Advocating for the Best Interest of the Child - Free Training

There will be a FREE training sponsored by the Regional Specialized Foster Parent Networks, Regions I, II, and III, with assistance from the Foster Family-Based Treatment Association and the Alliance for Children.

The trainer will be Julie Lynch, Esq. - Legal Director of Child Law Services, Inc.

Highlights: CEUs for Social Workers, Continuing Education Hours for Foster Parents/Adoptive Parents, and on site child care will be available.


First Training:

Where: Christ Church United Methodist 1221 Quarrier St. Charleston, WV

When: November 3rd, 2009

Time: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

Child care will be provided for children not in school. Hours will count towards maintaining their certification as foster and adoptive families. Foster and Adoptive Families and staff can RSVP to myself or to the Alliance for Children at lbellomy(at)alliance4children.org or by calling 304.342.8477

FrameWorks' Adoption Myth Buster!

What's thought: 45% of Americans think children in foster care have entered the system because of juvenile delinquency.

Reality: Children enter the system through no fault of their own, as victims of neglect, abandonment and/or abuse. The majority of these children liven with foster families, not in group homes or institutions.

What's thought: 67% of those considering adoption are concerned the biological parents will be able to take the child back.

Reality: Once a child has been legally made available for adoption, birth parents cannot claim a child or petition for their return.

What's thought: 46% of Americans mistakenly think foster care adoption is expensive.

Reality: Foster care adoption is not expensive, and there is financial support available.

What's thought: Only 37% of Americans think a person over the age of 55 can definitely provide a healthy and loving environment for a child.

Reality: 23% of adopted children live with an adoptive parent 55 years or older.

Do you have any questions about foster care or adoption, or maybe you have a concern that could possibly be a MYTH? Let us know, we would love to hear from you. Give us a call at 866-CALL-MWV or email adopt(at)missionwv.org.

This information is from "A Child Is Waiting - A Step-By-Step Guide to Adoption" by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

Earn CEUs and CLEs at a RAPP Workshop!

To view a larger image of the flyer, please click on it and a PDF file will open.

On Saturday November 14th, there will be a FREE workshop on Grandparent's Rights and Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoption Act of 2008. Grandparent's Rights will be presented by Heather McClung, Berkeley County Law Librarian and Foster Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act will be presented by Heidi Epstein JD, MSW, Director of Kinship Policy with the American Bar Association. The event starts at 10 AM and will be at the Berkeley Baptist Church, Winchester Grade Road, Berkeley Springs, WV. Lunch and Child Care (for children up to the age of 12) will be PROVIDED!Fore more information, please call 866-CALL-MWV or email Laura Lou Harbert at lharbert(at)missionwv.orgAgain, you may read more about the workshop by clicking on the image above.

Thank you and we hope to see you there!

Mark your calendars! 2009 National Adoption Month Event

Please join us on Saturday November 21st at the Clay Center in Charleston, WV for an Adoption Month Celebration. Starting at 3 p.m. with free admission to the Discovery Museum for Adoption Month Event participants followed by refreshments and a luminary project at 4:45 and ending with an outside candlelight ceremony from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

This event has been organized and sponsored by the WV Recruitment and Retention Collaborative and the WV Department of Health and Human Resources. For more details, please click on the image of the flyer to open a larger/printable PDF file or call 866-CALL-MWV. We hope to see you there!

FrameWorks Features Families - WV adoptive families!

Pictured Above: The Boyles Family

Last year, FrameWorks started an Adoptive Family Portrait Project to showcase the positive aspects of adopting through the foster care system. As a part of our 2008 National Adoption Month event, we displayed these photos throughout the lower rotunda of the WV Capitol Building and it was very inspiring to see so many loving families who have opened their lives and hearts to foster children. As a part of that project, the families agreed that we could continue to use the photos and their stories to continue this showcase of love. While not all of the participating families have yet been added to our website, you can read several stories by visiting our website, click here: WV Adoptive Families.

2009 Drawing Contest Update!

We have great news! Sheetz is making a donation to the 2009 National Adoption Month Drawing Contest for the purchase of gift cards for prizes! We now have a very nice Sony Cybershot Digital Camera with a memory card for the grand prize winner, and funding to provide gift cards to many of the children who participate!

