May 2020 - Child and Family Services

A Foster Family Finds Balance in Quarantine

May 28, 2020 (May 29, 2020)

This article was written by Roberta Hinkle. Roberta and her husband, Kevin, have six children in their home - four foster children, all siblings, and two birth children. The Hinkles have been foster parents with C&FS for five years. Over two months after my four foster children and four birth children said goodbye to their…

Reflecting on Mental Health Counseling During a Pandemic

May 28, 2020 (May 28, 2020)

Personal connection is the gift I am able to share with others during the current pandemic. Right now, our community isn’t able to connect the way we are used to. We miss chatting with neighbors, visiting with family, and the normalcy of everyday schedules. Even though we are not able to talk face-to-face, I am…

Community Creative in Giving Comfort

May 26, 2020 (May 29, 2020)

Throughout the past weeks, we have seen an outpouring of support. Recently, our community has stepped up with meals and art kits which truly personify the meaning behind the phrase “The City of Good Neighbors.” Haven House received a special donation of food from Stock The Freezer, an organization started by Nick Pitillo and the…

National Foster Care Month: Letter on Becoming Certified Foster Parents During a Pandemic

May 15, 2020 (May 15, 2020)

In a time when the world has been forced to shift their focus inwards, our family has had the unique opportunity to be a part of something so much bigger than the four walls of our house: becoming foster parents. We’ve known that we wanted to grow our family through adoption since before we were…

Letter Reflects on Foster Care and Adoption from an Essential Worker This National Foster Care Month

May 12, 2020 (May 12, 2020)

Resiliency, passion, and love are the three words that come to mind when reflecting on our current state of affairs in Western New York. I get to observe the hours foster parents spend ensuring the child in their care receives every ounce of love, support, and nurturing a child so rightfully deserves. I am able…

Mental Health Awareness: How to Handle the Waiting through Play and More

May 11, 2020 (May 11, 2020)

It’s now been more than two months since the start of quarantine to stop the spread of the coronavirus. It can be exhausting just waiting. Children in our care are tired of waiting, and we keep finding creative ways for them to pass the time. The children recently performed a puppet show, giving a voice…