The Mail-Journal, Volume 21, Number 34, Milford, Kosciusko County, 5 September 1984 — Page 12

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., September 5,1984

12

Humanly speaking — Therapeutic Foster Care

By BILL MASON, M.Div. Youth Services Therapist Bowen Center A counselor was called to the office of the residential treatment center where he was employed. A boy was being considered for placement but the intake counselor and other staff members could not induce him to talk. The boy was a bit small for his eight years He was. however, handsome and almost constantly smiling. Using only body language, the boy communicated to the counselor that he wanted to play a game. It might have been called "Guess Where I’m Going.” By playing that game and another, the counselor won the privilege of hearing the boy’s story. He had been in four foster homes, each of which had demanded his removal. -His foster parents had been good people They all had experience in child rearing. They were capable foster parents and had successfully fostered other children Why did Gabe need to be institutionalized 9 Gabe was emotionally disturbed He had been separated from his biological parents under conditions which he experienced as abandonment Two feelings were pulling him apart. He wanted desperately to lx? accepted, to be loved, to be cared for by adults, but his experience with his parents had led, him to believe that adults abandon kids who depend upon them. Four sets of foster parents had helped to confirm that belief So while he yearned to be accepted, he was also compelled to test the adults w ith whom he was placed He had to know, for sure, whether they would reject him. so the tests he invented were difficult to pass. It takes some specialized

Area youths learn leadership skills

By RONALD W. HOYT Extension Agent 4-H and Youth Three youths from Kosciusko County recently attended the Indiana State Fair Youth School, held August 13-21 on the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. Each county is eligible to send as many as six 4-H youth, three boys and three girls to the schools. Each delegate must be between the ages of 16 and 19 Attending the Indiana State Fair Youth Schools this year from Kosciusko C(ounß were: . Zina Hatfield, r 9 bbxdfc4. War . saw; Norma Kimes, r 2 pox 284, Claypool; and 'Greg VanDeWater, r 5 box 237, Warsaw. The schools attempt to develop

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knowledge and special dedication to help emotionally disturbed children. Some parents seek the knowledge and make the needed commitments to meet their children’s emotional needs. Some parents seek another family or a public agency to care for their emotionally disturbed child. Still others think they can do nothing or are unable to tolerate the pain involved in doing what must be done with and for emotionally disturbed children. They wait until a public agency steps in and takes over for them. So emotionally disturbed children, like Gabe. often are placed with foster families who have no special training. In rare cases, the foster parents will have informally acquired the special knowledge and the devoted spirit needed to meet the emotional needs of a disturbed child. Most often, however, these elements will be missing, and the emotionally disturbed child's behavior will be intolerable to the family. He or she will be transferred to an institution, which may or may not be able to discern and treat emotional disturbance. Or he/she may be "tired” in another foster home, or several, before finally being sent to an institution. Therapeutic foster care is an idea born to stop the flow of emotionally disturbed children from foster home to foster home to institution and to prevent them from becoming emotionally disturbed adults. Simply stated, it is the use of specially trained foster parents to serve the needs of emotionally disturbed children Three or four mental health centers in Indiana are building programs around this concept. The Bowen Center’s program provides assistance to welfare departments -in recruiting trainees, training

leadership skills among the youth along with a greater appreciation for the state of Indiana. The schools also encourage delegates to consider career opportunities and will provide them with new insights into government, culture and human relations. Delegates were housed in dormitories on the state fairgrounds. During the fair, they also attended special events such as the Great Balloon Race, the Indiana 4-H State Chorus program, 4-H Fashion Revue and the Spotlight Sale The youth gave at least two hours free time toward a group project to improve the fair buildings or grounds. The youth, on their own, choose and carry out activities such as painting, cleaning, landscaping or

