June 2016 Volume 4, Issue 6

June 18 HCFPA Respite Program Theme: Plants 10 am - 2 pm @ The Family Place 9391 N Florida Ave.,Tampa, FL RSVP required at HCFPA.org Childcare | $2 per child

July HCFPA Membership Meeting No Meeting in July

July/ HCFPA Respite Program Aug. No respite during July and August months

Photo by D

an

iel Wa

llace

MeetPatrick & Joseph

Ages 16 & 12

“Generosity in spades ”

Patrick is a very earnest, respectful young man with a heart of gold. He’s very intelligent and loves to read - especially science-fiction novels like Marco’s Millions. He doesn’t share his little brother’s aversion to flying, and would love to have that experience, especially if the plane takes him to Paris! He’s into all kinds of music and likes to play video games. He can often seem serious and reserved, but he’d got a very silly side, too! When he grows up he’d like to either be a photographer or a therapist, and if he could be famous for anything it’d be for authoring a popular book series.

Joseph is a thoughtful, big-hearted kid who - if he could choose to change one thing about the world - would end people stereotyping one another. He’s funny and easygoing and loves to read. If he isn’t reading or sleeping he’s playing basketball, and his ultimate goal is to play professionally. Although he’s not too sure about plane travel, Joseph wants to have some adventures in life, and thinks it would be awesome to find the Lost World of Atlantis. He looks up to his big brother Patrick because he’s “kind and caring,” and he’s looking forward to being part of a forever family that he “can talk to when [he] has a question or problem.”

These guys crave the warmth and support of a forever family. They’d thrive in a two-parent home as the only children or with other brothers. They have so much potential, and so much love to give!

Father’s Day

UPCOMING EVENTS

To learn more about adoption, please visit:

heartgallerytampabay.orgPhotos provided by: Children’s Board Heart Gallery of Tampa Bay

This month we celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday, June 19th. For those of us lucky enough to have a father or father figure in our lives, we give thanks and celebrate. Fathers can be beacons of light and pillars of strength for those around them. Studies estimate that nearly one in three children live away from their biological fathers.

Tampa Bay’s own Tony Dungy is a strong advocate for a healthy father/ child relationship, and has been quoted as stating,

“Dads who are fully engaged with their kids overwhelmingly tend to produce children who believe in themselves and live full lives.”

This makes our work in the foster care community critical. Being a role model for children as a father and co-parenting with the biological father are great ways to help develop a healthy father/child relationship.

Contact our Fostering Respect hotline if you have a problem or concern, and cannot get the matter resolved with the case manager or your FDS representative.

P: (813) 541-8017 | E: fosteringrespecthillsborough@eckerd.org

Hillsborough County Family Partnership Alliance

HCFPA meetings held the 1st Saturday of the month and the Respite Program is held the 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 am at The Family Place office located at Eckerd Community Alternatives on the corner of Busch Blvd. and N. Florida Ave.

President’s Corner

HCFPA Respite ProgramHCFPA will be offering our respite program on Saturday, June 18th, 2016 from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm at The Family Place.

An RSVP and a $2.00 charge per child are required and can be made at HCFPA.org . Space is limited and RSVPs will be honored first come, first serve.

There will be NO Respite in the months of July and August.

Hello HCFPA Families,

The HCFPA Clothing Closet will be closed on July 1, 2016 for the Fourth of July weekend.

I hope everyone has a fun and blessed summer.

I would like to welcome new members to the HCFPA family. Our membership consists of foster and adoptive parents, relative and non-relative caregivers. HCFPA offers members support, great trainings, the clothing closet, food pantry, fun free events, a monthly Respite (baby sitting), advocacy, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Home Depot and other wonderful items for your family.

I would like to thank the HCFPA board for all they do for our membership. HCFPA is run by an all volunteer board of foster and adoptive parents who donate time and energy to make HCFPA a great alliance. If you are interested in getting involved, please contact a board member.

We aim to keep you informed regarding the many changes in the System of Care.

God Bless,

Kimberly HernandezHillsborough County Family Partnership Alliance, President

HCFPA May Respite decorating activity

HCFPA MeetingsNo HCFPA meeting in July: HCFPA will not hold a membership meeting in July. Please use this time off to enjoy with your friends and families during the summer.

HCFPA Board of Directors

HCFPA.org

HCFPA Food PantryHCFPA and community members can receive HCFPA Food Pantry donations once per month after they self-attest that they have a need for food. Please complete your food pantry request forms and submit them when you come in during the Food Pantry’s hours of operation.

Volunteers are welcome on the 1st Friday of the month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to help prepare the food distribution. This institution is an equal opportunity program.

