How to Explain Foster Care to a Child? What is Foster Care? Animation created by Jeanette Yoffe, Former Foster Youth-Adoptee

How to Explain Foster Care to a Child? What is Foster Care? Animation created by Jeanette Yoffe, Former Foster Youth-Adoptee

In 2021 Founder of Celia Center, Jeanette Yoffe, created an animation to help children understand What is Foster Care, by explaining what happens behind the scenes in a court of law, and how social workers and judges make decisions to provide for the health, safety, and well-being of the child while supporting their families with their case plan, and showing the process by which a child is placed into a foster home.

Check out her new Book What is Foster Care? For Kids now available on Amazon.

Proceeds help support the mission of Celia Center. 

New Children's Book! by Jeanette Yoffe

Here are Some Tips for Telling a Child Their Story by Jeanette Yoffe M.F.T. :

  • Don’t try to fix the pain in foster care. It’s painful and they need your attention, listening ear, and empathy.

  • Get comfortable with initiating the conversation about foster care.

  • Don’t lie to a child about the past or a birth family member. Do not paint the parent in a negative light.

  • Share information in a developmentally age appropriate way. Omissions are okay until age 12, then by adolescence all information is best to be shared.

  • Allow anger to be expressed toward a birth family member without joining in.

  • Consider asking questions instead of telling. “Do you have questions? What do you remember? ” “Do you have any questions, thoughts or concerns about your birth family?” “Do you wonder about them? Now that you are older, I bet you have questions. Would you like to talk about that?”

  • It is highly encouraged a parent tells the story with a foster care competent therapist for support to relay the information.

  • If the child refuses or resists the conversation, they are not ready, try again later.

  • ASK PERMISSION FIRST before relaying information, so they feel a sense of mastery and control!

  • If the child expresses worry over the birthmother, speculating that she is dead, reassure the child that the birthmother is probably healthy and safe.

  • It is also important to reassure the child that the birthmother will not attempt to reclaim the child if there is fear—a common fear of children who were abused.

  • Even if children are not verbally expressing their thoughts and feelings, they are actively thinking about their adoption/reason for placement. This is normal for all children.

  • Relay the information, ANSWERING THEIR QUESTIONS in doses at a time. Observe-Watch-Listen then respond with: How do you feel about this? What are your thoughts about this?”

  • Depending upon their circumstance which led to foster care, help them understand the why anyone can… have mental illness or abuse or abandon their child, without relating it to their story. So they understand context first.

  • Only give as much information as the child wants, answer only the question they have asked, no further details, this will come later and can be added to the question box.

  • Place emphasis on the circumstance which led to being removed from their family of origin. Take the blame off of themselves.

Survey: Adopt Salon Constellation Group CEU

Loading
Foster Challenge Fundraiser May 5, 2020

Foster Challenge Fundraiser May 5, 2020

Did you know that there are over 500,000 kids in the Foster Care system across the country??? 

Through the amazing collaborative efforts of Philip Bailey of Earth, Wind and Fire and his Music is Unity Foundation and Korean Adoptee, Founder and President, Holly Choon Hyang Bachman of Mixed Roots Foundation along with our valued Sponsors, Donors, Partners and benefiting Community Partners, we will officially kick off on May 1st as well as join the #GivingTuesdayNow global campaign on May 5th  where we will invite all of you to Take the #FosterChallenge that will take place throughout the month of May to help raise awareness and funds for and during #NationalFosterCareMonth.

DONATE

 READ OUR PRESS RELEASE

With the recent global pandemic of the #Coronavirus  (#COVID19) that has forced the closing of many colleges, universities, and schools across the country, many foster youths may not have homes or families to go to or have enough food to eat.

