WHAT'S INSIDE:

• Feature Article - A Good Life - Poem written by a 14-year-old foster child

• Foster Parent Quick Tip - Encourage Socialization

• Foster Parent Highlight - Meet Some of Our Amazing Foster Parents!

• Training Corner - Training Opportunities from July to September

• TFI Scoop - Hear from our Recruitment Team

• Anniversaries - Recognizing Foster Families Meeting Milestones!

FEATURED ARTICLE

This month's article is in the form of a heartfelt poem written by a very talented TFI foster child in Kansas.

A Good Life

I have it good. A roof over my head.
Food on the table, a family, a bed.
It wasn’t always like that.

I go camping, on vacations with
Family members who love and care for me.
It wasn’t always like that. 

KANSAS

The Hegg Family

The Hegg family provides a safe home for the foster children in their home. They are very attentive to each child’s specific needs and do everything they can to ensure every child feels safe and loved in their home. The Heggs communicate any needs or concerns with their foster care worker and the child’s worker. They have graciously opened their home to children of all ages, even though they initially intended to care for younger children.

READ MORE HERE.

NEBRASKA

The Convey Family

Ellison and Braden Convey joined TFI in October 2022. Since becoming licensed in April 2023, the family has welcomed two children with high needs into their home. Their first placement was a female teen whose case goal was to move in with her grandparents in another state after the school year ended. They accepted placement before the ink on their new license could dry!  Ellison and Braden provided structure, consistency and understanding of her trauma history. After the grandparent’s ICPC was completed, the teen was placed with her grandparents.

READ MORE HERE.

OKLAHOMA

Linda Baxter

Linda has prior experience as a foster parent and has been with TFI for nearly one year! She serves as a respite home and regularly accepts placements.

Linda maintains connections with other foster families and provides respite care for children, contributing to continuity in their care. She is available for emergency placements and responds promptly to placement requests.

READ MORE HERE. 

TEXAS

The Driver Family

Jamie and Kendall Driver are excited to begin their journey as newly licensed foster parents, and they’ve hit the ground running with their first placement, a six-year-old boy! As summer winds down, this energetic trio has been making unforgettable memories together, from backyard adventures to family movie nights. The Drivers are passionate about providing a stable, healthy, and happy home for children in need and are open to adoption as a way to grow their family. Their hearts are full, their door is open, and their story is just beginning.

READ MORE HERE.

TRAINING CORNER

Back to School Child Trauma Guide: Tips for Parents and Caregivers 

Children who have experienced violence or abuse may carry trauma into every aspect of their lives. Trauma can profoundly disrupt a child’s life, especially when they experience it in their younger formative years. Childhood trauma can turn even the smallest surprises or changes into overwhelming challenges, which can make preparing to return to school tough.

If you’re a parent or caregiver of a child who has experienced trauma, preparing them for that first day back can feel daunting.

To help make the transition smoother and more positive, our trauma and child trauma experts prepared some information and tips. These will help you understand trauma and support children in preparation to go back to school.

Take the Quiz: Back to School Child Trauma Guide: Tips for Parents and Caregivers

Training includes:

• ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) 
• Identifying Learning Strengths in Children
• Improving Foster Placement Stability
  
• Parenting Children with Special Needs
  
• Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect
  
• Safe Sleep for Caregivers (SIDS Prevention)
• Self-Care For Foster Parents

There are also many more training opportunities! Click the button below to see all training offered between July and September. 

RECRUITMENT CORNER

Our recruitment team has been out in the community advocating and welcoming families as we all go back to school.

Kansas

We collaborated at the Together Kansas DCF Event in Wichita on Aug. 6. On Aug. 8, we participated in the VJ Homecoming celebration in Arma. Then, we joined Kids Fest at Ron’s Supermarket in Pittsburg on Aug. 16. We are still organizing Pizza in the Park events. Keep your eyes on TFI Village Facebook for more information.

Oklahoma
We were happy to be part of the Teacher Resource Social in Oklahoma City on Aug. 7. We enjoyed the FCAO Back to School Bash in Oklahoma City on August 9. We hosted Sound of Hope Movie Night in Norman on Aug. 17. We are looking forward to joining the Regency Park Foster Care Ministry in Moore on Aug. 24, and we are excited about being part of the 1 Day/1 Night event in Moore on August 28. We will close out August by hosting Morning Mentors: A Breakfast for Foster and Adoptive Fathers at Rudy’s BBQ in Norman on Aug. 30.

Texas

We are targeting community engagement in Texas! We presented at the Adoption and Foster Expo in Mesquite on Aug. 2. Then, we shared at the Palo Pinto County Community Collaboration meeting, and we followed that with community engagement in the area on Aug. 6. We connected at the Comanche office and poured into the community on Aug. 8. We went to Holliday and Archer City to share in those communities on Aug. 13. We were vendors at the Run for Homes Fun Run in Lubbock on Aug. 16. We headed to Comanche again for community engagement on Aug. 19. We are looking forward to being active in Haskell on Aug. 26 and Olney on Aug. 29. We hope to see you out in the community! 

Below are our foster parents celebrating a milestone anniversary as a TFI Foster Parent! We love having you as part of Team TFI!

10+ Years: 

Caleb and Julie Bennington

Peter and Bethany

Clayton and Sherri Bridgette

Barbara Carter

Frederick Rosenberg Jr.

Timothy and Michelle Wells-Woods

James and Becky Wheeler

5 + Years: 

Andrew and Emily Hendrich

Arianna McGee

Barry and Karen Morgan

Ryan and Holly Tullous

1 Year: 

Linda Baxter

Chad and Afton Brown

Jordan and Jessica Brown

Cheryl Burton

LaShonda Curry

Sharon Doodnauth

Baltazar and Crissy Guzman

Robert and Merrie Jeannotte

Andres and Elselore Leandry

Cody and Katie Lill

Francisco and Cynthia Lopez

Bud and Tamra Martin

Amanda and April Morrissette

Leonel Martinez-Aguilar and Teresita Perez

Meregildo and Mikayla Perez

Hunter and Emily Peterson

Erin Pickering and Kayla Prater

Ron and Karen Ramsey

Jeremy and Sarah Roberts

Justin and Mashea Shultz

Nicholas and Katie Simons

Justin and Janna Taylor

Charles and Rachel Welch

Rebecca Williams