foster parents m therapeutic care, provision of therapy to the emotionally disturbed children and youth, provision of consultation to caseworkers and foster families and maintaining a support group for the therapeutic foster families. There are several benefits to therapeutic foster care. Biological parents are more likely to be amenable to involvement in the treatment of their children and therapeutic intervention in emotional disturbance often will occur much earlier than usual. The use of trained foster parents will broaden the base of therapy. In short, the needs of emotionally disturbed children can be met earlier, more effectively and probably for fewer dollars than we are presently expending to meet similar needs - sometimes with unhappy results. Gabe s story does not have a happy ending (yet). He is now a young adult. He spent three years at that treatment center, finally provoking local law enforcement agencies to expel him from their jurisdiction. He spent time in a state hospital, returned to the treatment center and finally provoked his own county probation department to abandon treatment and try the punishment of imprisonment. Availability of therapeutic foster aare could help to prevent experiences similar to Gabe’s for many emotionally disturbed children and youth. The first course of training sessions has started. Another will be offered this Fall, and others will be scheduled as needed. Foster parents interested in obtaining this training, or anyone interested in additional in additional information may contact. Bill Mason. M. Div. v Youth Services Therapist Bowen Center 1-800-342-5653 or 267-7169

redecorating. All work is donated. Delegates from the youth schools also participated in mock legislative sessions in the Senate Chambers of the State Capitol Building. Boys attending the school tour the Indiana National Bank and the State Capitol and take part in an all-sports seminar. Girls tour the Indianapolis Police Academy, the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and participate in a seminar on automotive preventative maintenance. Both groups tour the state fair departments, participate in group skits, take part in the Indiana 4-H Leader Recognition Day activities, parties, dances and special recreation programs and training. Delegates for the Indiana State Fair Youth Schools are selected by a committee of community leaders making up the 4-H awards committee. This year’s school directors are Carol Meeks, Indianapolis, and Sequoyah Bible, Lafayette. Assisting them will be four adult assistant directors, 12 honor girls and six honor boys selected fromlast year’s delegates. 4-H Calendar August 15-26 — Indiana State Fair August 28 — Pick up State Fair projects at Extension Office

■ -JSQUihb I SORORITY GIFT TO HOSPITAL — Freida Helm, president of Warsaw Kappa Kappa Kappa sorority, and L. Milton Holmgrain, administrator of Kosciusko Community Hospital, look over a new framed print recently presented to KCH by Tri Kappa. According to Mrs. Helm, “Tri Kappa supports charity, culture and education in the Warsaw area and each year we do something in those areas to fulfill our obligations. The gift of fine arts to KCH helps fill our committments.” Holmgrain, in accepting the gift, said "We are extremely pleased that Tri Kappa has chosen us as recipients of these fine works of art and hope that the public enjoys these artists’ works as much as we appreciate the opportunity to have them on display.” This is the second year Tri Kappa has presented KCH with a framed art work. Last year’s is now displayed in the emergency room waiting area and the new print will be hung in another of the waiting areas at KCH on public view. The gifts are funded by Tri kappa projects throughout the year.

PCA to hold 51st annual meeting

Don Beer, chairman of the board of directors of the Albion Production Credit Association, has announced the 51st annual stockholders meeting will be held in eight sections with the 6th section to be held at the Shrine Building, Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, for Kosciusko County members’ on Monday, Sept. 10. The meeting will begin with a dinner at 6:45 p.m. and will include the election of two association directors to the five member board, three ambassadors to the six member committee, and the 1985 nominating committee. There are four candidates for the opening on the board of directors this year with further nominations being accepted up to the meeting on the 29. Those nominees are: Ellis McFadden of Allen County, Ron Brookins of Elkhart County, Bruce Ferguson of Kosciusko County, and Richard Steider of LaGrange County. The membership will hear financial reports from the association treasurer, Charles Zimmerman, a report on the current farm economy by Will

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Schieler, Kosciusko County PCA Branch Manager, a report on the upcoming consolidation with the FLBAs, and comments by Association President, Don Monesmith concerning the progress made by the association in the past 12 months. Following the formal presentations all members are invited to stay for refreshments and visit with the directors and staff. Tickets for the dinner are available at the office or from any county ambassador and reservations may be made by calling 267-6851.

