DELAWARE VALLEY ADOPTION COUNCIL
www.delvaladopt.org
Meeting Location
Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth
1430 DeKalb Street
Norristown, Pa. 19404-0311
Scheduled Training March 17, 2010 10:00am – 12:00pm
In Attendance for the Meeting:
John Sandy, DIAKON/SWAN
Florence Rhue, Susan Guntz-The Salvation Army
Sue Shoolman, AHSA
Jane Olmstead, Sarah Rice, Delaware County CYS
Kelly Myers, Bethanna
Karen Park, Barbara Murphy-Toros, Barbara Heckman- Children’s Choice
Mary Lou Beck, Chester County CYF
Michelle Koontz, Joni Smi, Amy-Lynn Fries, Geanna Stenger, Lisa Cotter, Bri Smith- Diakon
Elaine Frank, Denise Rosa – After Adoption
Sara Risi – Bucks Co. CYY
Emily Bell – LaVida
Shadell Quinicon – Chesco DCYF
Andrea Soloman - MCCYS
Anne Kypert – Adoption Shop
Winnie Stroup – Potential Parent
Patricia Warenius – Foster Parent
Sheina Marttinez, Crystal Allen, Amy Cressman, Evyn Teague – NAC
Stacey Singrelle – Adoptive Family
Carrie DiGregar - TRAC
Joy Lander – New Foundations
Diana Brenneman – Pressley Ridge
“A View From the Foxhole”: Creative Strategies for the Long Haul – Mary Lou Edgar, MSS, LCSW
Goals and qualities of effective parenting were discussed by Mary Lou. She took her 35 years of experience, through parenting her birth children and adopted children. The use of logical and natural consequences were discussed with her first hand experience, education and skills.
BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES: March 17, 2010
Business meeting attendees
Sara Risi – Bucks County
Kelly Myers, Bethanna
John Sandy, SWAN/ FDR
Mary Lou Beck, Chester County DCYF
Karen Park, Children’s Choice
Sue Shoolman, AHSA
Emily Bell, LaVida
Jureull Pluue, The Salvation Army
Eileen O’Connell, Best Nest
Crystal Allen, National Adoption Center/ Adoption Delaware Valley
Amy Cressman, National Adoption Center / Adoption Delaware Valley
Evan Teague National Adoption Center/ Adoption Delaware Valley
Sheila Martinez, National Adoption Center
Carrie DiGregino, TRAC
Anne Kychet, Adelphia Card shop
Elaine Frank, After Adoption
Denise Rowe, After Adoption
Winnnie Stroup, potential Parent
Lewis Courderic, Friends Association
Shadell Quinoser, Chester Coundy DCYF
Children and Families:
Chester County Children and Youth Services
Tyneed & Tydajasha – legally free 2 and 4 year old brothers. African – American siblings that are creative and have a lot of energy.
Kamerin & Isaiah – 6 and 3 year old, African – American brothers. They are not legally free, and Chester County is looking for a two parent home, but open to single parents.
If you have any interested families, please contact Nancy Warwick, 610-344-5672, or email nwarwick@chesco.org
Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, NJ
Jay – legally free 12year old African, American boy. Jay is searching for a two parent family, with siblings and pets.
If you have any interested families, please contact Crystal Allen, 1-877-799-6900, or email callen@adopt.org
OFFICERS REPORTS:
Chairperson – Kelly Myers- kmyers@bethanna.org
Kelly announced that there has been a request for DVAC to change the day of the meetings off of Wednesday.
It is becoming an issue for Philadelphia agencies to attend due to court. It was agreed for the meeting to remain on Wednesdays.
SWAN is offering $20,000 for coalitions from each region across the state, for agencies that want to put together foster care and adoption awareness events in the community, in the month of May. Deadline for submission is this Friday, 3/19/10. Each region is eligible for $5,000.00.
Reminder: Every member of DVAC needs to be on a committee.
Vice-Chair – Phyllis Stevens- taplink@hotmail.com
No report.
Treasurer – Eileen O’Connell
We welcome Eileen to her first meeting as the treasurer!
There have been 11 agencies that have sent in their dues. There will be a report given at the meeting next month.
