The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current, September 05, 2002, Page 9, Image 9

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Best selling author will visit Meeting set for future adoptive parents
Jane Kirkpatrick, on Sundav.
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the award-winning tember 22 from 1- mother to cross the
author of ten books, 2:30 p.m.
Kirk­ Rocky Mountains
including A Sweet­ patrick will sign and remain in the
ness to the Soul, copies of her books, Northwest.
and winner of the including
her
The public is in­
Wrangler for the newest novel, A vited to meet Kirk­
Outstanding West­ Name of Her Own. patrick, enjoy re­
ern Novel of 1995, This work of histori­ freshments and dis­
will be at the Ver­ cal fiction is based cussion with the au­
nonia Public Library on the life of Marie thor and, if you
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ence Room A.
For those wishing to contin­
ue to become certified as foster
parents or to adopt through the
agency, a core training will be
offered the following Tuesday
evenings for five weeks, April
22 through 29, at 6:30 p.m.
There are currently over 400
children in Oregon waiting to be
placed in permanent adoptive
homes. In Columbia County
alone, there are over 80 chil­
dren in substitute care, some of
whom will be returned to par­
ents or relatives, and some of
whom will be freed for adop­
tion. Children who need homes
range in age from newborns to
teens. They may need just a
few days of shelter, or many
years in a warm, loving home.
Many of them have special
needs stemming from neglect
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or abuse to being born affected
by drugs or alcohol.
Foster parents are reim­
bursed for the children’s living
expenses, and health coverage
is provided for children placed
by the State. There are no fees
involved for families who w is f
to adopt through the State, and
Adoption Assistance is avail­
able for those who will adopt
children with special needs.
Foster or adoptive parents
can be single, married or di­
vorced. They can live in a
house or an apartment; work
inside or outside the home;
have children of their own or
not. Foster and adoptive par­
ents need to be caring, patient,
flexible and possess a sense of
humor. They do not need a
large income, just a large heart.
CASA volunteers needed to
advocate for children’s needs
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The Oregon Department of
Human Services is in critical
need of foster and adoptive
homes. There will be an infor­
mational meeting for people in­
terested in providing foster care
or becoming adoptive parents
on Tuesday, September 10,
from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at
the State Office Complex, 500
N. Hwy 30, St. Helens, Confer-
T h e m o re y o u use it, rhe
m o re y o u e a rn . O v e r a year,
ir can a d d u p ro h u n d re d s o f
d o lla rs . So s ta rt c a s h in g in
e ve ry tim e y o u p a y th e ta b .
T o sign u p , s to p by a n y
IL S . B a n k b ra n c h , c a ll
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us at u s b a n k .c o m .
While the state Department
of Human Services, particularly
the Child Welfare Division, is
being reorganized, CASA vol­
unteers are out talking to those
involved in a child’s case, re­
viewing files, spending time
with the child in order to make a
recommendation to juvenile
court as to what they believe is
in the child’s best interest.
CASA volunteers have been
trained to do this work and
judges find it valuable. Twenty-
five years ago, in fact, it was a
Seattle judge who developed
the concept, because of con­
cern about making decisions
on children’s futures without
sufficient information. The con­
cept has been so successful,
there are now 900 CASA pro­
grams, nationwide, helping
over one million children.
CASA is an acronym for
Court Appointed Special Advo­
cate, and CASA volunteers are
trained to represent abused
and neglected children in court.
One of CASA’s strengths is that
it is a community-based solu­
tion to a problem. Though it’s a
challenging commitment, no
particular background is re­
quired. CASA of Columbia
County has volunteers who are
employed full or part-time, re­
tired and stay-at-home moms,
to name a few. CASA volun­
teers have represented over 50
abused and neglected children
in Columbia County’s Court in
just the last year. Trained vol­
unteers are needed to repre­
sent the abused and neglected
children in Columbia County.
New volunteer training will
begin in late September. For
more information, call 503-366-
7644.
Members needed for senior board
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Member FC
The Area Agency on Aging
(AAA) is seeking individuals in­
terested in serving on the advi­
sory committee. Members as­
sist in planning, monitoring and
advocating senior citizens is­
sues and services in Columbia
County. The committee serves
in an advisory capacity to the
Columbia County Council of
Senior Citizens Inc. (CCCSC
Inc.) on issues relating to sen­
ior citizens. Especially needed
are representatives from the
Clatskanie and Vernonia areas..
The Adviscy Council meets
on the first Monday of each
month at 1:00 p.m., usually in
St. Helens. September’s meet­
ing will be Monday, September
9 (due to the Labor Day Holi­
day) at the Columbia County
Courthouse in Room 308.
Applications are available at
the CCCSC Inc. office, 277
Strand in St. Helens, or by call­
ing 503-397-4000.
CORRECTION
Recognition Night for Ver­
nonia High School students
who have earned the Certifi­
cate of Initial Mastery (CIM) will
be October 23.