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June 23, 1999
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Oregon Launches
Redesign Of
Foster Care
G vest O pinion is B\ C arol * n G raf
F oster C are M anager
For some, foster care is a tempo
rary, safe passage o f childhood. For
others, it is a protective bridge to
adulthood. However long they stay,
and for whatever reasons that bring
them here, foster care continues to
play a necessary role in the protec
tion o f children.
We have seen dramatic shifts in
how foster care services are provided.
Social and political trends and new
legislation, including the Adoption
and Safe Families Act, are reshaping
our approach to child protection.
In response, Oregon is redesign
ing its foster care system. Changes
during the coming years include:
Rate redesign: Children in pro
tective services represent some of
Oregon’s most vulnerable children
and their caregivers are in need of
subsidized child care and respite child
care services. Foster parents are re
imbursed for room, board, clothing
and incidentals, at an average amount
o f 390 a month, or $12.85 a day. A
proposal is being developed to equi
tably reimburse foster parents and
meet the needs o f our children in the
foster care system.
Independent Living: Teen-agers
in foster care are particularly vulner
able. Their transition to independence
is difficult because o f limited re
sources to prepare teens to live inde
pendently. Work is being done to
improve these services for children
leaving foster care.
Kinship care: During the past de
cade the number o f non-relative fos
ter parents decreased while the num
ber of chi ldren in need o f out-of-home
care increased. Faced with a shortage
o f non-relative caregivers, the foster
care system increasingly is turning to
achild’srelatives. Relative placements
meet a child’s needs for continuity,
attachment and identity. SCF has re
ceived grants that will help increase
support to place children with rela
tives and remove barriers to perma
nency with relatives
Recruitment and retention: Re
cruitment and retention rank among
the most pressing needs in the child
protective system. The number of
children in foster care averages 6,500.
While SCF will continue its state
wide recruitment efforts, there will
also be greater emphasis on good
foster parents. One way to do this is
to involve the foster care parent in
planning for a child’s reunification
with the biological family or the move
to another permanent placement.
Neighborhood foster care: Chil
dren and youth in foster care often
have substantial educational needs,
having moved from family to family
and from school to school. Oregon
has a program in place that focuses
on keeping children in their own
neighborhoods when they come into
protective care. A supportive plan is
being developed for this program.
RENTERS
Multnomah Women’s Club
Know Your Rights
Presents
Scholarships
The Community Alliance ofTen-
ants (CAT) is a grassroots, tenant-
membership organization. We are
the only renters ’ rights organization
in Oregon. Our mission is to edu
cate and empower tenants to de
mand safe, stable and affordable
housing. CAT operates a Renters’
Right Hotline ([503] 288-0130) for
renters throughout the state who have
questions about their rights as ten
ants. Currently we are looking for
volunteers to staff the hotline. This
is a great opportunity to leam more
about the law and to support and
empower the very low-income fami
lies who are the majority o f our
callers. The next volunteer training
is Sunday, July IS"1. Call Megan at
460-9702 for more information.
A Picnic
Of Gold
On June 5, 1 9 9 9 the Multnomah Women's Club presented a total of $ 7 ,0 0 0 to two local students.
Jonathan J. Johnson ( leftt) graduated from Barlow High School in 1 9 9 8 and attended his freshman year
at Highline Community College near Seattle. Washington. He will attend Lane Community College in
Eugene. Oregon to begin his sophomore year. After completing his sophomore year at Lane, he will
complete his degree in Business Administration at University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon. Jonathan,
the son of Mr. and Mrs. Levan Johnson, received $ 3,0 00 .
Douglas Jon Gaither (right), son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Gaither, is a 1 9 9 9 graduate of Wilson High
School. He will begin his studies at University of Oregon in the fall. Douglas Jon received $ 4 ,0 0 0 .
Multnomah Women's Club was organized April. 1 9 4 1 for the purpose of working for the moral,
economic, and religious welfare of women and children. Mrs. Lillian Whitlow is the president.
Other parts o f the revision plan
include implementation o f a com
mon home study of foster and adop
tive homes: a complete revision of
the certifier handbook and the first
training curriculum for certifiers; and
policy revisions, including placement
matching, child-family contact and
ensuring quality care in foster homes.
Although foster care is a tempo
rary placement for children, we
must work to provide high-quality.
nurturing and supportive environ
ments. It is never too late to inter
vene in a young life and restore a
chiId ’ s path to w holeness. For thou
sands o f children the first step be
gins in foster care.
Come out and join the fun
with our Gold,
the Kids o f the Community
on a F antastic Picnic
Alberta Park
July 3
Noon 'till dusk
Admission is Free
A Grand Raffle • Cook-off Contest
Cultural Activities' • Music
Food Tasting Contest • Games
Call For Your Tickets To Win
Donations and Volunteers Welcome
For More Information
Call 281-1882
TRI - MET NEWS
Tri-Met Offers Youth Summertime Bargain
Youth can again enjoy unlimited travel at a bargain price this
summertime on Tri-Met. “The Pass,” which goes on sale
Thursday, May 20, also offers discounts at local merchants.
With “The Pass,” youth 18 and under can ride Tri-Met’s
buses and MAX light rail trains all June, July and August for
just $43. That’s half the regular price of three monthly
youth passes. The special pass is available at
participating schools, and Tri-Met sales outlets including
Fred Meyer, Safeway and most Albertson’s stores in the
Portland metropolitan area.
Pass holders qualify for these special discounts:
McDonald's: Free dessert with purchase of an Extra Value
Meal. Offer excludes McFlurry dessert.
Ice Chalet at Lloyd Center & Clackamas Town Center: $1
off general admission.
0MSI: $1 off general admission.
North Clackamas Aquatic Park: $1 off general admission.
“We’re really pleased to bring back this affordable way of
helping youth meet their summertime travel needs,” said
Fred Hansen, Tri-Met General Manager. “We expect The
Pass to continue to be a big hit."
More information about The Pass and Tri-Met is available
. _ , ^ J b y calling 238-RIDE.
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