Pantry Hours2nd and 4th Friday

of each month 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

PresidentKimberly Hernandezkimh@HCFPA.org

SecretaryEducation and Training

Gifts in KindFood Pantry

Jill Tyree JillT@hcfpa.org

ParliamentarianMershell Godbolt

MershellG@hcfpa.org

TreasurerWes Binder

wesb@hcfpa.org

Clothing Closet ChairMembership Chair

Kathryn Melendez Kmelendez@hcfpa.org

(813)541-6623

Childcare ChairEricka Shumpert

Childcare@hcfpa.org

Relative Caregiver ChairMissy Saffold

(813) 516–9745MissyS@hcfpa.org

Respite ChairEmily Binder

Emilyb@hcfpa.org

Event ChairKaren Queen

KarenQ@hcfpa.org

HCFPA.org

HCFPA@yahoo.com

Note: Clothing Closet will be closed on July 1, 2016 for the 4th of July weekend.

Clothing Closet Hours1st Friday 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.2nd Friday 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.3rd Friday 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.4th Friday 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.5th Friday 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

HCFPA Family Clothing Closet HCFPA’s Family Clothing Closet serves infants, children, teens and adults. We thank Eckerd Community Alternatives for their partnership with HCFPA Family Clothing Closet. Please help us support this wonderful resource by donating your gently used or new clothing and shoes. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Kathryn Melendez at (813) 541-6623.

Membership Applications: HCFPA Membership applications are available online at HCFPA.org. Applications are also available before every monthly meeting and during the Clothing Closet operation hours.

Summer is quickly approaching, although it feels as though it has already arrived! With the increase in the heat index, we are all looking for ways to cool down! One popular summer destination is by the water- whether that is the pool, beach, lake or other. With this in mind, we wanted to share some tips for staying safe while cooling down! (Courtesy of safekids.org)

1. Never leave a child unattended by the water. A good idea to manage this is to have some sort of physical object, for example a stick that is passed along around the responsible adults. When the adult has the stick, it is his or her turn to be supervising the children for a specified amount of time.

2. Empty all wading pools, buckets, etc., immediately after use. Did you know a person can drown in less than an inch of water?

3. Learn CPR. While this is not a licensing requirement, it’s useful to know in case of an emergency of any type, not just water-related accidents.

We also have a Pool Safety class online, located on the USF Center for Child Welfare website. The link is below: http://centervideo.forest.usf.edu/qpi/poolsafety/poolsafety.html

Remember, even if you don’t have a body of water on or adjacent to your home, there may be a community pool or retention pond nearby. Your children may have access to water while away from home so ensure you have educated them on ways to stay safe while having fun!

We Need Your Help!

No se discriminará ni se le negará a ninguna persona, por su raza, color, religión, nacionalidad, sexo, edad o incapacidad, la participación o los beneficios de cualquier programa o actividad que reciba beneficios de ayuda financiera federal y que sea administrado por el “Eckerd Community Alternatives System of Care.” Se pondrán a disposición servicios de interpretación de idiomas y señas sin costo alguno para el cliente.

No person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to unlawful discrimination under any program or activity receiving or benefiting from federal financial assistance and administered by Eckerd Community Alternatives System of Care. Foreign language and sign language interpreters will be made available at no charge to the client.

To include foster parent stories and information in a future newsletter, forward to: nlefever@eckerd.org (813) 225-1105, ext. 1197

Congratulations!Foster Parent Anniversaries

Licensed in May 2016

• Bobbi-Sue & Trevor First

• Elisa Bradstreet

• Gale Philson

• Haley & Byron Mushrush

• Joanne Mangum

• Sara & William Torres

• Sarah & Joshua Weaver

• Sephra Vendrys

• Susan & Darron Raney

• Teri & Scott Bullard

• Yumi & Daniel Toomey

Date

• Diane Thomas 6/1

• Marlene Monestime-Semelfort 6/1

• Margaret Riley 6/4

• Amy Holcomb & William Morton-Holcomb 6/5

• Michelle & James Burgess 6/6

• Betty Sallet 6/8

• Karen Riley 6/8

• Melvin & Evelyn Lassiter 6/8

• Tricia & Ronald ‘Kevin’ Bradberry 6/8

• Devan & Jack Wolfe 6/10

• Marina & Eli Rodriguez 6/10

• Lisa Best-Hardy 6/15

• Shanteau Gregory 6/15

• Cora McWhite 6/20

• Daniel & Davina Devries 6/20

• Jennifer Piasecki & Norma Pagan 6/20

• Paul & Lisa Pink 6/20

• Ronida Durant 6/20

• Samantha Jones 6/20

• Gwendolyn Carr 6/22

• Eileen Esposito 6/24

• Alan Denote & Michael Macrionese 6/25

• Dhanmatie Juarez 6/26

• Karen & Michael Mooney-Crouch 6/27

• Litha Beckles 6/27

• Glenda Jones 6/29

• Paula Cox 6/29

Eckerd Kids is looking for those willing to commit to children in their home, providing them with temporary loving care and serving as mentors to the child’s family. If you have a friend or family member that has room in their home and heart, please refer them to call Eckerd’s Foster Parent Recruitment Line or visit our website at:

P: (866) 233-0790 (toll-free)

Eckerd.org/fosterFree Foster Parent Orientations are held every 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. at the Family Place, 9391 North Florida Ave. Tampa, FL