May is National Foster Care Month

The month of May has great significance to us at The Settlement Home, it's National Foster Care Month. During May, we recognize the efforts of foster parents, families, volunteers, staff members and other professionals who are committed to helping children in foster care find loving homes.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services there are more than 400,000 children and youth in foster care.

So what can you to promote awareness during May? The website FosterCareMonth.org provides a variety of ways you can help.

They recommend:
- Wear a blue ribbon during May to promote awareness for National Foster Care Month.
- Make a financial contribution to support the personal enrichment or education of a young person in foster care.
- Contribute to an organization working to improve public policy and heighten public awareness.
- Volunteering with a local foster care program to provide academic enrichment opportunities for young people in your community.
- Raise awareness through presentations to your faith-based congregation, civic group, PTA or other neighborhood associations. Encourage your community to come together to identify families and resources that help young people in foster care thrive.
- Tutor a child in foster care.
- Help youth in foster care gain employment skills or find a job by contacting the Independent Living Program in your area.

These are just a few ways you can help change lives. For more suggestions, click here.

For more ideas, contact us at www.settlementhome.org or 512-836-2150.  Together, we can make a difference in the lives of children in foster care!

Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent

Interested in fostering or adopting a child or sibling group? Join us for a foster and adoption orientation.

We offer bi-monthly orientations that provide individuals and couples with information on fostering and adopting a child. Learn about the process, meet our knowledgeable staff and find out about The Settlement Home at these no obligation, free orientations.

- Tues., April 24 - 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Williamson Campus, 1607 Colony Creek Dr.
- Tues., May 15 - 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Williamson Campus, 1607 Colony Creek Dr.
- Tues., May 22 - 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Williamson Campus, 1607 Colony Creek Dr.

Open your heart and home to a child in need. Our foster and adoption program places both boys and girls of all ages, however there is a tremendous need for foster and adoptive parents for teenagers and sibling groups.

Please RSVP to Megan at maveryzellner@settlementhome.org or call (512)832-1252.

For more information, click here.
  

• Parents who foster infants and toddlers have the opportunity to create the building blocks of their future life skills—learning that an adult will meet their needs, learning boundaries, learning language and empathy because their foster parents are pouring attention and words into their lives.


• Parents who foster school-age children are their kids' cheerleaders and coaches—they teach their kids the basic social skills they may have missed, like how to make friends, apologize, talk to adults, or give and receive gifts.


• Parents who foster teenagers have the opportunity to fight against some of the worst statistics in our country: 60% of kids in foster-care do not get a high school diploma…over 30% of kids who "age out" of foster-care spend time homeless, many more are quickly victims of crime or eventually end up in the justice system themselves. Parents of teenagers have the opportunity to leverage a teens' natural desire for independence and accomplishment into helping them prepare for an adulthood that comes more quickly for children in foster-care than anyone else in our society.

• Foster parents at the Settlement Home prepare for these, and other challenges, through a verification process that can take anywhere from two to twelve months, depending on the family's pace and readiness. Families complete 24 hours of pre-service classes, fill-out application materials, have their home inspected by fire and health inspectors, and complete a home-study interview with the developer before they ever sign the contract with our agency to open their homes to children. The pre-service training prepares parents for the unique challenges that a child's history of trauma create for the child, and prepares them for the ins and outs of the foster parenting experience.


• Foster parents have the opportunity to create a lasting impact on the children who stay in their home—whether the children return to their families, move quickly on to adoption, or require long-term foster-care while they wait for adoption—the teaching and loving that foster parents give their children are lasting gifts.
  

Our foster parents are especially chosen for their ability to provide loving, happy homes for children. Potential foster parents come from diverse backgrounds, and may be single or married.

Donation Round Up

We had a successful Saturday on April 14, as we collected items for our Garage Sale!

The busy day started with our second annual donation drive in Lakeway, hosted by the Lakeway Women in Network.  Lakeway residents stopped by to donate their new and gently used items for our Garage Sale.  Thank you to the Lakeway Papa Murphy's and to all the LWIN ladies who helped with the drive.

Then Club ladies headed south to Barton Creek to collect items from the neighborhood-wide Garage Sale. The donations were plentiful, which allowed us to fill our UHaul truck.

Thank you to all who helped in this busy and fruitful day!

Photo courtesy: Stacey Harrell

Staying on Par

I know there are a lot of golfers out there. Well, here's your chance to put your clubs to good use - the Juan in a Million restaurant's Hole in Juan Golf Tournament, benefiting The Settlement Home.

Get a team together and come play! Saturday, May 26 at Onion Creek Country Club. Call Juan at 512-426-5826 or Alberto at 512-441-8257 for more information.  Compete for prizes and bragging rights!

Click here for tournament information!

In addition to being a fun event, what is truly gained here is huge.  Events like this raise money so that we can provide life changing services.  Therapeutic care.  Medical care.  Education.  And so much more.

Events like this raise awareness about the population of abused and neglected children, and the continued need for resources to help them.  We want to spread the word about our mission and educate people to help end the cycle of abuse and neglect.

We hope to see you out at Onion Creek Country Club on May 26.