See larger image The Women Who Raised Me: A Memoir (Paperback) By (author) Victoria Rowell List Price: $14.99 USD New From: $2.99 In Stock Used from: $0.01 In Stock Release date May 1, 2008.

Born as a ward of the state of Maine, the child of an unmarried Yankee blueblood mother and an unknown black father, Victoria Rowell beat the odds. The Women Who Raised Me is the remarkable story of her rise out of the foster care system to attain the American Dream—and of the unlikely series of women who lifted, motivated, and inspired her along the way.

From Agatha Armstead—a black Bostonian who was Victoria’s longest-term foster mother and first noticed her spark of creativity and talent—to Esther Brooks, a Paris-trained prima ballerina who would become her first mentor at the Cambridge School of Ballet—The Women Who Raised Me is a loving, vivid portrait of all the women who would help Victoria transition out of foster care and into New York City’s wild worlds of ballet, acting, and adulthood.

Though Victoria would go on to become an accomplished television and film star, she still carried the burden of loneliness and anxiety, particularly common to those “orphans of the living” who are never adopted. Vividly recalled and candidly told, her story is transfixing, redemptive, heartbreaking, and, ultimately, inspiring.

MAHALO!

• HB986  The Department of Human Services has committed to work with stakeholders to develop a plan for increasing the foster care reimbursement rate over the summer. HB986 will remain in conference during this time,  meaning that the bill will not have to go through hearings on both sides of the legislature; it can be quickly convened and sent to the floor for approval, then onto the Governor’s desk, hopefully early in the 2014 session!

• SB1340   Senate Bill 1340passed its final votes on the floor on Tuesday, April 30 and will be on the governor’s desk soon! This is an exciting moment for us, as we have faith that this new law will help bring better outcomes to our foster alumni and thus to all of us!

We thank you and our Hawai`i state legislators for your support!

Questions?  Contact us at 540-2543 or jwilhoite@familyprogramshi.org.

“Families that generally want to provide this care are telling workers that they cannot afford to take on a foster child because of the amount that they themselves would have to contribute to the care.  The families are not becoming foster families for the sake of getting the money.  The issue is that the funds provided do not cover the actual costs of caring for the child.”  – Judith Clark, Executive Director of Hawai`i Youth Services Network, relating to SB59.

News Coverage of Bills:

Click here for the April 27th story in the Honolulu Star Advertiser regarding SB1340, extending foster care to age 21 in Hawai`i.

Click here for Hawai`i News Now March 14th report on SB 1340.

Click here to listen to the HPR news report filed by political reporter Wayne Yoshioka.  Wayne interviewed Resource Caregiver Jamie McOuat, Representative Mele Carroll, Representative Sylvia Luke and FPH Family Advocate Judith Wilhoite (It Takes an ʻOhana) to highlight the bills that would increase the reimbursement rate for foster care.

Read Jade Moon’s story “A Helping Hand For Foster Families” that highlights one of Hawaii’s amazing resource (foster) families the Keola’s.

 You can click here to see a TV news report from KITV regarding both SB59 and SB1104.

Click here to read an article in the Honolulu Star Bulletin on the reimbursement rate increase.

Click here to view the February 22, 2013  F.A.P.E. Now! program that focuses on extending foster care in Hawai`i from age 18 to 21.  The panel consisted of foster care alumni Noy Worachit (HI H.O.P.E.S. Youth Leadership Board Member),  Delia Ulima (Statewide Initiative Coordinator, Hawaii Youth Opportunities Initiative, EPIC ‘Ohana, Inc.), Rachel Thorburn (DHS Independent Living Program Coordinator) and Judith Wilhoite (Family Advocate for Family Programs Hawaii’s It Takes An `Ohana program).

Who is IAC, you might ask.  Let me explain – In September, 2011, Family Programs Hawaii’s (FPH) It Takes An ‘Ohana Program (ITAO) brought together a group of experienced Resource Ciregivers who have a passion for creating the best outcomes possible for Hawaii’s children affected by out-of-home care. The ITAO Advisory Committee (IAC)was trained by author and consultant, Shanah Trevenna, on how to find effective solutions to their issues and how to create “bridges” between all stakeholders in the child’s life including resource caregivers, families and the Department of Human Services (DHS).  In 2012, the DHS and Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) members joined our group.

