Message from the CEO

Greetings friends and families of KFF. Happy May! Feels like spring has come and gone, and we’ve moved right into summer. Later this month we celebrate Mothers Day, and as we know, a good mom can make all the difference in a child’s life. Hats off to all the good moms out there! Enjoy your special day. Last week was an exciting time at our office. DCF Regional Director David Abramowitz (pictured on right) was here to officially sign our new contract, and with that we begin the next five years of service to the community. When we look back at our first ten years, we see many accomplishments however; there remains much to be done. The system of care that has been developed in Clay County is strong but we are confident that the partners involved can continue to help make it stronger. The children that come to our attention through issues of abuse and neglect deserve nothing less than our absolute best. KFF is proud to be the Community Based Care agency for our county, yet we recognize that the needs of children and families far outweigh what any one agency can do. It is only through the ongoing commitment of each of us - professional staff, paraprofessionals, parents (foster, adoptive and biological), relatives and non relatives, local and state governments, law enforcement, courts, human service agencies, mental health and substance abuse providers, domestic violence staff, educators, child care providers, churches and faith based groups, businesses, individuals and all other concerned community members - that we can make lasting and sustainable change. We thank you for all you have done and we look forward to continuing the journey. Irene

May 2014

NEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTERNEWSLETTER

Special points of

interest:

• Newly Licensed

Foster Parents • Mentoring Program • Training

Opportunities

Inside this issue:

Message from the CEO

1

New Interim Secretary for DCF

1

Day of Hope 2

Post Adoption Services

3

In-Service Trainings for Foster Parents

3

Dental Provider

4

Food Distribution

4

Irene M. Toto CEO

Robert Graham Board Chair

New Interim Secretary for DCF Named

Governor Rick Scott has named Mike Carroll as the new

interim Secretary for the Department of Children and Fami-

lies. Carroll is the Regional Managing Director for the Sun-

coast Region and has been with DCF for over 20 years.

May 2014 Page 2 Newsletter

Please Join KFF in Welcoming Our Newly Licensed Foster Parents

Hannah & Chris Fredrich Jennifer & James Laymon Pauling & Robert Morales

Ellen Siler Christina & Scott Griffin

Day of Hope

KFF and Emile’s Pack of Hope would like to thank our community donors, sponsors and supporters whose contributions ensured a memorable and very successful Community

Day of Hope. Contact KFF to get involved next year.

JOIN KFF’S MENTORING PROGRAM OR BECOME A FOSTER PARENTJOIN KFF’S MENTORING PROGRAM OR BECOME A FOSTER PARENTJOIN KFF’S MENTORING PROGRAM OR BECOME A FOSTER PARENTJOIN KFF’S MENTORING PROGRAM OR BECOME A FOSTER PARENT

For more information, contact Crystal Bennett at 904.278.5644 ext. 2016 or

cbennett@cbkn.org today.

Jennifer & Robert Fresh Monica Bennett

Maria & Virgilio Munoz Kara & Kyle Williamson

Christ’s Church Fleming Island & Mandarin Clay County Sheriff’s Office Fleming Island High School

Beta Club Big Air – Bounce Houses Origami Owl Chick-fil-a Fleming Island

First Coast YMCA Cold Stone Creamery

Latitude 30 WIC

Fleming Island High School NJROTC

Clay County Fire Rescue Florida Department of

Health Street Party Game Truck

Sonny’s BBQ Girly-Girl Parteas

Artsy Barn Amason’s Portable Toilets

Walmart Chocolate Shoe Boutique

Allstate Insurance 4imprints

T5 Sports Wear

Girl Scouts First Baptist Church of Keystone Heights

Miriam’s Basket See You at the Top

Crowns for Christ Heritage Makers

Bowtique Baby Klips & Giggles

Wendy’s United Healthcare Wildcats All-Stars

BACA

Congratulations

Carroll Lee Fenton has been named as one of our community’s outstanding “Fathers as Leaders!.’ Mr. Fenton was chosen because he has shown positive family values and has been active in his

children’s lives.

Post Adoption Support Group

KFF is proud to offer $250.00 per Clay County post adoptive family towards summer camp for their child. Contact Lynn Colleton for more information and an application. The deadline for

applications is May 15, 2014 and funds are limited.

The post adoption support group on May 1st from 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm will present Katie Zanchettin and Anna Brynild, from the Central Florida Parent Center. They will discuss the IEP process. The presentation will

include IEP Jeopardy, an interactive live webinar. Feel free to bring your child’s I.E.P. and questions.

Join us at the KFF building located at 1726 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park

Refreshments will be served; limited child care upon request.

