We hope everyone is adjusting well to the New Year. We are continuing to stay busy working with our children and families in crisis, as Spring quickly approaches.
On February 23, 2009, Children of Tien-Shan held it�s first Support and Informational Group for Foster Parents and Potential Foster Parents. This was a very important event for Children of Tien-Shan, foster families, and those that wish to become foster families. This was an opportunity for current foster families and potential foster families to meet, network, and build relationships to provide each other with information and support.
At the meeting, we also discussed different forms of raising children including foster care, adoption, and relative guardianship. We provided information on the current status of the Foster Care Legislation that we have been developing. We also described the current laws about adoption and guardianship, and provided information to families who are interested in adopting children, including the medical and psychological condition of children who have been neglected, abused, or raised in orphanages.
Finally, all of the families worked together on an art session to show the importance of family, called �What Family Means to Us.� Each family then presented their art to the rest of the group and everyone was able to gain a different perspective of the meaning of family.
This is the first of many meetings of this kind, and we hope that it will help to build awareness about foster care and advocacy for children at risk.