We identified focus areas we believed to be most pressing for resource families and started work on them. The first issue identified was “How to assist resource caregivers help foster youth transition into adulthood positively”.  The result of this work has been the creation of a check list for the aging-out process for use by both resource caregivers and foster youth, a resource guide for  resource caregivers. (You can find these under the Factsheets Tab and the Youth Resources Tab.) Coming soon are two videos that will soon be accessible on the ITAO website that explain the special needs of foster youth who will age out.

Resource families give children a chance to heal and feel supported through a very difficult time in their lives. It is challenging work, but this guidance and love can make a big difference in a young person’s life while benefiting the whole community. And that is why IAC is committed to helping all resource families have the resources and information needed to be the best caregivers they can be to the children and youth in their home.

Please help us know how we can best help by taking our very short survey by clicking here.

Questions?  Please contact Judith at (808) 540-2543 or email jwilhoite@familyprogramshi.org.

Mahalo for your time and for all you do to create a better world for Hawaii’s keiki and youth!

Youth: Click here.to download a guide designed to help you identify resources and prepare for your future.  Always remember that there are people who care about you and want to help you!

Adults:  Click here to download the sheet designed to help you guide the current and former foster youth  in your life take inventory of their current assets, identify resources and plan for a bright future. Each domain lists assets and skills Youth need to develop and hone prior to entering adulthood.  The help caring adults give to current and former foster youth  in guiding them to a successful adulthood is invaluable!

Details: After the initial licensing year (H.A.N.A.I. curriculum for licensure), a minimum of six (6) training hours per family will be required annually or 12 hours over a two year licensing period. Click here to read the letter from DHS that outlines the ongoing training requirements.

Training methods besides attending live trainings are plentiful and outlined in the Approved Training List. Click here to be linked to the Approved Training List.

Here is the link to the Resource Caregiver Training Verification form.

Family Programs Hawai`i provides FREE, ongoing trainings statewide.  Click here to see our calendar of events.  You may also visit other community agencies for possible training opportunities.  In addition, Alternative Training Methods,  will be allowed in addition to in-person participation at conferences, etc. (eg., a chart is being developed as a guide, with other discretion by licensing).

Dependent upon availability of funds, “completion awards” for new and families who complete their training requirements are being explored:
*  New unconditionally licensed families in 2013 and going forth can be considered for “completion awards”, dependent upon available funds;
*  Resource Families who have renewals due in 2013—can either get a “Bye” for the 6 hours of required training or be considered for the “completion award” for meeting ALL renewal requirements.  From 2014, all Resource Families will need to meet all renewal requirements which will include the training requirements—and can be considered for “completion awards”, dependent upon available funds.

Questions?  Please contact your licensing worker, the Warm Line or ITAO if you have questions.

Mahalo for all your aloha and commitment to our children, youth and their families!

So, let us continue our work of meeting the needs of the children and youth in our community and the families that care for them.

Let’s also remember to nurture ourselves, to keep fresh and healthy so that we can continue to provide the care that is so needed by our `Ohana.

I  want to share this link with you, Helping Children Deal with Tragic Events in the News, where Mr. Rogers talks about what his mother taught him when it came to scary situations.  I hope that it helps you and your `Ohana today.

I look forward to the day when ALL children are cherished and have EVERY need met.  I appreciate all that you do to help this dream become a reality.

In Peace,  Judith Wilhoite

Fred Rogers meets children at a school in Pittsburgh in a photograph taken by Jim Judkis

WWK’s core belief is that every child deserves to live in a safe, loving and permanent family and is currently looking for a forever family for the following youth:

• Amy, a 14-year-old girl of Hawaiian and Caucasian decent who loves animals, little children, and the elderly. She is protective and loyal to those she cares about. She tries to make people feel better.  Click here to learn more about Amy.
• Lawrence is a 16-year-old boy of Caucasian, Hawaiian, Cuban, Filipino, and American Indian descent.  He is hopeful to find a family that is fun-loving and good natured. Lawrence understands the need to contribute to a family by doing chores and keeping things clean. Click here to learn more about Lawrence.
• Charlie is a 15 year-old boy of Caucasian-Puerto Rican descent. His interests include trail, beach and cross-country running, soccer, video games, reading fantasy stories like Harry Potter and comic books. He has artistic talent and enjoys freehand sketching often of super heroes like Spiderman. Click here to learn more about Charlie.

If you are interested in learning more about these children, please contact Katie Joosse at Family Programs Hawai‘i at (808) 540-2552 or kjoosse@familyprogramshi.org.

Thank you for all you do to help children and youth!