We are excited about this year's drawing contest as entries have slowly started making their way into our mailbox, however, we feel that more time should be allotted for the children/youth to submit their art and we have extended the due date until October 28th. We will be accepting art for the drawing contest as long as it is post marked by October 28th! So please, spread the word and submit your children's/youth's artwork - they have a great chance of winning a prize. Also, art is such a wonderful creative outlet of expression and with this year's theme "My Dreams" we hope that the children and youth who participate are able to realize their strengths and know that their dreams and goals are limitless.

We are so grateful to the donor of the digital camera and to Sheetz for providing prize money for this great cause. Thank you to everyone who has helped out, we can't wait to post photos of the art after the final submissions are made. To learn more and download the entry form, please click here: 2009 Drawing Contest.

2009 National Adoption Month Save the Date!

Hey everyone! Please reserve November 21st on your calendar because you are going to be busy that day hanging with us!

On Saturday November 21st we are getting together at the Clay Center in Charleston for some fun at the museum followed by snacks, cake, hot chocolate!, and a candlelight vigil in celebration of National Adoption Month. We plan to have several great speakers and this event provides a great opportunity for West Virginians to join together to celebrate adoptions and remember the hundreds of thousands of children who are currently in foster care.

More details will come shortly so please don't forget to SAVE THE DATE!

News from the Children's Home Society of WV

The Children’s Home Society announces that US Senator Jay Rockefeller has nominated one of our many dedicated families as “Angels in Adoption.” This award is used to recognize those who reach out to vulnerable children and provide them with a safe and loving home. The parents, David and Dawn Heatwole have an amazing story that has touched the lives of many children.

Senator Rockefeller's press release: Tribute to the Heatwole Family and the Heatwoles' story:

Dawn and David had been married several years when they were told that it was unlikely they would be able to have children. Rather than becoming discouraged, the couple decided that they would like to adopt a young boy from Russia who they had found out about through their church. While waiting for the lengthy international adoption process to go through, Dawn and David decided to become foster parents.

In April 2005 the Heatwoles undertook the challenge of caring for a 7- month-old boy with serious medical problems. Less than a year later the child was placed on a donor list because he required a liver transplant. As his condition continued to worsen, Dawn's sister volunteered to be tested and proved to be an appropriate donor match. The surgery was successful and their adopted son, Adam, is now a healthy 4 year old.

Shortly after bringing Adam into their home, David and Dawn took in another infant foster child, Ethan. Nine months later they welcomed Ethan's brother Asa into their growing family. In January of 2007, the Heatwoles were able to adopt Pasha from Russia, and they did not stop there. In May of 2008, they also accepted Adam's sister as another precious child in their home.
Over the past 5 years, the Heatwoles have provided a safe and loving environment for nine children. They have opened their home to children in need, and have fought to ensure that children are the top priority in the foster care system. Dawn and David have endured the challenges that accompany ailing and drug dependent infants, as well as the challenge of helping a non-English speaking child adapt to a new culture.

To see a photo of the family, please visit the Children's Home Society website: http://www.childhswv.org

West Virginians reaching out to help foster children.

Many thanks are in order to those of you who work to empower the lives of foster children and help our mission of finding loving forever families for children who are waiting to be adopted.

Recently, we received a donation from a preschool class and we hope this great idea inspires you to think of creative ways you can raise funds to help your favorite nonprofit organizations. We would like to thank Gianna Blake and Mrs. Heather's 3 year old afternoon preschool class at Hills and Dales Preschool in Wheeling, WV for their recent donation. Rather than spending money on take home treat bags for a school birthday party, the money was donated to our CELEBRATIONS program which funds special events for children in the foster care system.

Gianna's mother, Marla Blake, wrote "foster care and adoption is near and dear to our hearts and we are happy and honored to help out in any way possible. Thank god for your dedication and commitment to this incredible cause." We are touched by Marla's words and so thankful to Gianna and her preschool class. We would also like to thank Pfizer Pharmaceuticals who is going to match the donation made by the preschool class.

We would also like to thank the Huntington Mall who has given us permission to display the WV Heart Gallery in the mall. The display is in the window front of what used to be Steve and Barry's - on the left side of the main door to the store. Steve and Barry's is in the hallway that leads to Dick's Sporting goods, so if you go to the Huntington Mall, please stop by and take a look at the gallery. Thank you Huntington Mall!