|
Holiday Nominations Due Sept 8th!
GALs, we know school has only just begun, but we are already planning for the holiday season-
if you have not had an opportunity to nominate your child(ren) in the GAL Program for holiday assistance please do so today!!
Holidays can be a stressful time of year for children who have been removed from their families. Relative and non-relative caregivers often take children into their homes through the goodness of their heart but may be ill-prepared for the additional costs of a larger household during the holiday season. The Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Tampa Bay provides assistance during the holiday season in two ways: gift cards for turkeys and hams at Thanksgiving and gifts or other needed items for the neediest families in December.
Please complete the following form to nominate your family for assistance by Friday, September 8th
here.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- If your case includes children in multiple placements, please complete the nomination form for each placement. (i.e. The Johnson family has 4 children. 2 children are placed with the maternal aunt and 2 are placed in a group home. This case would require 2 nomination forms-one for the aunt and one for the group home.)
- Only children living in Pinellas or Pasco are eligible
- Please do not nominate children who's cases are about to close, transfer, etc.
Only the person VISITING the child should submit the child. This helps eliminate duplications and gets the gift cards and presents to the correct office location.
GALs can also help make the holidays bright by dropping off new toys at any office!
|
 |
ESE College, Career & Life Fair
Tuesday, September 19, 6-7:30PM
Pinellas Park High School
6305 118th Ave N, Pinellas Park
Pinellas GALS: If you represent a
student with an IEP--this opportunity
is for you! The ESE College, Career &
Life Fair is especially important for
11th and 12th graders. The event will
provide information about financial
aid, career training, employment,
college, military opportunities,
supported living and additional resources.
Families will have the opportunity to talk with representatives from the district and various educational institutions and organizations. Click
here for more information.
Superhero 5K, Walk & Stroller Roll
Saturday, September 23rd 8:30AM
Safety Harbor Waterfront
Every child needs a hero, but abused children need SuperHeroes. Make a difference in the life of an abused or  neglected child today by participating in the 3rd Annual SuperHero 5K, Walk & Stroller Roll. This event will raise community awareness of the 3,000 children in Pinellas and Pasco Counties who have been removed from their homes by no fault of their own. GAL assigned children are free using code GALKID by 9/4 and GALs get $5 off registration using code GAL by 9/4.
Register to run or walk here!
The Superhero 5k requires many dedicated volunteers! If you are interested in helping out, there are many opportunities both on the day of the Superhero 5k and before! If you are interested in learning more, check out our Superhero 5k volunteer opportunities
here.
Mad Hatter's Tea Party
Saturday, Sept 23, 2017, 2-5 PM
St. Petersburg Coliseum
535 4th Ave N., St. Pete
Angels Against Abuse hosts it's annual Mad Hatter's Tea Party to provide an afternoon of fun activities.
Please only register if you are sure you can attend. This event is free and caregivers or GALs can attend with the child. Please register all attendees. This is a first come first served event and registration is required by Sept 1st.
Register
Here
.
9th Annual Child Advocacy Expo
Friday, October 6, 2017, 9AM - 12PM
St. Petersburg College-Seminole Campus
9200 113th St, Seminole
Join Angels Against Abuse for their 9th Annual Child Advocacy Expo to network with others interested in child welfare and learn of the many resources within our community. This is a free event.
Find more information
here.
Regional Volunteer Conference
Friday, October 6, 2017, 8AM - 5PM
Embassy Suites Tampa
3705 Spectrum Blvd Tampa
The FL GAL Foundation is hosting a regional conference in Tampa on October 6th from 9am-4:15pm. Join fellow volunteers for networking, best-practice sharing and training from child-welfare professionals from across the state. Registration is $25 and includes: lunch and 6 hours of in-service training. Full agenda can be found here
here.
Register today
here
. GALS that need financial assistance to attend can contact amyf@galf6.org.
I AM FOR THE CHILD: TASTE OF PASCO
Friday, October 20, 2017, 6- 8:30PM
Little Corona's Cigar Lounge
6324 Grand Blvd, New Port Richey
Come join us for craft beer, delicious wine and tasty bites from more than 15 different restaurants at our 2nd Annual I AM FOR THE CHILD: TASTE OF PASCO event.
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased
here.
Sponsorship Opportunities are still available starting at $100, please contact Tawnee Walling at
iamforthechild@galf6.org to inquire.
|
|
2-1-1 Connect
24 hours a day/7 days a week
2-1-1 provides one memorable number that connects individuals, families and employees to information about critical health and human services available in their community for every day needs and in times of crisis. 2-1-1 provides a one-stop service for this vital information and enables people to get assistance before they give up by providing someone to talk to and someone to listen. 2-1-1 provides a central source for community, health and disaster information and referral line.
More information for Pasco County here.
More information for Pinellas County here.
Birthday Bags
NOW Available at the ICOT Office
14102 58th St. Clearwater, FL
Through generous donations from GFWC St. Petersburg Junior Club we have Birthday Bags complete with birthday party fixin's -- even cake mix! We also have
Angels Against Abuse Bags-- small backpacks with stuffed animals and gift cards to be given to youth on their birthday. Lastly, we do keep NEW clothing on hand at the office. If your child has an emergency need for some new clothing, please feel free to check our closet!
UNDERSTAND THE DEPTH OF THE IMPACT OF ACEs
(Adverse Child Experiences)
Dr. Felitti's video will help you understand the depth of the impact of ACEs and understand how to transform the work we do with children. Watch the 1.5 hour video (
eligible
for in-service hours)
here
.
Florida Guardian ad Litem Program
2017 Disabilities Training Conference-Video Training Available
Were you unable to attend the 2017 Disabilities Training Conference? The
workshops
were wide ranging with presenters sharing their expertise in areas such as guardianships, psychotropic medications,
master trusts
,
able accounts
and educational advocacy. The
link
has the videos from the workshops and keynote speakers and will help anyone interested in learning more about how to advocate for children with disabilities.
|
|
Children Who Have a Guardian ad Litem
|
|
Do Better in School
Have Fewer Placement Changes
Receive More Services
More Likely to be Adopted
Spend Less Time in Foster Care
Are 50% Less Likely to Return to Care
|
|
|
|
Support the
Guardian ad Litem Foundation
of Tampa Bay
|
|
|
| To provide advocacy and support for abused, abandoned, or neglected children in the Guardian ad Litem Program of Pinellas and Pasco Counties. |
| We envision a world where every child has a safe and permanent home with the opportunity to thrive. |
Thank you to O'Maddy's Bar & Grill & Bo-Tiki!
Our Christmas in July Event at
O'Maddy's was super fun! Thank you to all who attended and who brought gifts for children and/or made purchases at the event. The fashion show by
Bo-Tiki was incredible and the band was too! Thanks especially to Maddy & Joe Guenther and the Michael J. Yakes Foundation for all that you did to make this event such a success--with their help we raised more than $2,000 for children in and around Gulfport, FL!
|
|
Thank you To Raymond James Financial for supplying Backpacks for our Children and Youth!
Thanks to the generosity of Raymond James Financial for supporting our
W
rite Start Program -- more than 600 children received new backpacks and school supplies to start the school year off right!!
Raymond James employees with backpacks sorted backpacks. Thanks for helping!
Does Your Company Offer a Matching Gift Program?
A matching gift is a charitable donation by a corporation that matches an employee's donation to an eligible nonprofit organization, most often dollar for dollar. Thousands of companies across the country have matching gift programs. To see if your company might be one of them, look here:
If your company is not on this list, check with your HR Department to see if your company matches monetary donations or volunteer time.
|
|
|
|