“With the Los Angeles County having the largest population of foster youth in the country, The Los Angeles County Department of Child and Family Services (LADCFS) ensures the safety of more than two million children across our diverse county.  Currently, our department provides services to 34,000 children and youth, half of whom are in foster care. Through the works of Philip Bailey of Earth Wind and Fire and his Music is Unity Foundation and the Mixed Roots Foundation, They have  always given generously and have demonstrated such passion for providing foster youth memorable experiences,” Ginger Pryor, Chief Deputy Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, said.  “And even in these changing times, when everyone is sheltering at home and schools are closed, the special collaboration of these wonderful organizations continues to invest in our youth and bring attention to the needs of children in foster care.”

Please consider Taking the #FosterChallenge by BiddingDonating, and Sharing our newly established #FosterChallenge Emergency Fund that will provide critical funding that will cover costs for meals/food, housing, computer/technological support, transportation, childcare, healthcare/medical, and educational needs. 

Our goal is to raise $1,000,000 and will be distributed across the country to Foster Youth in need and our Communtiy Partners that serve them – All who have been hit the hardest by this devastating virus. Funds will be distributed in the first week of June 2020.

Thank you for all of your support and participation – #We CanDoThis!! 

To learn more or Become a Donor, Sponsor or Partner by offering a silent auction item or experience or assist with media coverage, please email info@fosterchallenge.org

#FosterChallenge #BidNow #DonateNow, #StaySafe #StayHealthy #StayHome

Foster Challenge May 5, 2020

Creating support for Foster Care & Adoption Non-profits

 

Healing Series: Adoptees ON Podcast Support Groups with Jeanette Yoffe M.F.T.

Healing Series: Adoptees ON Podcast Support Groups with Jeanette Yoffe M.F.T.

illustrated Adoptees On logoJeanette Yoffe was interviewed for this podcast on February 16, 2018.

Podcaster Haley Radke invites Jeanette Yoffe to share what inspired her to begin a support group for adoptees. Discussion covers how to start your own group and best practices for peer-facilitated groups.

If starting or joining a support group feels too intimidating, don’t worry! Jeanette has a great idea for free support: find a listening partner.

— Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

Topics Discussed:

  • Celia Center
  • The Adoption Constellation: New Ways of Thinking About and Practicing Adoption by Michael Phillip Grand
  • Using the term adoption constellation vs adoption triad
  • Adopt Salon constellation groups can include: adoptees, adoptive parents, first parents, foster youth, foster alumni, foster families, social workers, spouses, siblings
  • Suggested Support Group Rules:
  • We support each other here, we don’t fix each other – no unsolicited advice
  • Everyone gets a turn to share (5 minutes). What’s your name, what are you here for – do you have a question, do you want support for something in particular? You can share briefly about your story.
  • You can ask questions if you do want advice.
  • You can be here and not share: OWL (Observe, Watch and Listen)
  • Keep everything confidential that is shared in the group
  • We need firm and safe group rules so we don’t experience secondary trauma
  • Constellation groups help us examine adoption from multiple angles; helps in growing compassion and acknowledging it is a shared experience.
  • Celia Center support groups have been featured on OWN’s Television Show, “Raising Whitley” and TLC’s “Long Lost Family”
  • If you can’t find a group, don’t feel comfortable going to a group, don’t want to start your own… Find a listening partner! Book a regular call that is to someone who will just listen. Listen, receive and acknowledge.
  • Support groups to listen, share and support; you can also have guests come in and present, maybe for 15 minutes on different topics – mindfulness, an education piece about trauma, sharing their story… but leave space for the group to still share and discuss.
  • If a group has different members of the adoption constellation present, it’s best to have a licensed therapist to facilitate. For peer-led support, just having adult adoptees (for example) is safer.
  • Celia Center Arts Festival | Adopting Resilience, Fostering the Spirit of Creativity
  • Celia Center Arts Festival 2016 Summary Video
  • Check out adopteesconnect.com for new peer-led groups starting in the United States (started by Pamela Karanova of How Does it Feel to be Adopted)
  • If you have another resource of places to find in-person adoptee support groups, please get in touch so I can list it here.

— Haley Radke: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook

source: <http://www.adopteeson.com/listen/hssupport>