
day night.
Detectives believe that Thon and
a friend, John B. Thow, 12, of the
3600 block of N. Michigan Ave.,
found a rifle in the bedroom of
Thow’s older brother, the rifle was
in very poor condition. When Thow
was showing it to Thon, the weapon
discharged, with the bullet striking
Thon in the head. Thow’s parents
were at work at the time of the shoot­
ing, and were apparently unaware
that the gun was in the house.
No charges have been filed, de­
tectives referred the case to the Mult­
nomah County District Attorney’s
office for review.
State Reviews Adult Foster Care
Oregon, already a national
leader in adult foster care, is
review ing
its
lic e n s in g ,
in sp ectio n
and tra in in g
procedures to en su re the
highest quality care for seniors
and people with disabilities.
by
J im W ilson
Here’s news about a product
that consumers like, that costs less
than the leading alternative, and for
which state government will help
you make a better buying decision.
The product is adult foster care.
It's a subject most people don't think
much about but, like old age, it’s also
a living option that many o f us will
consider someday.
We’re lucky to live where we
do. Oregon’s network of adult foster
care homes represents a national
model, offering seniors and people
with disabilities greater indepen­
dence at a cost of only one-third to
one-half that o f nursing homes.
The news gets better. Together
with other alternatives to nursing
facilities, adult foster care is also
responsible for tax savings of more
than $350 million since 1981 for
Medicaid-eligible residents. The sav­
ings are even greater for the majority
of residents who pay their ow n bills
or have private insurance.
Adult foster care is delivered in
private homes, with providers re-
ceiving formal training and being
licensed for up to five residents.
Recently, how ever, several
highly publicized incidents have
raised questions about the judgment
o f several providers. Now, the state
Senior and Disabled Services Divi­
sion is taking a hard look at our
practices in adult foster care licens­
ing, inspections and training.
Specifically, we are taking these
actions:
We will seek and independent
review of the state’s role in adult
foster care from a citizens' panel
with the freedom to talk to the people
and obtain the data it needs. This
review will be completed within 90
days of its start, and could result in
proposals to the 1995 Oregon Legis­
lature.
State and local staff will con­
duct internal reviews to leam how to
identify patterns of poor care, recog­
nize characteristics of poor provid­
ers and screen out those providers
faster. Where indicated, we will act
immediately.
We have met with leaders o f the
state's two adult foster care provider
associations, who say they will sup­
port the state in strengthening crite­
ria for people to become providers of
adult foster care.
Because they have the most con­
tact, the people who can do the most
to ensure high-quality care are the
families of people living in adult
foster care. This begins with choos­
ing the best adult foster home to meet
your needs.
My agency offers free “A Guide
to Adult Foster Care” to help you in
making a wise choice. It outlines the
types of adult foster homes, and pro­
vides a com prehensive, 35-item
checklist for you to use as you visit
homes.
For example, is the home close
to family, physician and social con­
tacts? Do residents appear well cared
for and does the home offer a warm,
homey atmosphere? Can your fam­
ily member bring his or own room
furnishings? Can special diet needs
be met? Is transportation available?
The guide is available to you by
contacting your local Senior and
Disabled Services Division office,
local Area Agency on Aging or by
calling toll free: 1 (800) 232-3020
(voice or TDD).
The booklet will help you to
make the best choice from among
adult foster homes that are already
nationally recognized for their high
quality.
Jim W ilson is adm inistrator
o f the state Senior and D isabled
Services Division in the O regon
D e p a rtm e n t o f H um an R e ­
sources. You can w rite him at
500 Sum m er St., N.E., Salem ,
O regon 97310-1015.
Children’s Clothing Needed
For Back-To-School Giveaway
T h e L ow In c o m e F a m ilie s
E m e r g e n c y ( L . I . F . E . ) C e n te r
fin d s its e lf h a lf w ay th ro u g h its
n in th a n n u a l c lo th in g d riv e n e e d ­
ing la rg e r siz e c lo th in g fo r its
B a c k -T o -S c h o o l g iv eaw ay .
“ W e are d o ing ok w ith c lo th ­
ing fo r y o u n g e r c h ild re n , b u t we
d e sp e ra te ly need clo th in g for c h il­
d re n in ju n io r h ig h an d h ig h
s c h o o l,” sa id B oard C h a ir R ic h ­
ard R ic k e l. W in te r c o a ts, so ck s
A Look Inside America’s
Lunch Boxes
Asanew school year rapidly approaches. Oh BoylOberto Sausage
Company has taken a look inside America’s lunch boxes. Some
commonly known lunch box facts include:
• Kids eat their dessert first
• The most traded item in the lunch box is the fruit.
• The most embarrassing item found inside the lunch box is the
note from mon.
However, some lunch box facts you may not be aware of:
• This year’s most popular lunch box — The Mighty Morphin
Power Rangers.
• The all-time most popular lunch box - Roy Rogers and Dale
Evans.
• The number one snack - potato chips.
• The 1994 new lunch box snack idea - Oh Boy! Oberto’s 97
percent fat-free beef jerky.
» The fruit most often found in the lunch box - apple.
• One of the items most often left behind on the bus - lunch box.
V______________________________ ____ ______________________________
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an d u n d e rw e a r a re a lso n e e d e d .
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L .I.F .E . C e n te r, 2 7 4 6 N .E . M LK
B lv d ., C h ild r e n ’s W o rld L e a rn ­
ing C e n te rs th ro u g h o u t the m e tro
a re a , o r h o m e p ic k up on c lo th in g
can be a rra n g e d by c o n ta c tin g
C e n te r d ire c to r C h a rle s C a rte r a t
2 8 4 -6 8 7 8 . T he used c lo th in g is
so rte d , m en d ed and c le a n e d by
v o lu n te e rs. T he G iv e a w a y is A u ­
g u st 27 a t P e n in su la P a rk C o m ­
m u n ity C e n te r s ta rtin g a t 10am .
F or m ore in fo rm a tio n a b o u t
the B a c k -T o -S c h o o l g iv e a w a y ,
c o n ta c t D ire c to r C h a rle s C a rte r
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-------------------------------------------
Washington
State Lottery
Wednesday August 17,1994
04-13-15-23-44-45
Saturday August 20, 1994
20-23-24-40-42-44
V______________________________ /
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Pin Stripes
Detailing
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