“FOCAL, DHR focus on giving to foster kids for Christmas - Everything Alabama Blog” plus 1 more

FOCAL, DHR focus on giving to foster kids for Christmas - Everything Alabama Blog

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 04:29 AM PST

Published: Friday, December 17, 2010, 6:30 AM

HUNTSVILLE, AL -- Foster children sometimes have to leave everything behind when they are taken in as wards of the state - their clothes, their mementos, their toys.

At Christmastime, the loss of those simple comforts can be particularly heartbreaking for a child.

The Madison County Department of Human Resources works hard alongside the Foster Children's Alliance (FOCAL) of Madison to make that transition a little easier.

Gayle Nelson, a DHR employee and member of FOCAL's board, said that there are approximately 540 foster children in Madison County. Those in need of Christmas gifts make wish lists around September, and the organization finds sponsors who are willing to make those wishes come true.

"Any child who is in a licensed foster home, we do our best to support," Nelson said. "We do have foster parents who feel they are affluent enough that they handle their own kids' gifts, though."

Nelson said the children have been blessed to have an adequate number of sponsors this year, though there is a need for "back-up" sponsors.

"As we tell them, children will be coming into our care between now and Christmas," Nelson said. "We often have people who will go out on Christmas Eve and round up gifts for these kids."

FOCAL can always use assistance, regardless of the season.

Throughout the year, the group helps foster parents fund extracurricular activities for the children, such as sports, band and field trips, enrichment programs, graduation expenses and even school supplies.

"FOCAL, with the money they raise through the year, pays for these things," Nelson said. "The goal is that these kids have as good and normal a childhood experience as possible."

That can sometimes be difficult for foster parents to do alone. A child in the 13- to 18-year-old age range receives $468.50 per month from the state for room and board.

"There are some times when at least $390 of that is spent on food," Nelson said. "Foster parents sometimes need help."

To make a donation, anyone can call Nelson at 256-535-4353 or Terry Bell at 256-535-4675.

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Montana Mom’s Tips on Getting Kids Out and Keeping Them Warm - Newwest.net

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 10:48 AM PST

Kids and Outdoors

Common sense helps. So does a box of handwarmers from Costco.

By Melynda Coble Harrison, 12-17-10

It's winter. It's cold. The kids are about to be home for a long stretch and you want them to play outside (seriously, they are driving you crazy in the house). What's an outdoor-loving parent to do? Bundle everyone up and walk out the door.

Here are a few tips to help keep kids warm:

• The most obvious piece of advice is not to stay outside too long. Watch your little ones for signs of getting too cold, such as overly rosy cheeks, blue lips, shivering, crying or complaining (of cold).

• Dress them in layers. Just as with an adult, a non-cotton base layer is best.

Our sons wear:

Long underwear and synthetic socks
Fleece pants and shirt
Snowsuit (I prefer a one-piece snowsuit to snow pants and a jacket for the little guys. That way there is less chance of getting snow inside their clothes.)
Hat that covers their ears, with the snowsuit's hood pulled over the hat
Mittens (better than gloves for staying warm, plus a lot easier to put on). Baby snowsuits often have hand and feet flaps that fold over, so they don't need mittens or footwear.
Boots

• Stock up on hand warmers. We buy a box at Costco at the beginning of the season, and of course, you can buy them online. Put one warmer in each glove and boot (or hand and foot flap). Check to see if it's OK for your brand to touch skin; the foot ones will be outside the socks, but the hand packs do touch their skin. (Foot warmers fit in boots much better, but I've never had good luck with them staying warm.)

• When the boys were under a year old, I carried them in a baby carrier on my chest. Then I'd wear my husband's down jacket over it. Our little one snugged up under the jacket, fell asleep and never even knew he was out in the cold. Of course, you need to be doing something where you are fairly confident you won't fall on the baby. For me, that's cross-country skiing and walking, for you it might be other activities. (Most people can probably manage a walk around the neighborhood with a baby on their chest!)

• As the boys got older they moved into a trailer. Whether skiing, biking or walking, we dress them warmly (see above), then cover them with a sleeping bag or down jacket. If it is windy, or really cold, we shut them in there with the plastic cover. Everyone else feels a pang of jealousy when they see them cozy and toasty.

• Don't forget to keep your kids fed and hydrated, which will help keep their core body temperature up.

• A dry diaper is much warmer than a wet one. Change them right before you head out.

• Bring back-up clothes, especially mittens. As older kids play in the snow, they get wet, then cold. Extend the time outside by switching out wet items for dry ones.

Melynda Harrison is the author of Ski Trails of Southwest Montana.

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Kids Clothing

Friday, December 17, 2010