PRESS RELEASE - Spokane's Reunification Celebration is this Saturday, July 13
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Spokane Parent Advocacy Network
Jul 8, 2013, 12:57:08 PM7/8/13
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Hello,
You are invited to Spokane’s 2013 Reunification Celebration, a family picnic, this coming Saturday. The Spokane Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) is hosting this third annual event on Saturday, July 13 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at the south shelter of Mission Park, 1208 E Mission Ave in Spokane. Food will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
“People Change ~ Families Reunite” is the overall message of this event. This is to honor parents who successfully reunited with their children, after being involved with a child dependency case, (i.e. CPS). Everyone should know these parents seriously stepped up to a life-changing challenge: they worked hard to confront personal issues (e.g. drugs, abuse, neglect) and learned to nurture children. After showing the court they are committed to being the best parents they can be, and ensuring the safety and well-being of their children, their cases were dismissed. Certificates will be given to honor those in attendance.
Everyone involved within the child dependency process is invited to attend this community celebration: birth parents (even birth parents with open cases who need hope - but we are only honoring those with closed cases), foster parents, relative caregivers, service providers, legal advisors, court staff, social work professionals, but most importantly the children!
By demonstrating positive family reunification outcomes within our local community, the SPAN seeks to provide hope to other parents who struggle, and change the child welfare culture from one of fear and isolation, to one of connections and trust.
SPAN was started in May 2009 by two local parents who are “veterans” of the child welfare system along with support of advisors from various child welfare agencies and providers. We are now a growing group of parents and professionals, but would welcome more help, especially from parents in our positive advocacy efforts. SPAN is also connected with the Washington State Parent Advocacy Network (WSPAN) and Catalyst for Kids in Seattle. By stepping up to become leaders at the local, state, and national level we continue to grow a unique and positive family-like network of parents and providers.
Earlier this year, other SPAN parents worked with the Spokane County Courts to establish a new program called Parents for Parents (P4P). P4P is run by formerly involved "Veteran Parents" who offer hope and support to parents newly involved with CPS and child dependency cases. The program also holds a Helping Other Parents Engage (H.O.P.E.) class regularly. The HOPE class is facilitated by Veteran Parents who give an overview of the child dependency process and offer "survival tips for success" for those currently involved.
In the past few years, SPAN members also worked on non-partisan issues with our state legislators and Children's Administration professionals. For example we helped pass FAR: Family Assessment Response, this is a newer approach to child welfare that could save taxpayer dollars while ensuring families receive the support they need. Moreover, in June 2012, two local parents were recognized nationally as "Reunification Heroes" by the American Bar Association (ABA) in Washington D.C. Since then, this honor was bestowed on an attorney in Baltimore, Maryland; a social worker in Harlem, New York; an attorney in Burlington, Vermont, a parent and case worker in Maui, Hawaii; and another parent Seattle, Washington.
In celebration of all parents who stepped up and met the challenge to change, the WSPAN printed a limited number of “People Change ~ Families Reunite” T-Shirts. For the suggested donation of $15.00 to SPAN, you can order yours and be a part of the statewide celebration of change! Or for $25.00 get one for yourself and a parent in need. All proceeds go to support events and programs that raise the awareness that poeple can change, children are able find safety at home, and families do reunite. Donations are tax deductible through SPAN's fiscal sponsor Community Minded Enterprises, a 501c3 nonprofit. A thank you letter can be provided upon request or you may use CME’s EIN number, 91-1764236.
If you would to attend this coming Saturday's event, we ask that you please RSVP to our email. There will be food available, but you are welcome to bring your own picnic or even a side dish such as a salad or dessert. For more information on this and other SPAN activities, please contact us at S-P...@live.com. You can visit us at: facebook.com/Spokane.PAN or, for more on our statewide organization, you can visit: wspan.org.
Thank you,
The Leadership Committee
Spokane Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN)
helping families bridge the gap between child welfare and community
S-P...@live.com
You are invited to Spokane’s 2013 Reunification Celebration, a family picnic, this coming Saturday. The Spokane Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) is hosting this third annual event on Saturday, July 13 from 12:30 to 2:30 pm at the south shelter of Mission Park, 1208 E Mission Ave in Spokane. Food will be available on a first come, first serve basis.
“People Change ~ Families Reunite” is the overall message of this event. This is to honor parents who successfully reunited with their children, after being involved with a child dependency case, (i.e. CPS). Everyone should know these parents seriously stepped up to a life-changing challenge: they worked hard to confront personal issues (e.g. drugs, abuse, neglect) and learned to nurture children. After showing the court they are committed to being the best parents they can be, and ensuring the safety and well-being of their children, their cases were dismissed. Certificates will be given to honor those in attendance.
Everyone involved within the child dependency process is invited to attend this community celebration: birth parents (even birth parents with open cases who need hope - but we are only honoring those with closed cases), foster parents, relative caregivers, service providers, legal advisors, court staff, social work professionals, but most importantly the children!
By demonstrating positive family reunification outcomes within our local community, the SPAN seeks to provide hope to other parents who struggle, and change the child welfare culture from one of fear and isolation, to one of connections and trust.
SPAN was started in May 2009 by two local parents who are “veterans” of the child welfare system along with support of advisors from various child welfare agencies and providers. We are now a growing group of parents and professionals, but would welcome more help, especially from parents in our positive advocacy efforts. SPAN is also connected with the Washington State Parent Advocacy Network (WSPAN) and Catalyst for Kids in Seattle. By stepping up to become leaders at the local, state, and national level we continue to grow a unique and positive family-like network of parents and providers.
Earlier this year, other SPAN parents worked with the Spokane County Courts to establish a new program called Parents for Parents (P4P). P4P is run by formerly involved "Veteran Parents" who offer hope and support to parents newly involved with CPS and child dependency cases. The program also holds a Helping Other Parents Engage (H.O.P.E.) class regularly. The HOPE class is facilitated by Veteran Parents who give an overview of the child dependency process and offer "survival tips for success" for those currently involved.
In the past few years, SPAN members also worked on non-partisan issues with our state legislators and Children's Administration professionals. For example we helped pass FAR: Family Assessment Response, this is a newer approach to child welfare that could save taxpayer dollars while ensuring families receive the support they need. Moreover, in June 2012, two local parents were recognized nationally as "Reunification Heroes" by the American Bar Association (ABA) in Washington D.C. Since then, this honor was bestowed on an attorney in Baltimore, Maryland; a social worker in Harlem, New York; an attorney in Burlington, Vermont, a parent and case worker in Maui, Hawaii; and another parent Seattle, Washington.
In celebration of all parents who stepped up and met the challenge to change, the WSPAN printed a limited number of “People Change ~ Families Reunite” T-Shirts. For the suggested donation of $15.00 to SPAN, you can order yours and be a part of the statewide celebration of change! Or for $25.00 get one for yourself and a parent in need. All proceeds go to support events and programs that raise the awareness that poeple can change, children are able find safety at home, and families do reunite. Donations are tax deductible through SPAN's fiscal sponsor Community Minded Enterprises, a 501c3 nonprofit. A thank you letter can be provided upon request or you may use CME’s EIN number, 91-1764236.
If you would to attend this coming Saturday's event, we ask that you please RSVP to our email. There will be food available, but you are welcome to bring your own picnic or even a side dish such as a salad or dessert. For more information on this and other SPAN activities, please contact us at S-P...@live.com. You can visit us at: facebook.com/Spokane.PAN or, for more on our statewide organization, you can visit: wspan.org.
Thank you,
The Leadership Committee
Spokane Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN)
helping families bridge the gap between child welfare and community
S-P...@live.com
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