Washington State Foster Parent Advocacy Numbers

Many of you amazing families take in foster children (even if this is our Post Adoptive Family Blog).  Most of you have amazing and incredible stories to share of your journey working with Children's Administration (DSHS-DCFS) here in Washington and the incredible workers and staff you have had the honor of sharing the journey with. There are many honorable and committed employees at the state.  However, there are times when the experience is not what we had hope or dreamed or thought was best for kids.  There are times when it can get scary and a bit daunting and we feel the kids voice is not hear or that they are perhaps even in danger but we don't know where to turn.  The following are some resources you can turn to share your concerns.

Fostering Together

http://fosteringtogether.org/

You can always call here for support groups, to get answers to the questions:

Is this normal?  Should I have concerns?  Etc…

They can be a huge support.

FPAWs (Foster Parent Association of Washington)

http://www.fpaws.org/
1-800-397-2271

You can always call here for support groups, to get answers to the questions:

Is this normal?  Should I have concerns?  Etc…

Office of the Family and Children’s Ombudsman

1-800-571-7321

http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/governorlocke/ofco/index.htm

The Mission of the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombudsman is to protect children and parents from harmful agency action or inaction, and to make agency officials and state policy makers aware of system-wide issues in the child protection and child welfare system so they can improve services.

The Family and Children’s Ombudsman investigates complaints about agency actions or inaction that involve:

·         Any child at risk of abuse, neglect, or other harm.

·         A child or parent involved with child protection or child welfare services.

They intervene in cases in which they have determined that an agency’s action or inaction is unauthorized or unreasonable. In addition to addressing complaints, they work to identify system-wide issues and recommend appropriate changes in public reports to the Governor, the Legislature and agency officials.

Constituent Services

1-800-737-0617 or (outside Washington (360) 902-7878)

https://www.dshs.wa.gov/sesa/office-policy-and-external-relations/constituent-services

The Office of Constituent Services is a point of contact for citizens, elected officials, and other agencies seeking information and assistance with DSHS programs. The Office of Constituent Services is located in the Office of Policy and External Relations. Staff in Constituent Services responds to calls, inquiries, and complaints about services provided by DSHS. If you have questions, concerns, or comments about DSHS programs or services, please contact our office. We will put you in touch with the appropriate program or division.

Paulette Caswell, LICSW

Director, Bethany Christian Services
Serving children and families throughout the Pacific Northwest

1501 N. 200^th St. Ste. 103 Shoreline, WA 98133  
O – (206) 367-4604 x7972  F – (206) 367-1860

www.bethany.org/washington

pcaswell@bethany.org

Regular working hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

In all things I have shown you…the Lord Jesus, … said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:25

Car Seat Facts--Installation and when to change and more

Have you ever wondered how to really install a car seat?  When should you really bump your child up to the next one?  When they should truly be getting rid of that booster?  Did you know your kid should still be in a booster until they are 80-100 pounds or at least 57 inches?  Me either.  Here is the information.  This was information provided by our leadership at Bethany Christian Services. 


Car Seat Checkup Top 5 Things to Do

1. Right Seat.
• Check the label on your car seat to make sure it’s appropriate for your child’s age, weight and height. (You can find the exact height and weight limit on the side or back of the car seat).
• Child car seats have an expiration date. Double check the label on your car seat to make sure it is still safe.

* Kids who ride in rear-facing seats have the maximum protection for the head, neck and spine. Don’t worry about their feet. It is especially important for rear-facing children to ride in a back seat away from the airbag.    

The following link is to videos on how to install most types of car seats.
http://www.safercar.gov/parents/CarSeats/How-To-Install-Car-Seats.htm    
  
2. Right Place.
• Keep all children in the back seat until they are 13.
• Make sure to attach the top tether after you tighten and lock the seat belt or lower attachment anchors.
• After February 2014, many car seat labels will tell you exactly how much your child can weigh and still use the car’s lower anchors and car seat attachments (LATCH).
• Check both your child restraint and vehicle manuals to see if you can go beyond the weight limit for the top tether. If they both agree to a higher weight, it is fine to follow their directions.