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Ribbons earned at state fair

Kosciusko County residents brought home many awards for projects entered in the Indiana State Fair. Amy Whicker, Warsaw, won a Hue ribbon in the 4-H weather category. In flower projects, Tara Netherly, Syracuse, won a white ribbon in 4-H division II; Amy Jody, Syracuse, won a red ribbon in division III; Elizabeth Walters, Claypool, won a red ribbon in division III; and Belinda Brown, Claypool, received a red ribbon in division 111. In arrangements of lillies, dahlias and UTS odds dorm phones at Grace. Grace Schools’ students will have the convenience of telephones in their dorm rooms for the first time next year. United Telephone of Indiana is installing a Rolm computer branch exchange (CBX) telephone system that Grace Schools purchased to provide greater versatility to the administrative staff and to students alike. The new system will search for the most economical route for long distance calls, and will also provide abbreviated dialing, call waiting and call forwarding within the schools’ communication system. George H. Scott, United’s customer services/marketing director, said that the CBX will provide one phone forevery two students, and that each student will have a billing code to keep long distance charges sorted out. “We expect to have the new system ready to use by the beginning of the second semester,” Scott said. “Interior wire, cable and 470 dorm phones, in addition to 130 school phones, must be installed and checked out before we turn them over to Grace.” With the installation of this system, Grace Schools, Inc., Winona Lake, will be United Telephone’s second largest customer in Indiana. Acid Rain Victim According to a United Nations study, Europe’s stained glass treasures are among the latest victims of acid rain, reports National Wildlife magazine. At least 100,000 objects, some more than 1,000 years old, are in danger of deteriorating from acid precipitation.

gladioli, Sharon Gerencser, Milford, won a blue ribbon. In sheep competition, the North Country Cheviot Wethers winners in judging were: third place Thad Leininger, Burket and fifth and ninth place Tim Secrist, Mentone; in junior showmanship, Thad Leininger took third place. In Hampshire Wethers, Brian Thomas, Warsaw, placed 10th. In the 4-H weather category Laura Roger, Warsaw, won a red ribbon. In the 4-H Crossbred, commercial and other breeds, beef feeding steers, Shanon Amiss, Claypool, won the grand championship in sec. 6381-1; Marty Manuel, Warsaw, was third in sec. 6381-L. David Roberts, Syracuse, was 14th in sec. 6381-L, and 20th in sec. 6381-M. Brian Lalone, Pierceton, was second in sec. 6381-D. In heifers, junior yearling class I, Brandon Hoffer, Nappanee, was second; in market beef steers, sec. 6301-C, Shelly Manuel, Warsaw, was second.

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In 4-H personality, Alicia Scott, Warsaw, won a blue ribbon, Rebecca Van Schepen, Warsaw, won a red ribbon and Nikki Refopr, Winona Lake, won a red ribbon. In 4-H weed identification and control, Janet Lunch, Claypool, received a red ribbon. In swine competition, Shanon Amiss took 14th in sec. 6691-B Gilts. In 4-H woodworking, Janelie Kistler, Mentone, won a blue ribbon in beginners, Tim Secrist, Mentone, won a blue ribbon in intermediate and Brian Wood, Claypool, won a blue ribbon in advanced. / In 4-H geology Rodney Shepherd, Claypool, won a red ribbon for six rock specimens, and Matt Harman, Warsaw, won a blue ribbon for twelve fossils, rocks or minerals. In 4-H electric blue ribbon winners were Kyle Howard, Warsaw, Tom Braman, Warsaw, Lee Haney, North Webster, and Don Barton, Warsaw. Dion Anglin, Warsaw, won a red ribbon.