United Methodist Family Services (UMFS) works throughout the year to find homes for those hard-to-place children. Teenagers and sibling groups have an especially difficult time finding a foster home. Some of these children have suffered trauma, abuse and neglect and are in desparate need of a safe, secure and loving home to help them heal.

The requirements to become a foster parent are simple. You need to be able to provide financially for yourself and for a child in your home. You must be able to pass a background check and homestudy. You need to have a space for a child in your home. And, the most important requirement of all is you must be patient, willing to open your heart and provide the love and support that a child needs.

UMFS provides comprehensive training before a child is placed with a foster parent. This training prepares a foster parent for handling the needs of a foster child. In addition, UMFS provides continued training, support groups and access to a social worker 24/7.

If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a foster parent, visit www.umfs.org or call 855-ASK-UMFS to find out when the next information session is in your area.

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Beginning at midnight May 1, 2012 and running through May 13, fans of UMFS on Facebook will be able to upload a photo of their family and describe why they think their family is special. Beginning on May 14 and ending on May 31, fans will be able to vote for the photo they like the best. Participants can vote once per day, per entry.

“At UMFS, we believe every family is special,” said Larry Powell, Director of Community Relations. “Whether your family is a two parent family, one parent family, made up of several generations, includes foster and adopted children or is a family that you created from friends, every family should be celebrated and this is our way of giving our fans the opportunity to do that.”

The contest coincides with Foster Care Month and is a part of the UMFS celebration of the many foster families who have opened their hearts and their homes to children in need of love and a safe place to call home.

You can find UMFS on Facebook by searching for UMFS.

Volunteers representing corporations, student organizations, faith communities and other local groups will spend the day on the UMFS campus located at 3900 W. Broad Street painting, cleaning and landscaping.  The event runs from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.

“Clean Up For Kids is a great way for volunteers to get involved with UMFS and to touch the lives of the children that currently reside on our campus,” said Angie Williams, volunteer coordinator. “We are so thankful for the many volunteers who donate their time to helping us provide a clean and welcoming  place for those we serve.”

UMFS serves children and families that have suffered abuse, neglect, crisis and trauma across the Commonwealth of Virginia. In 2011, UMFS touched the lives of nearly 10,000 individuals but cannot continue our good work without the valuable partnerships in the community. For more information visit www.umfs.org.

For students on the autism spectrum, deciding what to do after high school can be a daunting task. What options are available? If a student chooses to attend college, are there supports available to help the student be successful? Students and their parents can learn more about all of the options for life after high school at the transition event.

“Students with high functioning autism and Asperger’s Syndrome can have a very bright future with proper planning and the right supports,” said Dr. Erik Laursen, Executive Director of Charterhouse School. “Unlocking Tomorrow is a great way for parents and students to come learn about all of the options available to a student with autism after high school. And, David Finch’s story underlines that you can have Asperger’s Syndrome and lead a very successful life.”

Unlocking Tomorrow: Successful Transition for Students with Autism is hosted by Charterhouse School, an affiliate of UMFS, together with Commonwealth Autism Service, JSRCC and GRASP. To register for the event, visit http://autismfair.eventbrite.com

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Albert Trieschman is considered by the residential care community to be a man who set the standard and created a model for residential care that colleagues around the country continue to refer to long after his passing in 1973. The Albert E. Trieschman Award is presented by the American Association for Children’s Residential Centers (AACRC) each year to a person whose dedication and commitment encompass the spirit of the man for whom the award was named. It is given to someone who both commemorates and carries on his dedication to the development and enhancement of the role of the hands-on child care worker in the residential treatment of children.

Foushee has been carrying out the mission of UMFS for 13 years. He truly believes in “Touching Lives, Creating Futures.” One of Foushee’s most admirable qualities is that he has remained dedicated and energized over the years despite not always seeing the long-term fruits of his labor. 

“This job has high turnover.  Some people might see this as a babysitting job, but it is not,” said Foushee. “We can make a real difference, but we will possibly never see the result with our own eyes.  I heard from a young man recently who I had helped through the program here at UMFS years back.  He is now married, has a kid and a job.  That young man gave me a very hard time when he lived here.  Now he was calling me to give me and update and to thank me for the impact I made on his life.  That was pretty powerful and was a closing of a chapter.”

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About the AACRC
The American Association of Children's Residential Centers believes that children and adolescents, and their families, are entitled to treatment which offers the maximum opportunity for transformation. The AACRC brings professionals together to advance the frontiers of knowledge pertaining to the spectrum of therapeutic living environments for children and adolescents with behavioral health disorders. For more information on becoming a member or partner, visit us online http://www.aarcrc.org

BioRide is a by product of the Anderson brothers spending their teenage years working in restaurants and wanting to create something using the waste cooking grease. While Jeff was away at college, Joey began making biodiesel with the grease and the idea for a transportation service that was sustainable and cost efficent was born. At the ripe old age of 20 and 22, Joey and Jeff launched their first business called BioTaxi and a year later came BioRide. 

Initially, driver meetings were held in the brother’s family room and drivers deposited the night’s take in a drawer in the kitchen. Now, the business has an official building and eight vehicles with 20 employees. It has quickly become a premium service in the Richmond area with partners like the Jefferson Hotel, Center Stage and Grace Manor Inn.

In September, United Methodist Family Services (UMFS) Central Region Community-Based Services Director Nancy Toscano met Jeff and Joey at a conference in town and immediately was drawn to their enthusiasm. Nancy saw an opportunity for area foster children to get involved with BioRide through an internship program.

“When we were asked to help foster kids…without hesitation I answered yes,” said Jeff Anderson. “My dream is helping kids and people achieve their dreams.”

Three foster teens from UMFS began interning at BioRide. Jeff says that the kids have come a long way since the program began October.

“We like to empower the teens as much as possible and make them as much a part of the decision making process as possible,” said Jeff. “Every week they have to come up with three things that they learned, three suggestions to improve our service and three questions.”

The foster teens are learning a great deal from the experience. Not only are they learning hands on skills, according to Jeff, they are learning time management, cost evaluations/management and work ethic. Perhaps most importantly they are learning that they can pursue their dreams no matter how big or small.

Jeff’s philosophy for the interns is simple. Give them a job to do and let them do it. And it works.

“As they like to say at BioRide, they feel they are more than just a transportation service, more of a movement,” said Toscano. “Since our three foster care teens started in October, the BioRide squad has tried to help each teen feel a sense of purpose and belonging with this movement. Our kids underwent an interview process to be accepted for the 8 week apprenticeship.  They follow the lead of their supervisor, submit weekly timesheets, and hopefully gain confidence and a growing sense of success with each hour they spend at BioRide.”  

Not only are Jeff and Joey saving the planet but they are providing some valuable lessons and skills to some teens who could really use it.

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