Secretary – Karen Park – kpark@childrenschoice.org
No report.
Membership-Jared Rolsky- jnr@goldencradle.org
No report.
Jared has stepped down as Membership Chair but has agreed to stay on for the website.
Nominating Committee- Mary Lou Beck mbeck@chesco.org
We are in need of a Membership Chair. Membership Chair tracks the agencies that are attending and the point person for new members that come to DVAC, explaining what DVAC is and what the responsibilities are as a member. If you are interested please contact Mary Lou.
Legislative Committee:
Pennsylvania- Shadell Quinones (squinones@chesco.org )
Shadell reported that it would be beneficial to have a member from DE and NJ come to DVAC.
Shadell will be bringing the MEPA packets from the training in December for members to have.
New Jersey- no report
Delaware- Frank Perfinski (frank.perfinski@state.de.us ) no report.
EDUCATION & TRAINING:
Louis Couderc- l.couderc@friendsassoc.org
Louis is working on the following ideas for training over the next few months
April
Darla Henry – new emphasis on family to family, and keeping kids in homes
May
David Hoffard – trans-racial adoptions.
June
Joe Crumbly – President of NACAC. Topic is yet to be decided.
PUBLIC RELATIONS:
Carrie Ramsey-cramsey@3riversadopt.org.
TRAC is closing the office in this region, however, Carrie will continue to be involved in PR and disbursing the flyers for the meetings.
Please let her know if you are interested in volunteering for the Matching Event in September.
Reminder that the DVAC Matching Event will be the 3rd Wednesday in September, Harleysville.
OLD BUSINESS:
None
NEW BUISNESS:
● Thursday, April 8, 2010: Project Star of the Children’s
Institute is having a matching event at 1405 Shady Avenue, Pittsburgh,
PA from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. It will include a speaker, matching moments,
refreshments and giveaways. The PA Heart Gallery will also be on
exhibit at this event. This event does not include waiting children.
● Saturday, April 10, 2010: The National Adoption Center is
sponsoring a Teen and Family Match Party at the Lancaster Host at 2300
East Lincoln Hwy., Lancaster, PA. This event includes the waiting
children.
● Thursday, April 15, 2010: Lehigh County Children and Youth is
sponsoring a matching event from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The location is 17
South 7th Street, Allentown, PA and they often have more information on
their website:
www.lehighcounty.org/human/hs.cfm?doc=cy_UpcomingEvents.htm
This event does not include waiting children.
● Sunday, May 23, 2010: Diakon is sponsoring Adoption and Foster
Care Night at the Reading Phillies baseball stadium in Reading, PA. It
will be an adoption fair and matching event and will be held from 12:00
to 3:00 pm. Families who want to attend will receive two free tickets
which allows entrance to the baseball game and the matching event.
Waiting children will be attending this event.
● Wednesday, June 23, 2010: The Statewide Adoption Network will
host a matching brunch in conjunction with their annual summer
conference (attendance at the conference is not required to attend the
matching event). It will be held at the Lancaster Host in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. The brunch should be from 9:00 am to noon. Check the
SWAN website for more details as we get closer. www.diakon-swan.org.
Waiting children have been at this event in the past.
● Thursday, August 19, 2010: Diakon is sponsoring Adoption and
Foster Care Night with the Harrisburg Senators Baseball Organization.
Come out and attend a baseball game while learning more about children
who need adoptive homes. This evening will include a matching event and
will include about 20 youth who are waiting for homes. More information
to come as we get closer.
● September 15, 2010: The Delaware Valley Adoption Council will be
holding its third annual matching event at the Branch Creek Community
Church at 100 Main Street, Harleysville, PA. The event will be held
from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. More information to come as we get closer.
Waiting children have not been at this event in the past, but it has not
yet been decided if any will attend this year.
● November 2010: Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth
schedules an annual matching event during the month of November each
year. This event is usually very well attended by local agencies. This
event does not include waiting children. More information to come
later.
SWAN Quarterly will be unveiling a new Portal System which will be presented. The trainings will be for counties and affiliates.
John Sandy has resigned from SWAN. His position is currently open as a South East Technical Assistant.
Respectfully submitted by,
Karen L. Park
Secretary
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