DELAWARE VALLEY ADOPTION COUNCIL

www.delvaladopt.org

Meeting Location

Montgomery County Office of Children & Youth

1430 DeKalb Street

Norristown, Pa. 19404-0311

Scheduled Training    January 20, 2010    9:30am – 12:30pm

In Attendance for the Meeting:

Lynn Hammer, Concern

John Sandy, DIAKO/SWAN

Zoe Carver, Susan Guntz, The Salvation

Sue Shoolman, AHSA

Mark & Milissa Lapp, Montgomery County OCY

Jane Olmstead, Nicole Jones-Walker, Sarah Rice, Delaware County CYS

Liza Alvarado, Concern

Joe Monczewski, Concern

Julie Apple, Kelly Myers, Sheila Heyer-Rivera, Sherri Gannon, Sarah McCarty, Bethanna

Nicole Reed, Karen Park, Christy Sharp, Mobolaji Gbalajobi, Susan LoGiudice, Children’s Choice

Teri Dakuginow, Catholic Charities

Nancy Pitt, LCFS

Gloria Hall, Tabor

Terry Sharrieff, Delaware County CYS

Susan Rhoads, Kathleen Sullivan, Catherine Adams, Lanin Martin Brandon, John L. Stoller, Diane Gunnison, Stephanie Battalio, Montgomery Co. OCY

Deann Sidman, Pearl S. Buck-Welcome House

Sam Wojnilower, Adoptions from the Heart

Mary Lou Beck, Chester County CYF

Stephanie Reed, Lea Moyer, Diakon Adoption & Foster Care

Eileen O’Connell, Best Nest

Joy Lander, New Foundations, Inc.

Fred Blankenburg, OCY

Kay Pride

Children With Incarcerated Parents: Issues and Intervention

Brenda Hess Rich, MSW, LSW     

The interactive workshop examined both in depth individual and group interventions, as well as highlight the challenges and issues of family reintegration.

BUSINESS MEETING MINUTES: January 20, 2010

Business meeting attendees

Kelly Myers, Bethanna

Stephanie Reed, Lea Moyer, Diakon Adoption & Foster Care

John Sandy, SWAN/ FDR

Mary Lou Beck, Chester County DCYF

Susan Guntz, The Salvation Army

Sarah Rice, Delaware Co. CYS

Kelly Beattie, PCVS

Karen Park, Children’s Choice

Kay Pride

Lynn Hammer, Concern

Gloria Hall, Tabor

Deann Borkowski, Pearl S. Buck-Welcome House

Eileen O’Connell, Best Nest

Children and Families:

Best Nest

Kareema – 14 year old, AA, female, 7th grade special education.  Lots of interests and would like to remain in contact with her siblings, that are located in 6 different homes.

For more information please contact Eileen O’Connell, at 215-546-8060,x168.

Chester County Children and Youth Services

Chester County is looking for family’s who are willing to work with teenagers, sibling group’s children with mental health and emotional issues. 

Jesus – 13 year old, Hispanic male, in regular foster care.  Has had 3 promised adoptive homes. 

Diakon Adoption

Matthew – 7 year old autistic male with Fragile X Syndrome.

Louise – 3 year old, wheelchair bound little guy with a feeding tube.

For more information please contact Stephanie Reed, at 610-682-1541.

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids, Tabor Children’s Services

Niesha – 12 year old, AA female, that just disrupted out of adoptive home.  Friendly and personable.  Looking for a female household.

Evelyn – 8 year old, AA female.  Visits with pre-adopt home just stopped as family took another placement.  This has devastated Evelyn.  Now residing in residential.

For more information, and a complete list of kids in recruitment thru this program, please contact Gloria Hall, at 215-842-4800, x 314, or at Gloria.Hall@Tabor.org.

OFFICERS REPORTS:
Chairperson – Kelly Myers-  kmyers@bethanna.org

Kelly welcomed the new secretary, Karen Park, and reminded the group that we are still in need of a replacement for the treasury position.  Lynn Hammer will continue to fulfill the position until replacement is nominated. 

Kelly asked for members to please sign up for a committee.  It is important each agency has one member representing their agency.  As part of the bi-laws each agency needs to have one representative participating on a committee.

Vice-Chair – Phyllis Stevens- taplink@hotmail.com

No report. 

Treasurer – Lynn Hammer-  lhammer@concern4kids.org  

The position of Treasurer will be vacant as of January 2010.  If you are interested in filling the treasurer position please contact Mary Lou Beck at mbeck@chesco.org .  

The 2009 Budget was distributed as well as the 2010 Proposed Budget.  We will continue to have the trainings in Montgomery County, were there is no charge for the room rental.  The amount projected for trainings decreased, as wlel as the food costs.

The ending balance for 2009:         $6148.80

Discussion was held on the dues and whether we should raise the amount.  After discussing the topic  it was decided that due to the economic situation, the dues of $125.00 per agency will remain the same.  Kay Pride raised the question of single attendees, and should they pay an amount for the DVAC trainings on a yearly basis.  The officers will look into the bi-laws and possibly ask for a donation.

The budget was accepted by a unanimous vote.

The 2010 dues are being processed and sent out to agency reps.  Please be sure that the correct agency representative is listed for your agency.

Secretary – Karen Park – kpark@childrenschoice.org

No report.

Membership-Jared Rolsky-  jnr@goldencradle.org

No report. 

Nominating Committee- Mary Lou Beck     mbeck@chesco.org

We continue to be in need of a treasurer.  Lynn Hammer has greed to remain on the slate until another member has been identified.    

Legislative Committee:

Pennsylvania- Shadell Quinones (squinones@chesco.org ) 

No Report

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

February and March

Mary Lou Edgar – best practice issues

Darla Henry – new emphasis on family to family, and keeping kids in homes

Not yet sure which speakers will present on which month 

PUBLIC RELATIONS:

Carrie Ramsey-cramsey@3riversadopt.org. 

No report

Reminder that the DVAC Matching Event will be the 3rd Wednesday in September, Harleysville.

OLD BUSINESS: 

None

NEW BUISNESS: 

SWAN winter conference is January 27-28, 2009 at State College

The CAFAS training in 1/25 & 1/26.

Children’s Home of Reading, matching event, 2/11/10 – 4pm-7pm

SWAN Summer award nominations will be going out soon.

There is $20,000 in scholarships available for families to attend the SWAN Summer conference.  It is first come, first serve.  Families need to apply themselves.  The applications are not yet out, but the announcement may occur at the Winter Conference.  The scholarship covers hotel costs, childcare, and registration fees.

TAP & The Salvation Army received a grant to provide respite care.  The program is for kids over the age of 7, whether they are adopted or biological.  They can accept up to 20 children and it is on Saturdays from 9:30 – 3:30.  The 1st Saturday is 2/20/10 at the Harleysville YMCA.

Respectfully submitted by,

Karen L. Park
Secretary