Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine - Click for Current Issue
  • Inside
    • The ROX LIVING Interview
    • Pinal County Press Local News
    • City Speak
    • Biz!
    • You!
      • Out & About
    • Fun!
    • Q&A
    • Voices of the Community
  • Special Sections
    • Arts & Humanities
    • Automotive
    • Best of Pinal County
    • Business & Leadership
    • Casa Grande: A Growing Horizon
    • Dining & Adventure
    • Education
    • Holiday
    • Home & Garden
    • Leaders In Business
    • Medical Health & Wellness
    • Nonprofits
    • Photo Contest
      • Photo Contest
    • Pinal County
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Women in Business
  • Current Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Past Issue Archives
  • Inside
    • The ROX LIVING Interview
    • Pinal County Press Local News
    • City Speak
    • Biz!
    • You!
      • Out & About
    • Fun!
    • Q&A
    • Voices of the Community
  • Special Sections
    • Arts & Humanities
    • Automotive
    • Best of Pinal County
    • Business & Leadership
    • Casa Grande: A Growing Horizon
    • Dining & Adventure
    • Education
    • Holiday
    • Home & Garden
    • Leaders In Business
    • Medical Health & Wellness
    • Nonprofits
    • Photo Contest
      • Photo Contest
    • Pinal County
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Women in Business
  • Current Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Past Issue Archives
No Result
View All Result
Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine
Golden Corridor LIVING Magazine - Click for Current Issue
Home Up Front

Home is Where the Heart Is

January 22, 2021
0
325
SHARES
2.5k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

by Donna McBride, Program Administrator/Public Information Officer, CASA Unit of Pinal County Juvenile Court

“Home is where the heart” is has certainly held true over the past year. Now that 2020 is behind us and spring is closing in, our personal spaces may need some sprucing up.

We often look around at the house to see what looks inviting to guests. A front porch complete with new plants or a fresh coat of paint. But what if we looked at it from the eyes of a child. A foster child.

As scary as it was for a child to be removed from their home due to abuse and neglect, it can just be as scary to walk into a new home with strangers. The environment can set the tone for how the child adapts. They probably won’t even pay mind to the fresh plants, bright colors or clean house.

So how does someone dealing with foster children make their home inviting?

Every child is different, including the reason for them being in foster care. But there are important steps people can take to help them adapt to their new surroundings. And whether it is temporarily or permanent, it can help them survive the next chapter in their young lives.

  • Create a space that is their own, such as a bedroom. Let them pick out paint colors, hang up pictures, posters. Even let them pick out new sheets and comforter. Some children will arrive with nothing or very little. But if they do, help them unpack and hang up their clothes. Give them space to call their own.
  • When someone shows up unexpectedly, we usually have some things on hand to make them feel welcome. The same goes for a foster child. School supplies, snacks, personal care items, etc. Having a new toothbrush of their own can make all the difference.
  • Family meal time is hard to come by nowadays. But they are important. Try to plan meals around food the new household member likes. Even let them help with shopping and cooking. Some of the best conversations have been shared around the counter as dinner is being made. Encourage them to have a voice, just like everyone else.
  • Remember how proud you were when you brought home art work, report cards and other items that ended up on the refrigerator? Recognition is a big part of feeling validated. Even taking some fun photos as a family can be crucial to making your home “their home.”
  • Most of us have special items from our childhood. A stuffed animal, a book, even a blanket. Foster children may not. Make sure they have their own things and that they understand those items will always be theirs. Something like a movie ticket stub may seem like trash to us, but it can symbolize a fond memory for them.
  • Remember those dreaded chores? Most of us had them and we survived. Foster children should be included in chores so they feel a part of the family. They need to know they are not a guest, but a part of the family.

Deciding to become a foster parent is a difficult decision. And it should be. These children need special attention. But the rewards of helping your home become “their home” will be gratifying, adding memories to both the child and your home.
No amount of paint or fresh flowers will add the same value to your home as when you open your door and heart to a foster child.
To find out more about becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) contact www.casaofpinalcounty.org or 520-866-7076.

Requirements for becoming a foster parent

  • Be over the age of 21.
  • Be able to appropriately care for children.
  • Be able to pass a criminal background check and receive a fingerprint clearance card.
  • Successfully complete a home study and a Life Safety Inspection to show the home is safe for children.
  • Pass a medical physical and receive a doctor’s certificate that says you are healthy enough to care for someone else’s children.

If you are interested in foster care or adoption please call (877) KIDS-NEED-U (1-877-543-7633).

Previous Post

“Would you rather give your money to the State of Arizona or to the Boys & Girls Club?”

Next Post

Time for Fresh Ideas on the Homefront

Next Post

Time for Fresh Ideas on the Homefront

Join our Newsletter

Golden Corridor LIVING eNewsletter Subscription

No Result
View All Result
Cover for Golden Corridor Living Magazine
2,845
Golden Corridor Living Magazine

Golden Corridor Living Magazine

Lifestyles in Arizona's Golden Corridor - everything between Phoenix and Tucson.

This message is only visible to admins.
Problem displaying Facebook posts. Backup cache in use.
Click to show error
Error: The user must be an administrator, editor, or moderator of the page in order to impersonate it. If the page business requires Two Factor Authentication, the user also needs to enable Two Factor Authentication. Type: OAuthException
Golden Corridor Living Magazine

7 days ago

Golden Corridor Living Magazine
Update from Pinal County about West Nile Virus.First West Nile Virus (WNV) positive mosquitoes detected in Pinal County this Monsoon Season.This week, during routine seasonal mosquito surveillance, the Pinal County Public Health Services District (PCPHSD) detected West Nile Virus (WNV) positive mosquitoes in the county. It is especially important for everyone to be vigilant in preventing mosquito breeding and mosquito bites now that we have had some significant monsoon rains. Click to read more: ow.ly/vNOP50KiiF3Help Prevent West Nile Virus:• If you have a swimming pool, keep it operational. If you must keep it out of use, make sure you remove the standing water, keep it chlorinated, or run the filter daily.• Eliminate standing water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Check for items outside the home that collect water, such as cans, bottles, jars, buckets, old tires, drums and other containers and get rid of them. Change water in flower vases, bird baths, planters, troughs, and animal watering pans at least twice a week.• Repair leaky pipes and outside faucets, and move air conditioner drain hoses frequently to prevent standing water.• Even a short time being outdoors can be long enough to get a mosquito bite. Take extra care to use insect repellent and protective clothing. When outdoors, use an EPA-registered and CDC approved insect repellent.• Keep mosquitoes outside by having well-fitting screens on both windows and doors. ... See MoreSee Less

Photo

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

   
It’s About LOCAL – ADVERTISE WITH US

© 2022 ROX Media • Privacy Policy
info@roxco.com • 520.426.2074 • 844-729-9769
CORPORATE OFFICE: 1919 N Trekell Rd., Ste. C • Casa Grande, AZ 85122

No Result
View All Result
  • Inside
    • The ROX LIVING Interview
    • Pinal County Press Local News
    • City Speak
    • Biz!
    • You!
      • Out & About
    • Fun!
    • Q&A
    • Voices of the Community
  • Special Sections
    • Arts & Humanities
    • Automotive
    • Best of Pinal County
    • Business & Leadership
    • Casa Grande: A Growing Horizon
    • Dining & Adventure
    • Education
    • Holiday
    • Home & Garden
    • Leaders In Business
    • Medical Health & Wellness
    • Nonprofits
    • Photo Contest
      • Photo Contest
    • Pinal County
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Women in Business
  • Current Issue
    • Subscribe
    • Past Issue Archives

© 2022 ROX Media Group.