There will be a drawing for a Walmart Gift Card. RSVP with lcolleton@cbkn.org

Page 3 May 2014 Newsletter

Post Adoption Services Available to Clay County Residents

KFF provides services to families in Clay County who are in the process of or have adopted children, including children adopted by relatives/non-relatives, foster parents, through the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance (ICAMA) and private adoptions. Pre and post adoption services consist of case management, including referrals to community resources, crisis intervention and counseling. For those in the process of adopting, “Core Adoption” classes are also provided. These classes offer an overview of the adoption process. For those who have already adopted, post adoption support group meetings are held monthly at the KFF office.

To access these services or to obtain more information call 904.278.5644 ext. 2083 or lcolleton@cbkn.org.

Clay County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association

A great opportunity to network with other foster and adoptive parents and receive ongoing training hours. Monthly meetings are held on the 4th Saturday of each month from 11am - 1pm

Asbury United Methodist Church, 16 College Drive, Orange Park

Please contact Martha Jackson at 904.424.2297

Foster Parent Monthly In-Service Trainings

Please join us each month, at the KFF office, for an opportunity to network with other foster parents while receiving trainings on topics of interest. What’s better than free food and free childcare, while receiving 2 hours of training and meeting other parents? Mark your calendars for the following: Tuesday, June 25: FDLRS/Child Find: Screening & Assistance for children w/ Special Learning Needs (Deb

McLaughlin/FDLRS/Child FInd) ** Sams Club will be on-site from 6pm-6:30pm with a special offer Thursday, July 17: Caring for & Handling Drug Exposed Infants

Thursday, August 21: Understanding Trauma & Recognizing its impact on Academic Success

All trainings will be from 6pm-8pm in the KFF 2nd Floor Conference Room

Please contact Crystal Bennett at 904.278.5644 ext. 2016 to RSVP and be sure to include the names and ages

of all children and the number of adults attending.

Learn How to Create a Safe Sleep Environment for Your Infant, Visit: http://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/child-welfare/safesleep/caregivers

Main Office: 1726 Kingsley Avenue

Suite 2 Orange Park, Florida

32073 Phone 904.278.5644 Fax 904.278.5654 Because every child

deserves a loving home!

Page 4 May 2014 Newsletter

We’re on the Web:

http://kidsfirstofflorida.org/

KFF Contacts

Main Office: 904.278.5644 Irene M. Toto, CEO, ext. 2013 Kevin Davidson, CFO, ext. 2006 Nora Milne, CPO, ext. 2007

Jennifer Clark Program Director, ext. 2111

Shawna Darling Program Director, ext. 2060

Willie Davis Foster Parent Payments,

ext. 2091 Marvin Hardy

Licensing, ext. 2066 Diahann Sutton

Licensing, ext. 2100 Gordon Lopez, Placement

ext. 2072 Eric Wetzel, Independent Living

ext. 2047

Florida Kinship Center Warmline 800.640.6444

A toll-free listening line for grandparents and other relatives raising children in Florida. The Warmline provides caregivers with emotional support and informational

Training Opportunities

Training opportunities are available to parents and caregivers at: www.qpiflorida.com. Topics

include Trauma Informed Care. Parenting Teens, and Issues of Love and Loss in Foster Care.

Dental Provider in Clay County

The Baker County Health Department, in cooperation with the Clay County Health Department and the Clay County School District provides dental treatments to local children and young adults ages 3-20. For an appointment, call 1.866.617.8708 ext. 2283 or 2311. Children can be seen at the Green Cove Springs office or on the dental van which serves 4 schools in Clay County.

The program serves children who have Medicaid, Access Health Solutions, or KidsCare Atlantic Dental Insurance. If a child in your care, who is served by Kids First of Florida, does not have the above mentioned insurance and needs dental treatment,

please contact Mary Elwood at 904.278.5644, ext. 2043.

Did You Know?

You Can Apply for Public Assistance

On-Line at:

http://www.myflorida.com/accessflorida/

Or at the KFF Office by Contacting

Sheryl Zuniga at 904.278.5644 ext. 2071

Newsletter by Email: Contact Mary Elwood at melwood@cbkn.org or call 904.278.5644 ext. 2043.

Food Distribution Food is available for foster and adoptive families and families of children in relative

and non-relative care. Pick-up is by appointment only. Both services can be accessed

by contacting Martha Jackson at 904.424.2297

Preventive Health Care Periodicity Schedule

Physical Exam: 1 month, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15months, 18 months, 24 months, 30

months, 3 years of age and annually thereafter Dental Exam: every 6 months, beginning at age 3 Vision Screening: 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 15 years of age

Help a Child and Earn a Little Extra Spending Money Refer a Friend!

That’s right, refer a friend to be a quality foster parent with KFF. You will receive $100, once they are licensed. Call Crystal Bennett at 904.278.5644 ext. 2016

Do you Suspect Abuse, Neglect or Abandonment of a Child?

If so, you may report this information in one of three ways: By Phone: 1.800.962.2873 By Fax: 1.800.914.0004

On-Line: http://www.dcf.state.fl.us/abuse/report/