February 2010 Note Pad
Hello everyone. Can you believe that we're already into our second month of 2010! So just how many of you have been struggling to meet those resolutions you made? It's okay, I am in the same boat :-) But I have recently been reminded of the following quote:
"They say a good life is not one where everything goes your way, but one where you find your way through everything...."
Author unknown
So lets get to this month's happenings here at Families Like Ours. The new expanded respite program is soon to be available. This will include our peer-to-peer respite services for Washington State families, along with our quarterly family networking events and now our quarterly respite events with our partner agency Boys & Girls Club of King County. This is truly a community partnership program, families regardless of agency can take part in this program. We'll also need specific quarterly volunteers to help at each of these events so drop us a line for more information.
Just what is an Adoption Exchange anyway? Well, Exchanges like Families Like Ours provide a range of services with the goal of helping a child find an adoptive family. Here at Families Like Ours we provide three basic services:
- Educational services for families and professionals
- Family Support through our peer-to-peer and non therapeutic resources, including referral resources
- Recruitment and Outreach which helps families through the confusing process of adoption, addresses myths about adoption and the kids that need families, and provides specific resources for GLBT&Q youth and families
But we're also here for the adoption and foster care professional community, helping to find families for waiting kids, providing educational programs and case work for GLBT&Q youth and families.
Just think of us as your one stop shop for everything adoption related. We answer questions, find you resources, provide you with educational programs or resources and help you reach your most important goal.
Questions? Just ask, we're always here. We are families helping families.
ADVOCACY ALERT: WA HB 3026 Civil Rights Special Education Bill
House Bill 3026: Civil Rights Compliance Legislation
House Bill 3026 was introduced by Representative Santos to strengthen Washington State's Civil Rights protections for students with disabilities and those from diverse communities. This bill is designed to give the state power and authority to enforce local district compliance with existing state and federal civil rights laws for those individuals in protected classes and covers original and amended Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1975, Age Discrimination. A school district who remains out of compliance may be subject to sanctions, corrective actions and/or probation. Currently, OSPI has not been granted this legislated power.
Link to Bill: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=3026& year=2009
OSPI will adopt rules and guidelines to eliminate discrimination, will monitor district compliance and establish rules and guidelines for enforcement. OSPI will be granted the power to enforce and obtain compliance. This supplements current state and federal laws on the books.
This legislation will give OSPI the ability to correct on-going civil rights violations that are not being corrected by the local districts themselves. Current remedies for civil rights violations are through the individual complaints process with the Office of Civil Rights and do not address wide-spread, systemic or repeated violations that are seen across a school district.
Students, families, individuals and organizations involved with disabilities and/or diverse communities of color, bilingual, other national origin and other protected classes are strongly encouraged to participate in the public hearing.
ADVOCACY ALERT: Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 3827)
Please take a few minutes today to call your Representatives and educate their staff on the Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 3827).
The "Every Child Deserves a Family Act (H.R. 3827)" would prohibit any entity that receive child welfare funds from denying or delaying a placement of a child into an adoptive or foster care home, based solely on the sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status of the prospective parent.
What you can do:
Use the attached House of Representatives phone list to find the number of your Representative. All numbers begin with a 202 area code.
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