3. Right Direction.
• Keep children in a rear-facing car seat for as long as possible, usually until around age 2.
• When he or she outgrows the seat, move children to a forward-facing car seat. Make sure to attach the top tether after you tighten and lock the seat belt or lower anchors.

*Kids can remain in some forward-facing car seats until they’re 65 pounds depending on the car seat limits. Check the seat label to find the exact measurements. Discontinue use of the lower anchors or top tether when your child reaches the limits set by your car seat and car manufacturers.

4. Inch Test.
• Once the car seat is installed, give it a good shake at the base.
• Can you move it more than an inch side to side or front to back?
• A properly installed seat will not move more than an inch.

5. Pinch Test.
• Make sure the harness is tightly buckled and coming from the correct slots (check car seat manual).
• Now, with the chest clip placed at armpit level, pinch the strap at the child’s shoulder.
• If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing, you’re good to go.

Check Your Car Seat
73% of car seats are not used or installed correctly, so before you hit the road, check your car seat.
Road injuries are the leading cause of preventable deaths and injuries to children in the United States. Correctly used child safety seats can reduce the risk of death by as much as 71 percent.

Is it Time for a Booster Seat?

Take the next step to a booster seat when you answer “yes” to any of these questions:
• Does the child exceed the car seat’s height or weight limits?
• Are the child’s shoulders above the car seat’s top harness slots?
• Are the tops of the child’s ears above the top of the car seat?

Booster Seats
• Kids who have outgrown their car seats are not quite ready for a seat belt alone – although they might try to convince you otherwise.
• Instead, have them transition to a booster seat that enables the adult seat belt to fit properly.
• Seat belts don’t fit children properly until they are at least 57” (4’9”) tall and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds.
• Booster seats can reduce the risk of serious injury by 45% compared to seat belts alone.

Hard Facts
Children in a booster seat in the back seat of the car are 45% less likely to be injured in a crash than children using a seat belt alone.

Tips to make sure kids are safe in a booster seat.
• When the child is seated in the booster seat, make sure the lap and shoulder belts fit. The lap belt should fit low across the hips and the shoulder belt across the shoulder.
• Do not place the shoulder belt under the child’s arm or behind the child’s back.
• Older kids get weighed and measured less often than babies, so check your child’s growth a few times a year.
• Generally, kids need to use a booster until they are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall and weigh between 80 and 100 pounds. For most kids, they will be between ages 8 to 12 years old.

Use a booster seat with the vehicle lap AND shoulder safety belts until children pass the following Safety Belt Fit Test: • The child’s knees should bend at the edge of the seat when his or her back and bottom are against the vehicle seat back; and • The vehicle lap belt should fit across the upper thighs; and • The shoulder belt should fit across the shoulder and chest. Children are usually between 8 and 12 years old when the seat belt fits them properly.

Resources:
• http://www.safercar.gov/parents/index.htm
• http://www.safekids.org

Other Academic Resources for Foster and Adoptive Families

There are a few new resources out there worth sharing regarding school:

TreeHouse in Washington State has a great resource for Foster and Adoptive Families:
http://www.treehouseforkids.org/academic-resource-center/        

LifeLines Magazines Summer 2015 Editions focused on school advocacy.  You can access this edition at:
 http://bethany-christian-services.epaperflip.com/v/2015-Summer-LifeLines/#?page=0   

Youth Rights Justice
http://www.youthrightsjustice.org/media/2263/Special%20Education%20Children%20in%20Oregon2.pdf

You can view my old post from 2014 for additional resources as well at:

http://pnwbethanypostadoptionresource.blogspot.com/2014/03/educational-advocacy-iep504-where-to.html
Recommended Bedtime Chart: