Foster Care: Mark Your Calendars for LSG's Annual Holiday Party

Signs of winter’s approach are all around, which can only mean one thing – it’s that time of year again! On December 10, 2011, LSG’S FACES and Foster Care departments are hosting an annual Holiday Party for all clients and families, hosted at The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer inAtlanta. The party is a time to celebrate a wonderful year with the caregivers and participants of Community and Placement Services here at LSG. There will be all sorts of fun activities at the holiday party like face painting, a table for making holiday cards, and door prizes. There’s a rumor that Santa may make an appearance… LSG is continuing its tradition of participating in the Angel Tree program in which churches or individuals gift children and families items according to the family’s requests for the holidays. We look forward to seeing the smiles on all of our family’s faces and can’t wait to see everyone and have a wonderful time.

Foster Care appreciates each donated gift, and welcomes all donations of food, baked goods, monetary gifts, door prizes and toys for the purpose of the party. If you wish to contribute call Taylor Brand at 404-591-7035 or send an email to tbrand@lsga.org.

Foster Care: Donations Needed Today for Sick Child

Next week, Lutheran Services of Georgia Foster Care will be bringing in a group of three siblings. The oldest child is medically fragile and is only 3 years old, meaning his foster mother will have to bring him to the doctor on a weekly basis.  To help the foster mother provide the highest quality of care for this child, we are asking for donations of the following items:

• Double stroller
• Crib
• Diapers and wipes

To donate any of these items please contact Taylor Brand at tbrand@lsga.org or 404-591-7035. Your contributions will make a difference in this child’s life. Thank you for your help and support!

Join Us for LSG's Volunteer Appreciation Night!

Lutheran Services of Georgia invites you to join us for a special Volunteer Appreciation Night on Tuesday, November 1, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. (with exhibit open prior to the event from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for those coming straight from work).  The event will feature free admission to the national exhibit, "Torn From Home: My Life As a Refugee," on tour in Atlanta at the Breman Jewish Heritage and Holocaust Museum, which provides an interactive refugee camp experience for people of all ages. Through this inspiring, hands-on journey, visitors of all ages can explore what it means to be a refugee, and better understand their hardships and hope for a brighter future.

Today, more than 30 million people around the world have been displaced due to war and violence, making nearly 10 million children refugees. Through this inspiring, hands-on journey, visitors of all ages can explore what it means to be a refugee, and better understand their hardships and hope for a brighter future. With seven interactive areas, this awe-inspiring exhibit encourages visitors to consider how it feels to flee home, leave everything behind, and face the future with uncertainty and hope.

Volunteer Appreciation Night will also include light refreshments and a program of recognition for LSG volunteers. Please let us know if you plan to join us by registering online by October 26. For more information on the event contact Melanie Johnson at 678-686-9619 or mjohnson@lsga.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

FIS: Open Letter from a Former Client

Family Intervention Services recently received a letter of gratitude from a former client that warmed our hearts and reminded us all why we continue in this difficult but incredibly rewarding work. FIS is pleased that our services were so helpful for this family and hope that we can continue to have a similar effect on each family we provide services to in the future. Thank you, Mr. Spears. Mrs. Williams,

I am so thankful that we got to meet you and the wonderful people at Lutheran Services of Georgia. I must say that after seeing many counselors through our very troubling divorce, I was less than impressed and did not expect very much to come out of seeing anyone else. This was due to the fact that no one was willing to voice their opinions or truly get involved. I am so happy that you and your staff took the time and effort to get to know us and our situation and actually get involved in an effort to do what was best for our children. Thank you so much from my children and my self for all the time and effort that you put into our case. If there is anything that I can do to help you guys out in the future in the form of donating time or services please let me know.

 Sincerely,

 Chris Spears

FACES: Golf Tournament Brings LSG Supporters Together

FACES State Manager Ryan Whitmire reflects on those he met and made memories with at the October 17th Atlanta Golf Classic 

Yesterday, I had the pleasure to play in the LSG Atlanta Golf Classic at Heritage Links Golf Course in Tucker, GA.  My supervisor and Program ExecutiveGary Johnstone and I were paired with two exceptional supporters of LSG.  It was a pleasure to meet and play golf with Bill Arndt and Jean Mori.  Bill is a former University of Texas football player and graduate.  He is member of Rivercliff Lutheran Church in Roswell, and retired from Lockheed-Martin.  Jean is a Georgia Tech graduate – as a Dawg fan, I will not hold that against him.  He also earned his MBA from Emory University.  He and his wife founded Mori Luggage and Gifts and were recently honored as LSG’s Heroes for Hope, Healing and Strength.

I personally had the most fun playing golf in a long time.  Not only because we shot 12 under par and were “draining” putts from all over the green, but because the conversations and laughs we had.  Though we did not win, it was a beautiful day on the course and we had a great time.   Through the support of great people like Jean and Bill, LSG is able to provide services to people in need all over the State of Georgia.  Without the continued support of great people, LSG could not bring hope and healing through the services we provide.

Thank you to Jean, Bill and everyone that came out to support LSG.

Ryan Whitmire State FACES Manager

Family Intervention Services: Deborah Battle Celebrates 10 Years with LSG

LSG congratulates FIS' Deborah Battle on 10 years with the agency, and looks forward to many more! When Deborah Battle obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology, she was unsure of the direction she would go in so she stayed at her alma mater working in the Financial Aid Office immediately after college. Unbeknownst to Deborah, her best friend submitted her resume to NYC’s Child Welfare Administration where she worked for five short months. Unhappy with the idea of removing children from their homes, Deborah decided to go work for Little Flower Children’s Services where she quickly worked her way up to a supervising position. During her eight years at Little Flower Children’s Services, Deborah felt like she was doing more of helping families rather than disrupting them. This fulfillment made it hard for Deborah to depart when her family decided to move to Georgia.

While working for Department of Family and Children Services in the Foster Care division, Deborah met Kathy Sullivan who was the Lutheran Services of Georgia (LSG) Foster Care Supervisor at the time. Sullivan took note of Deborah’s superior case management skills and hired her on October 1, 2001. Foster Care has grown tremendously since Deborah started in 2001. The staff was much smaller, there were only three case managers and a supervisor and there were no satellite offices. In the ten years that Deborah has been with LSG she has served as a case manager, lead case manager, and recruiter, and has done agency intake as well as home study writing and more recently a trainer. Wearing many hats has been something that Deborah has come to appreciate, citing it as a way for her to learn so much and a way to never get bored here at LSG.

When asked what her plans with LSG were for the next decade, she replied “I’d like to continue to do training and working with FIS. I enjoy what I do, but eventually I’d like to be out of the ‘field’ altogether. I’m getting to old for the all of the driving.” She also believes that LSG is a Blessed agency and believes in the mission. She also added, “I am comfortable here; I love the people that I work with too. Sometimes I wonder if I am missing out on something when others leave, but then when I get to the see a child happy, healthy and progressing after they have been with and LSG home, the reward is immeasurable”.

Deborah has been an exceptional asset to Lutheran Services of Georgia and we congratulate her on 10 years of service with the agency and wish her many more pleasant years to come.

Refugee Services: Remembering Kay Trendell - Endings and Beginnings

Refugee Services volunteer coordinator Melanie Johnson says goodbye to friend and mentor Kay Trendell, and reflects on her own journey with LSG

With Kay Trendell’s recent retirement from LSG after her 30 year tenure with Refugee Services, I’ve been thinking a lot about my beginnings with the agency (I’ve had two of them so far) and Kay’s significant role in both!  My first “beginning” more than 20 years ago when I was hired as the Special Needs Employment Counselor for refugees receiving cash assistance from the state of Georgia, the ones who had the most barriers to employment.

Fresh out of seminary, with a little urban ministry experience and a lot of passion for working cross-culturally but absolutely no concrete skills in finding jobs for anyone but myself, I happened to get lucky and got to share an office with Kay!  She taught me not only everything I needed to know about finding jobs for refugees, but more importantly she helped me grasp the bigger picture – that it wasn’t just about the jobs, but about the refugees and the new life they were beginning in a new country.  It wasn’t about the refugees' plight, but their promise, their incredible resilience, and their willingness to work sometimes three jobs at once to save and build a future for their children.

After several years, I went on to work in other avenues of ministry in both congregations and in the community, but through Kay’s mentorship, refugees had found a place in my heart to stay.  If there was any opportunity to engage with refugees in whatever work I was doing, I always sought that out. I found that I missed working with refugees more and more as the years passed, thus my second “beginning” with LSG when, in May 2010, Kay hired me to be the volunteer coordinator for Refugee Services.  It’s a “dream job’ for me – being back with Lutheran Services of Georgia (I’m actually a Lutheran now and grateful to serve in a Lutheran agency), working in a multicultural setting again, and every day engaging people and congregations in service to one of the world’s most vulnerable, yet most resilient populations – refugees.  But by far, one of the best things about my second “beginning” with LSG has been, for the past year, getting to work with Kay again.

Kay, I’ll miss seeing you everyday - but your lasting presence will be felt at LSG and in Refugee Services: in the talented and dedicated staff you put together, in the wonderful array of programs and services for refugees you developed, and undergirding it all, in the joy we experience (most of the time!) in the work we do.  Enjoy your new beginning!

By Melanie Johnson, Refugee Services Volunteer Coordinator

Adoption: The Difficulties of Finding Homes for Older Children

One of our major challenges in the adoption program is finding a permanent family for older children.  The average age of a child waiting for a permanent family in theU.S.foster care system is approximately 8 years old.   Parenting older children presents many challenges.   Loss is a significant experience and often is repeated.   These experiences may leave them with unresolved emotional issues.    Often these children experience multiple models of parenting and expectations. Yet, according to our successful adoptive parents, adopting an older child can be a great joy and gives a child a since of security, love and belonging.   Parents adopting older children need community and familial support, and an understanding of themselves and their own issues.

Our agency welcomes families who are willing to open their hearts and homes to older children to meet this great need.  To support this effort, the federal government offers States incentives to States to provide permanent adoptive families to children in foster care.   The State and Federal Government Office offer assistance, medical insurance and supportive services to families adopting older children.

www.adoptionissues.org/adopting_older_children.html

Foster Care: LSG Bids Farewell to 10-Year Employee

Foster Care case manager Kim Welsh begins new career as a nurse, but won't forget her coworkers or clients A bittersweet farewell is in order as Lutheran Services of Georgia’s Specialized Foster Care Program says goodbye to Kimberley Welsh, who has served as a case worker with LSG for almost 10 years. Kim has been involved in social services for more than 15 years, working with the homeless, medically fragile and teenage mothers, to name a few. Starting in New York City, Kim came to Lutheran Services in March of 2002 after working for the Department of Family and Children Services

Kim attributes her dedication to social work to the children she has encountered over the years. One story in particular that will forever remain in her memory is the story of a brother and sister. Since leaving foster care, the sister has had the opportunity to study abroad and will be finishing college soon, while her brother, who is mentally challenged, is doing well in a home for adult care.

“You hardly get to see the results of the work you put in so it was nice to find out they are one of those success stories you dream about as a young social worker,” Kim says.

It was not an easy thing for Kim to learn, but her tenure here at LSG has taught her that as much as you want to help someone, there is only so much you can do to impact the lives of others.

As a person who prides herself on being passionate about seeing results with her clients, Kim plans to remain faithful to serving others – except now it will be done in a different form. As she changes careers to become a Registered Nurse atPiedmontHospital, Kim plans to keep a close relationship with LSG and share her medical expertise. Kim will miss the close-knit family that exists at LSG and the fun times she has had, but will miss her clients and foster parents most of all.

Kim hopes to leave behind a legacy of her motivation and wishes everyone at LSG many more great years of success. On behalf of Specialized Foster Care, we congratulate Kim on her new journey.

Farewell, Kimberley Welsh!

Free Vaccination Program Aims to Keep Refugee/Immigrant Populations Healthy

The Northlake Rotary Club's 7th Annual Immigrant Influenza Vaccination Project will provide free influenza vaccination's on October 8

The Northlake Rotary Club will host its 7th Annual Immigrant Influenza Vaccination Project in partnership with DeKalb Medical on Saturday, October 8, 2011 from 10:00 until 2:00 PM.  Targeted for persons aged 50 years and older, the program aims to increase vaccination rates in refugee/immigrant populations in the Clarkston community. We vaccinated 507 Clarkston Refugees last year and we hope to top that number this year.

Northlake Rotarians will plan, organize, and coordinate the free vaccination clinic in cooperation with the DeKalb Medical “Wellness on Wheels” program.  "Wellness on Wheels" is a mobile unit that moves from site to site providing health screening and specific medical services.  Professional personnel from DeKalb Medical will administer the vaccine.

The documents that must me signed prior to administering the flu shots will be collected in the Chapel, and the "Wellness on Wheels" RV will be located in the parking lot behind the Chapel at the Clarkston International Bible Church.

For questions you may contact McClellon Cox,  Project Chairperson, at 404-501-5149, Art Rosser Northlake's Public Relations Chairman at 770-605-8965 or Nat Nwizu Northlake Rotary Club President at 404-579-1594 .

Clarkston International Bible Church 3895 Church Street Clarkston, GA 30021

From "Doughnut Dollie" to Refugee Advocate - LSG Says Goodbye to 30-Year Staff Member, Kay Trendell

Today marks the beginning of a new journey for Refugee Services Director Kay Trendell, who will be retiring from Lutheran Services of Georgia after 30 years of service. To honor her immeasurable contributions to the agency, we look back on the road that led Kay to LSG – a road that will continue to lead her to new experiences and adventures in the years to come. In her senior year at the University of Arkansas, Kay Trendell made a decision that would send her on path of service that continues to today. She heard about a Red Cross called Supplemental Recreational Activities Overseas, and in 1967, she began her first tour of duty inVietnam.  While working as a “Doughnut Dollie,” Kay saw first hand in the streets of Saigon the plight of refugees as the Vietnamese who had fled to the city for safety tried to scratch out a living on the sidewalks of the city.

After two tours of duty in Vietnam, Kay decided to take a break and travel to Europe. She’d had enough of aircraft, so she booked a ticket on a freighter, which is where she met a young merchant seaman named Harry Trendell.  Seven months later they were married and came to Atlanta, where Kay accepted a position with the YWCA.

But Kay’s experience in Vietnam continued to call her, and in 1980 she volunteered to help a local agency resettle refugees.  Then she heard about a new agency that was looking for staff for its refugee resettlement program, and in 1982, Kay joined Lutheran Ministries of Georgia.  For the next 16 years, Kay worked in refugee employment, and in 1998 was named Director of Refugee Services, the position she holds today with Lutheran Services of Georgia.

Working with refugees brought Kay’s life full circle, from first encountering those displaced by the Vietnam War in their home country, to then helping them to rebuild their lives here in Atlanta.  She has heard many stories of incredible suffering, and marveled at the strength of the human spirit that helps them conquer it and move ahead.  She has seen the sacrifices parents made to come here for the sake of their children, and then rejoiced as the children flourished. She has experienced moments of grace with refugees who barely had any food in the house, but would never let a guest go without a bite to eat.

Kay is bidding LSG farewell today, but her legacy will continue on through the more than 16,000 refugees whose lives were changed because of her decision to go to Vietnam to serve her country.  Kay and Harry, we wish you the best in retirement!

Disaster Relief: Long-Term Recovery from April Storms Still Underway

In recognition of September as National Preparedness Month, Lutheran Services of Georgia reflects on the communities affected by April’s severe storm outbreak and the work we perform to serve families and communities affected by disasters. With an active history of assisting in long-term disaster recovery, LSG works with congregations and Lutheran Disaster Response to serve the families and communities affected by disasters to reconstruct their lives and communities.

As disasters occur, federal, state, local governments, and private organizations assist communities with immediate disaster relief and with the restoration of basic services. Unfortunately, survivors, victims, and donors erroneously believe that federal and state grants provide enough financial assistance to help families and communities return to normalcy after a disaster.

This is why LSG’s long-term recovery outlook is very important to the families and the communities that we serve. Most recently, our commitment to the long-term recovery is evident two years after the 2009 floods in theSoutheastern United States. Thanks to a successful joint venture with Lutheran Disaster Response and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, LSG continues to assist families and communities who are still coping with the reconstruction and repairs of their homes and communities. Contributions to the flood relief efforts reach above $40,000 and facilitated the successful delivery of financial assistance and volunteer coordination. As we enter the long-term recovery phase of April’s severe storm outbreak, LSG will continue to work in partnership with Lutheran Disaster Response, Long Term Recovery groups, Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (GVOAD), congregations, and families to coordinate recover efforts.

With your financial and volunteer support, Lutheran Services will be active in the long term recovery of the communities affected by April’s severe storm outbreak and any other future incidents. We encourage you to support our efforts as we serve our mission.

For more information on how you can assist our efforts, contact disasterassistance@lsga.org or call 404.875.0201.

To learn how to your congregation can be better prepared for disasters please download Preparing for Disaster: A Guide for Lutheran Congregations at http://www.ldr.org/prepare/PrepDisaster.pdf

FACES: Reflections on the LSG Difference

FACES State Program Director Ryan Whitmire examines the motivations for his work and why Lutheran Services of Georgia stands out from the crowd Since the Facilitating, Advocacy, Care, Education, & Shelter (FACES) program for placing adults with developmental disabilities in loving homes first started, it has been our mission to create meaningful family relationships for the people we serve.  This philosophy is what sets LSG apart from many organizations that provide supports to people with developmental disabilities.

When I first started working for LSG in December 2006, it was clear that LSG was different.  Our meetings were focused on the individuals we serve and the matching process to find the perfect family fit family for referrals.  It was a pleasant transition from looking at potential placements based on an open bed and projected growth goals.

Over the last 10 years, FACES has successfully created real families and homes for the individuals we serve.  Our Host Home providers (caregivers) are special people.  They truly care about the individual and strive to assist the people we serve to reach their personal goals and desires.

Due to Medicaid funding issues, there are thousands of people in need of services, but have no funding.  One way you can help is to get involved with the “unlock the waiting lists” campaign.  With your help, people in need will get the funding and supports they need to start being apart of a new family.

Ryan Whitmire State Program Manager of FACES

Adoption: Lutheran Teachings Guide Us to Serve

We in the LSG adoption program recognize the journey of adoption for both the family and the children who are adopted. We also recognize it is a privilege to find a permanent home for a waiting child. Adoption is one of the many missions of this agency serving and engaging the community by bringing hope, healing and strength to people in need. This past year, we successfully transitioned all the families and the children from two other agencies to our adoption program who unfortunately had to close their doors due to budget cuts and the economy. In some cases, we accomplished this awesome task with no financial support with this transition. We are proud to say over this past year, we found “forever families” for 35 children in foster care which included seven sibling groups of 2, one sibling group of 3 and one sibling group of 4 children. We found a “forever family” for 8 infants in our cooperative open infant domestic adoption program and has facilitated ongoing connections between the adoptive families and the birth families. In spite of these accomplishments, we know that the work continues on because the need is so great for the hope, healing and strength that we at LSG provide.

Refugee Services: From Drought and Danger to Dadaab

Each year, LSG helps hundreds of refugee families resettle in the United States after spending months or years being displaced in refugee camps

Since January, more than 120,000 Somali refugees have arrived in the already overcrowded camps in Dadaab, Kenya – the largest refugee camp in the world.  Driven there by the prolonged drought in the Horn of Africa which led to a failed harvest and dying animals, coupled with the growing insecurity inside Somalia, many of the refugees have walked for up to 15 days or more to reach Dadaab.

The Lutheran World Federation, which manages the refugee camps in Dadaab, has been hard at work building extensions to the camps to provide a more secure environment for those fleeing Somalia.  For more information on the work of the LWF in Dadaab, see here.

Mohamed Ahmed, Lutheran Services of Georgia Resettlement Case Manager and a former refugee from Somalia, says that it is almost unimaginable to him that even when so many around the world are eager and ready to provide food, water and shelter to those suffering from the drought in his homeland of Somalia, extremist groups refuse to let the help get to the people who need it the most.

To see the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees video, "Kenya: Dadaab Keeps Growing," click here.

For more information on Lutheran Services of Georgia's refugee services, click here.

Refugee Services: Marip Family Moves Forward in New Life

We first shared the story of the Marip family in the May, 2011, edition of Crossing Oceans, highlighting the story of this Burmese family's arrival in Atlanta and their introduction to the Family Builders Sunday School Class of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, who furnished the family's apartment and welcomed them to a new life in Georgia. Since their arrival, the family has been busy! A strong friendship has formed between the Family Builders class members and the family through time spent together. Debby Eidson from the class says, "I have taken the family to Walmart and Kroger but by far their favorite store is the Buford Highway Farmers Market. Their eyes just light up when they recognize produce, seafood and products! On every trip to a store, the family is gracious and appreciative... they share their candy with me and often treat me to a glass of soda when we return to their apartment after shopping."

Sporting new backpacks, lots of school supplies and a computer provided by the class, the Marip daughters, Sut Nu Pan and Bawk Bawk Pan started middle and high school this fall. Dad, Aung Aung, and mom, Ah Ja, recently began working at a bakery in Norcross and they report they are very happy with their new jobs.

The Marips are a family on the move!

'Heroes of Hope' a Heroic Success

Thanks to all those who helped make Lutheran Services of Georgia's annual Heroes of Hope, Healing and Strength gala on Thursday night one for the record books. More than 130 guests came out to to the 755 Club at Turner Field to help celebrate our honorees: Kay Trendell, Jean and Betty Mori, and the Georgia Association of Homes and Services for Children.

With WSB-TV news anchor John Bachman serving as master of ceremonies, the night included a silent auction, tours of Turner Field, heartwarming speeches from the honorees, and videos celebrating their work and achievements. Especially poignant was the speech from honoree Kay Trendell, who, after nearly 30 years of service to LSG's Refugee Services department, will be retiring in September. Thanks largely to Kay's work and dedication, Refugee Services is celebrating 30 years of success this year, which was also honored at Heroes of Hope. With your continued support, there's no doubt that many more years of success are in LSG's future.

To see more pictures of the event, click here.

Adoption: A Baby's Long Journey Home

A baby girl, born too soon, too tiny, and with so many medical complications, has shown us all what it means to be a true fighter. Lutheran Services of Georgia is known by local hospitals as a go-to agency to find families for domestic infants with medical issues, so it was no surprise when the LSG adoption case manager received a call about Annie.

At the time, her prognosis was very guarded, but soon the good days outnumbered the bad. And a family had come forward – mom, an NICU nurse, and dad, a teacher. Even though they live out of state, they visited Annie as often as possible through the many months she was in the hospital. Annie’s birth mother knew that her child would be in good hands when she selected them to adopt Annie.

Finally, in early August, Annie was released and today is a plump, happy little baby. There’s still a long road ahead for Annie and her new family, but we all know that there’s a lot of fight in that little seven-pound baby. One baby, one birth family, one adoptive family – one agency fulfilling its mission to bring people home.

For more information on Lutheran Services of Georgia's adoption services, click here.

Refugee Services: One Church, Two Families

One Atlanta congregation, Trinity Presbyterian Church, and two refugee families, the Gurung family from Bhutan and the Reh family from Burma, are becoming fast friends.  "Trinity Pres" co-sponsored the two families with LSG in the spring, meeting them at the airport and providing furnished apartments for each family. "Trinity Pres" members continue to visit the families on a regular basis, welcoming them with warm friendship. The families, who live next door to each other, are settling well into their new lives in Clarkston.  While the adults focus on learning and improving their English and working with LSG to find jobs, the children are enjoying summer fun, like summer day camp and outings to Stone Mountain and Centennial Olympic Park. For more information on Lutheran Services of Georgia's refugee services, click here.