Look for these topics in our next issue News on Child Abuse Prevention Month and Pinwheels for Prevention Our quarterly Spotlight on Adoption Annual Blue Ribbon Breakfast January 2009 Friends of Greene County Children Services hosts the First Annual Bee for Children Partipants in the First Annual Bee for Children. On January 9th, Friends of Greene County Children Services held their first annual Bee for Children at the Schindler Center in Xenia. Fun was had by all as adults, college students and high schools students battled it out in a challenging spell-off. WHIO’s Gabrielle Enright emceed the event. In the end, the word “resuscitate” led to the demise of three of our spelling teams, leaving Greene County Family and Children First as our spelling champs. Friends of Greene County Children Services is a community-based, unincorporated, non-profit organization established for the purpose of developing funds to be used for child abuse and neglect programming. Stay tuned for information on our Second Annual Bee for Children this Fall. GOING “GREENE” The Children’s Herald would like to go “Greene” and become solely an electronic newsletter. But, we can’t do it without your email addresses. Please send your email address to kunklj@odjfs.state.oh.us so we can put you on our electronic newsletter list, and save a few trees. Thank you! CHILDREN’S INSIDE A word from GCCS Executive Director, Dr. Rhonda Reagh Spotlight on adoption: Could this teen boy be just right for your family? Coverage of the first annual Bee for Children Special holiday thank you Going “Greene” Children’s Herald continues its effort to become paperless. The Children’s Herald is a quarterly newsletter designed to keep you informed about the news and events at Greene County Children Services. Executive Director: Rhonda Reagh, Ph.D. Editor: J.J. Kunkle, M.S. 601 Ledbetter Rd. Xenia, OH 45385 937.562.6600 fax 937.562.6650 www.greenecsb.org Contact us To report suspected child abuse or neglect, please call (937) 562-6600, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon. through Fri. On weekends, holidays or after 5 p.m., call (937) 372-HELP (4357). For more information about adoption, foster care or volunteer opportunities, please call (937) 562-6600 or visit our website at www.greenecsb.org. Herald It takes a community to protect a child Angels and Santas galore at GCCS this year Santa made many stops at GCCS this year! Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of Greene County residents, many families had a much merrier holiday than expected. Toys, books, bikes, hats, mittens and coats filled the board room and halls of GCCS-all awaiting homes with grateful Greene County families. GCCS would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who donated items to the children and families we serve. We couldn’t do it without you! Toy donations from Greene County and beyond--all waiting to go to their new homes! “With the help of community members, churches and local businesses, GCCS was able to provide struggling families with toys, bikes, books, hats, mittens, warm clothing--and in some cases Christmas dinner and a tree with ornaments and lights for the holiday,” said GCCS Executive Director, Dr. Rhonda Reagh. “It just reminds us that Greene County is truly a county that cares about its children and families. “ From the Executive Director Rhonda Reagh, Ph.D. Happy New Year Greene County! I am one of those people who always feels a great deal of excitement when one year ends and a new one begins. The anticipation of what lies around the corner is exhilarating to me especially when the old year ended on such a positive note. Thanks to your belief in the agency, we were able to pass a new levy in very trying economic times in November and had an absolutely huge outpouring of generosity during the holidays for the kids and families we serve. We are so privileged to serve this community. Thank you! But, our work is not done. for family violence and child abuse to occur. As economic conditions worsen, family resources to heat homes, pay utility bills, buy clothes, and feed children tighten. Funding continues to be cut at the state level for the very programs that we need to meet local needs. Just since the time that we started our levy campaign at the end of September, 2008, the agency has taken a 10% cut in the only dedicated state revenue line for child protection! These cuts, along with those received by our partner systems, begin to erode the ground we gained with our levy passage. While 2009 is full of promise and possibilities, it is also going to be a very hard year for families and children across the state and in our county. Unemployment and lay-off numbers continue to climb and as families experience more stress, the environment becomes prime The agency will need to hunker down and consider the most effective ways to meet growing needs with less money. I am optimistic that by continuing our standards of researching and using evidence based practices, we will be able to continue to stay on the cutting December Spotlight Chris When not outside, you would most likely find this fifteen-year-old playing video games, or watching television. Chris thinks that having a family that enjoys these same types of activities would be great. Living in the country is Chris’ dream. Living on a farm would be even better. Chris says that he enjoys the outdoors and the work involved in helping to care for a home and a farm. He also enjoys building and repairing small engines and feels that he is skilled in this area. Chris would do best in a family where he is the youngest or only child. An ideal family for Chris would be one that is able to provide him with patience, guidance and individual attention. If you think you may be the family for Chris, please contact Jana Howell, Adoption Caseworker, at (937) 562-6600, ext. 694. edge of child protection. Greene County has a history of “working smart” for kids. Through collaboration and communication with the public, child serving agencies have mutually found ways to be innovative, effective and responsive to the needs of our constituents. I want to challenge us all to take that seriously in this new year and to strive to the standard evoked in this statement by George Bernard Shaw….” The people who get on in this world are people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them”. Let’s do it for our children. RESOLUTIONS Four Parenting Resolutions A special holiday thank-you to the following donors: Talk with your Huber Heights Animal Hospital St. Lukes Cathedral St. Lukes Mom and Tots Group Barnes and Noble - Beavercreek Prudential One of Beavercreek and Xenia Autumn Creek Moms Bunco Group Bryan’s Bikes Wright Place Senior Housing Apartment in Xenia Claire’s Boutique - Piqua Mall The Architectural Group Mary, Jacob, Andrew and Hanna Lebamoff HMR Tech Thomas and Rebecca Paice Hewett Wells Jo Smith Evergreen Children’s Center Dale and Cindy Dyco Carrie Dingus and the Greek Orthodox Church Amy Crawford and the Yellow Spring’s United Methodist Church Peace Lutheran Church Amanda Hedger Beavercreek High School - Student Council and PEERS Greene County Sheriff’s Department All-Star 4-H Eastern Star Coldwell Banker - Beavercreek and Xenia RII - The Rogosin Institute Sheila Kilgore WA Hammond Inc. Company Wright State University Elder Berman Wright Pat Bellbrook Fire Department The Buttrey Family Ferguson Chiropractic Walter and Lorean Jones Sibcy Cline, Beavercreek Jenny Mannarino children, not at them Respect your children’s differences from you and from each other Avoid put-downs, even as jokes. Children take them seriously Recognize your children’s good decisions Kerriann Cloyes, Community Relations Manager at Barnes & Noble, helped organize a book drive for GCCS and point them out with special compliments