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UFF names third Case Manager of the QuarterUnited for Families is excited to announce Rene Proulx as the latest Case Manager of the Quarter.
Rene was nominated by his peers for his wonderful work ethic, his willingness to always assist his co-workers and his care and respect for the many families and children he serves, said United for Families Chief Executive Officer Christine Demetriades.
"We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated professional in Circuit 19," Demetraides said. "Congratulations Rene. We are all so proud of you."
Rene joins talented professionals Stacey Howe and Andrew Givans, who are contenders for the Case Manager of the Year Award. That award will be announced during the Toyota of Stuart Le Bal Masque Oct. 27 at Willoughby Gold Club. The Case Manager of the Year will receive a $1,000 bonus made possible by Toyota of Stuart.
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Kaitlyn Neeley, Brandi Sjoholm and Emily Kaiser volunteered to help collect school supplies during the August Stuff the Bus project. The project was part of the United Way of St. Lucie County's School Supplies for Students program.
The school supplies drive continued throughout the month, ending in a series of sorting days at White City Elementary. Supplies for 2,500 children -- including children served by United for Families -- were sorted by many more volunteers.
Enough paper, pens, crayons and pencils -- pictured here -- were collected during the three-weekend sorting event. United for Families received supplies for nearly 200 children because of its participation.
Hometown News President and Chief Executive Officer Steve Erlanger plays ball in support of United for Families programming. The July 28 charity event was organized by the Hometown News and raised nearly $2,000.
United for Families student volunteer Brandi Sjoholm works concessions during the softball event. The Hometown News lost to its challenger Space and Treasure Coast radio. However, both teams are winners in the fight to end child abuse.
United for Families employees Jill Feaster, Tara Jempty and Linda Smith were among many UFF staff members who volunteered for the evening.
More than 20 United for Families volunteers served food and drinks, gave away balloons and temporary tatoos and worked an outreach booth during the event and, later, during a St. Lucie Mets baseball game.
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UFF News
- Tickets for the 2007 Toyota of Stuart Le Bal Masque are on sale. Tickets for the event, which is Oct. 27 at Willoughby Golf Club, are $100 and available for sale on line at UFF.org or from the United for Families Development Department. For more information, call 398-2920.
- United for Family's third quarter training was presented over a three-day period by guest speaker Candace Silvers. The motivational speaker gave private, one-on-one sessions, an intimate workshop for the community's executive women, and a seminar Aug. 30 to 150 social workers. Previous seminar topics in United for Family's quarterly training series included domestic violence and substance abuse.
- Beginning this month, United for Families will provide additional support training to new case managers. The training will continue their education about the local service delivery system and the specific agencies with which they will partner.
Upon completion of this two week training, new case managers will have greater understanding of their role and duties within the local child-welfare system, as taught to them by local, experienced child-welfare experts. The training will include mock court exercises and introduce case managers to local resources.
- Lisa Florio joined United for Families Aug. 20 as an Independent Living Program specialist in the program services department. In similar news, Latoya Larra moved to the position of eligibility determination specialist, effective Sept. 3, in the financial management department.
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Caregiver News- Children throughout the district returned to school last month with backpacks full of supplies thanks to a series of drives in St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties.
More than 500 children received school supplies this year, a 22 percent increase from last year. This year's drives were held by the United Way of St. Lucie County, the Indian River County School District, The Grace Place, the Community Collaborative Council of Okeechobee County and Martin County resident Lynette Foster.
Supplies were distributed to children receiving both in-home and out-of-home services through case managers and local foster parent associations. - Caregivers in the Relatives As Parents Program said goodbye to former Program Coordinator Mary Steele July 24 and hello to new coordinator Jill Feaster. Mrs. Steele moved out of state with her husband and children.
The next support meeting is set for 6:30 p.m., Sept. 11, at the Martin County Service Center. The guest speaker will be David Hall, a local foster parent and representative for a new children's health insurance program. - The Port St. Lucie resource room will move this month to the St. Lucie County Service Center in Fort Pierce. United for Families decided to move the resource room to the service center, where more clients and case managers will be able to use it.
The resource loaner program, for items such as child safety seats, cribs and beds, still will be maintained at the Port St. Lucie site. - The Foster Parent Business Directory has been updated with new businesses and is available on-line at www.unitedforfamilies.org. The directory is a list of local businesses willing to give discounts to foster parents.
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Community News
- The Hometown News recently hosted a charity softball team in honor of United for Families. The game, played between Hometown News staff and employees of Space and Treasure Coast Radio, raised nearly $2,000.
- Several business leaders from throughout the Treasure Coast area are partnering with United for Families to develop an annual workshop series for students enrolled in the Independent Living Program. The program teaches life skills to teen-age foster children to help prepare them for life outside the foster-care system. Some of the workshops to be presented include budgeting, job interviewing, health, public transportation and banking.
- The Share a Haircut program, which has provided free haircuts for foster children for five years, has been discontinued. Hair Cuttery, which hosted the national program, announced its decision last month. The national hair salon chain said it is discontinuing the project in favor of another that will benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina.
- Tykes & Teens will kick off a new recreational program Sept. 7. The program is expected to strengthen relationships between grandparents and grandchildren. The program will meet from 5-9 p.m. the 1st and 3rd Friday each month at the Martin County Parks and Recreation Community Center. To register, call (772) 220-3439.
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