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Home My WebLink About110122 FW_ _an easier_ more beautiful life____ ✨ ________________________________ From: April Thompson Sent: Tuesday, November 1, 2022 7:00:04 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) To: Kate Dean Subject: "an easier, more beautiful life..." ✨ ________________________________ ALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them. ________________________________ The majority of families in our programs are unlicensed kinship and receive no extra financial support or resources from the state. 🤯 <https://mcusercontent.com/1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575/images/d85a6a74-f504-cdd6-f398-76bf0bd2d12b.jpg> <https://mcusercontent.com/1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575/images/90e9f31f-f57a-3837-c798-3fe3b537b253.jpg> Hi Kate - Would it surprise you to learn that not all foster homes are created - or supported - equally? That superhuman disguised as a regular lady in our community up there ⬆️ - that’s Darlene. She is an OA volunteer who has been matched with Cathy*. Cathy is a grandma, caring for two grandbabies in South Jefferson County. Five years ago, her first grandchild was removed by child protective services and placed with her. Cathy and her husband were retired. They were on a set income, living modestly, and enjoying their time together after many years of hard work. Four years later, another baby was born and entered foster care. That baby came to live with them as well. When Cathy first reached out to Olympic Angels, she wrote: "I want to take care of these babies and make their lives as easy and beautiful as possible." Even though they were unprepared financially, emotionally, and logistically, these grandparents have been able to keep the girls together and hold their family history and values for them - and are facing this challenge with a smile. Studies <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=f168c3aac0&e=ebf67a8bc7> have shown that the outcomes for kids placed in kinship care are better than those who experience the formal foster care system. Often, they're: * better able to adjust to their new environment * less likely to experience school disruptions * less likely to experience behavioral problems * more stable - they move less than kids in formal foster care settings But guess what - the majority of families in our programs on the Olympic Peninsula are unlicensed kinship caregivers like Grandma Cathy and receive no extra financial support or resources from the state. 🤯 A little mind-blowing, right? Systems evolve though, and just last month the Biden administration <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=cc12b80c31&e=ebf67a8bc7> proposed a budget that could help relatives who care for children in the foster care system, like Cathy. Additionally, Washington State’s Department of Children, Youth, and Families passed legislation <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=8e54dbca46&e=eb f67a8bc7> offering an updated, expedited path for families to become licensed to care for their kin and receive supports through the State. This is great news for folks like Cathy and her grandkids - it will help spread the load on the foster system across more homes, supporting more kids in need. <https://mcusercontent.com/1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575/images/720c92ac-8fe4-9e28-f0c5-e313b69792d5.png> Darlene was at Cathy's house one afternoon over the summer. She had been playing with the baby and Cathy mentioned how old and dirty the carpet on the floor was and didn't want to put the baby down on it. It wouldn’t be long until she was crawling, and Cathy didn’t know what she was going to do. From this conversation, Darlene took it upon herself to reach out to Home Depot in Sequim. She told them about Cathy and the kids and Olympic Angels, and they DONATED brand new flooring. <https://mcusercontent.com/1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575/images/b14b0fb0-f218-ab8f-7000-c89cedd4163b.png> Volunteers and donors MAKE. IT. HAPPEN. Darlene had been a foster parent herself many years ago (l <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=aaf7b3525d&e=ebf67a8bc7> earn more about Darlene's story <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=a0873565b3&e=ebf67a8bc7> ) and understands firsthand the difference support can make for families. “It can make all the difference if a kid has their ‘someone’. It anchors them. And that’s why it’s important that foster parents don’t burn out and the kids get sent out of the county. And that’s what I see Olympic Angels is doing - helping support foster parents so they don’t burn out.” Many children have no one to stand in the gap for them - no relative able to take them in. But these girls have Grandma Cathy, and they all have Darlene and the Love Box volunteers. Volunteers show up in big and little ways to make sure Cathy can give them that *easier, beautiful life* that she dreams of for them. BE A PART OF THE CHANGE Because of you, volunteers like Darlene are activated - moved to literally be in the trenches <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=6205142b36&e=ebf6 7a8bc7> with the families and youth they are matched with. By supporting our programs, you are enabling volunteers to dream big, with a wild heart - when youth and caregivers can't see a path through hectic everyday struggles. You can make it possible to connect children and families experiencing foster care to community support. Whether you're able to donate $20 or $2,000, it all adds up to children entering a different kind of foster care system on the Olympic Peninsula. A well-supported system, full of community members who won't let them fall through the cracks. GIVE THE GIFT OF HOPE <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=85586d27fd&e=ebf67a8bc7> <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=0e1006470b&e=ebf67a8bc7> <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=9d58ecd22f&e=ebf67a8bc7> <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=5cca7c66b0&e=ebf67a8bc7> <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=9f7d0acf44&e=ebf67a8bc7> <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=c1901a030e&e=ebf67a8bc7> This email was sent to KDean@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:KDean@co.jefferson.wa.us> why did I get this? <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/about?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=f0b4358c35&e=ebf67a8bc7&c=73ca66edc9> unsubscribe from this list <https://olympicangels.us4.lis t-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=f0b4358c35&e=ebf67a8bc7&c=73ca66edc9> update subscription preferences <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/profile?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedb e21154575&id=f0b4358c35&e=ebf67a8bc7&c=73ca66edc9> Olympic Angels · PO Box 654 · Port Townsend, WA 98368-0654 · USA <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=73ca66edc9&e=ebf67a8bc7> e21154575&id=5cca7c66b0&e=ebf67a8bc7> <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=9f7d0acf44&e=ebf67a8bc7> <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/click?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=c1901a030e&e=ebf67a8bc7> This email was sent to KDean@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:KDean@co.jefferson.wa.us> why did I get this? <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/about?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=f0b4358c35&e=ebf67a8bc7&c=73ca66edc9> unsubscribe from this list <https://olympicangels.us4.lis t-manage.com/unsubscribe?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=f0b4358c35&e=ebf67a8bc7&c=73ca66edc9> update subscription preferences <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/profile?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedb e21154575&id=f0b4358c35&e=ebf67a8bc7&c=73ca66edc9> Olympic Angels · PO Box 654 · Port Townsend, WA 98368-0654 · USA <https://olympicangels.us4.list-manage.com/track/open.php?u=1ab0b8a5f8b2dedbe21154575&id=73ca66edc9&e=ebf67a8bc7>