News & Library
Keep up with the latest news about Firefly Children and Family Alliance, from recent announcements to new programs and services
Kris’ Corner – You don’t have to be married
“I can’t be a foster parent because foster parents have to be married.” This is yet another untrue comment which people sometimes make to me. And there’s not too much I need to say about this other than that is simply not the case. Indiana does not require foster...
Kris’ Corner – Foster care is the cheapest way to adopt
“So I have heard that Foster Care is the cheapest way to adopt…is that true for a baby too?” Um….technically yes I suppose it is, because the cost to adopt through foster care is less than any other form of adoption. However, there are not many babies who are...
TIPS FOR BACK TO SCHOOL ANXIETY DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
Back to school season 2020 looms only weeks away and represents for many families their most uncertain schooling experience to date. Sitting with that uncertainty can allow sprouts of stress and anxiety to pop up in our kids. Though we’re equally unsure of what school will look like this fall, Families First would like to offer some ideas and strategies to help your children cope with the stress of going back to school during a global pandemic.
Kris’ Corner – What is a CASA?
Before we became foster parents, my friends who had fostered would talk about their CASAs and apparently I just didn’t fully absorb what a CASA does. Or who a CASA is in a case. Or what an involved CASA can mean in the life of a child. I realize that some (or many) of...
ANTIRACISM RESOURCES FOR THE FAMILY
Families First believes in helping our community through life’s challenges and changes. We believe in helping people deal with issues that are too tough to tackle alone. For us, standing with the Black community in the fight against racial injustice means sharing resources that can help your family start or further conversations about race, racism, and anti-racism.
Kris’ Corner – It is expensive to foster
It costs money to raise children…regardless of how they come into your home. Food, clothing, medication, toiletries, toys, and the list goes on, depending on their age. The cost of fostering is something that most people want to ask me about but are reluctant…so I try...
WATER SAFETY & THE IMPORTANCE OF SUNSCREEN
It’s summer, and it’s hot and we know there is no better way to cool down than swimming. Families First wants everyone to have fun, but most importantly be safe!
Playing in water provides a lot of benefits to children. Here are some of the benefits of water play and what caregivers can do to ensure the safety of everyone in the water.
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES AND WELLNESS STRATEGIES SPECIFIC TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY
Initially created in 1926 by educator Carter G. Woodson as “Negro History Week”, Black History Month is an annual celebration of the achievements of Black people in the United States and across the diaspora. As a social services agency invested in ending the stigma around mental health and counseling, it’s important to acknowledge the organizations, websites, and programs removing the barrier of access to culturally competent care. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) indicates that while “anyone can develop a mental health problem; African Americans sometimes experience more severe forms of mental health conditions due to unmet needs and other barriers.” To add to the conversation about Black American mental health and wellness, here are a few useful resources to finding mental health services and wellness strategies specific to Black people.
JULY IS MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH MONTH!
July is Minority Mental Health Month. Established in 2008, it is also known as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month and serves to increase public awareness of harmful stigmas and disparities in mental health care for minorities and underserved communities.
Bebe Moore Campbell was an author, advocate, national spokesperson, and co-founder of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Urban Los Angeles. She advocated to provide mental health education and improve mental health care access for people of color. When Campbell passed away in 2006 her close friend, Linda Warton-Boyd along with allies and friends, fought for recognition of a Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Kris’ Corner – The ABC’s of Foster Care
So I wanted to take a few minutes to give you the 411 on the ABCs of FC. For some reason, these seem to be on the DL, so oftentimes you have to guess what they *might* mean. But they don’t need to be on the QT…so here’s is your starter list for talking to those...