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Kansas Newsletter

Between Families Newsletter – March 2024

July 24, 2024 October 2nd, 2024

LIFEBOOKS
Do the children in your care have one?
Are you keeping it updated?
Here are some things you need to know…

Becoming a foster parent comes with the responsibility of nurturing not just the physical and emotional well-being of children but also safeguarding their memories and personal history. Every child carries a unique story, a mosaic of experiences that shape who they are. For children, who often experience disruption and change, Lifebooks can provide a sense of continuity and a connection to their past. And some states, like Oklahoma, require all foster homes to have them.

Here are some answers to common questions when creating or maintaining Lifebooks for children in your care.

What type of Lifebooks are acceptable?

Lifebooks do not have to be elaborate scrapbooks. In fact, there are many ways to create a child’s Lifebook. Some families collect everything in a box or bin, while other families keep everything in a three-ring binder or have a picture book created.

What should I include in a Lifebook?

  • Pictures to capture each year of their life
  • Remember to include photos from school or daycare, sports, extracurricular activities and photos taken with the family such as holidays and special events.
  • School or daycare records, report cards, projects and awards Report cards are a required element.
  • Information on sports, extracurricular activities, or awards
  • Cultural and religious information

What’s required to include in all Lifebooks?

Medical Information

  • Name and contact information for all health care providers who have provided services to the child while in your home.
  • Information for any allergies or critical medication the child may have.

School Information

  • Name and contact information for any school or daycare the child has attended while in your home.
  • All report cards for the child while in your home.

Vital Records

  • Birth certificate
  • Immunization record
  • Social security card
  • Medical card/number

There are several resources online to guide you in creating or maintaining a Lifebook. Be sure to include the child. By giving them a say in how their stories are told, Lifebooks empower them. The process can be therapeutic, providing a structured way for children to express feelings about their experiences.

Resources: Lifebooks – Oklahoma Fosters (okfosters.org)

The Lifebook Movement – Oklahoma Fosters (okfosters.org)

Alecia Rush has been a foster parent for less than a year, but in that time, she has filled her home with hard-to-place teen boys. She spends a lot of her time helping them with life skills, such as helping them find jobs so they can earn money, teaching them to cook and also teaching them to drive.

She also makes sure the family does fun outings together such as going to pumpkin patches and paint splatter activities. She ensures that the boys feel safe and taken care of. She also spends time putting together photo albums for each boy in her home so that when they leave, they have something to take with them.

Training Article:

Therapists: Parents Should be with Children for Adoptive & Foster Therapy Sessions

In workshops, parents are told to remain in the room during their child’s therapy. Yet, most therapists meet with the parents alone, work with the child alone, and then spend a short time with everyone together. While this is common practice, it’s not the best approach for adoptive and foster families…

Read more & take the quiz!

More Trainings Available

Including:

  • Caring for Teens
  • ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences)
  • PTSD in Children and Teens

Find classes HERE

Recruitment Corner

Recently, TFI’s recruitment team from all states met together to discuss best practices and to brainstorm ideas to serve our current foster parents and to recruit new foster parents. March 31 marks the end of Stage Two in our Each One Reach One recruitment campaign. We will be drawing for the grand prize of $3,000! Keep up the great work in joining with us to recruit new foster homes!

What’s going on in your state this month?
In Kansas, we will be hosting a Community Easter Egg Hunt at Weir City Park on March 23 at 10:30 am. Come join the fun with an egg hunt, drinks and snacks, and fire trucks!
In Nebraska, check out Meadowlark Coffee as one of our community partners to share about the need for more foster homes.
In Oklahoma, we will be talking with the Kiwanis Club in Tulsa on March 11. We will also be offering a virtual foster parent support training meeting on March 23 from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm.
In Texas, we recently met with Burkburnett Rotary, and we will be speaking to University Kiwanis Club on March 13. On March 28, we will be speaking to Decatur Rotary.

More details will be shared on our TFI Village Facebook page about all of these events!