Utah National Guard Fund receives $20,000
The Utah National Guard Charitable Trust received a significant donation of $20,000 from TriWest Healthcare Alliance. The funds will be used by the charitable trust to help families of deployed Utah National Guard Service members who are in need of financial assistance.
Members of the Utah National Guard don’t live on military bases, and are usually dispersed over a large geographic area. "As members of civilian communities, National Guard families don’t always have convenient access to the support available at military bases like Hill Air Force Base," said TriWest President and CEO David J. McIntyre, Jr. "TriWest made the contribution with the hope that we can help to bridge that gap for Utah’s Guard families."
According to the Trust, service is extended to families who have exhausted other resources and is typically dispersed as a grant or a no-interest loan. Examples of support include medical, home or property emergencies such as covering transportation to and lodging expenses at military treatment facilities for the spouse of a injured solider; emergency home repairs, such as broken pipes, major appliance breakdowns or unexpected car repairs. The trust also provides volunteers who provided financial counseling to military families in financial hardship.
TriWest representatives, Ms. Alice Demarais, Market Vice-President and Mr. Tom Eurek, Service Area Director for Utah traveled to Utah to make the donation. “(TriWest) would really like to get this contribution in the hands of the Utah National Guard’s Charitable Trust so it can be used for the National Guard families, especially those in need during this time of year so they can use it during the holidays,” Eurek said.
There are more than 6,500 Utah National Guard members. Since 2001, more than 80 percent of Utah’s National Guard has been mobilized for active duty. Their service continues, as the 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion will be deployed to Afghanistan in the spring of 2008.
The check was presented the check to Brig. Gen. Scott Harrison of the Utah Air National Guard, at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11 at the Utah National Guard Headquarters, 12953 S. Minuteman Drive in Draper.
The Charitable Trust, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2005, has aided more than 100 military families. The trust is managed by a board of directors, but there are no overhead costs. All donations go directly to National Guard families.
Those wishing to make a donation to the trust to help with ongoing needs may contact Staff Sergeant Scott Faddis at 810-523-4544.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Public Invited to Foster Care Forum
Public invited to Foster Care Forum
The reality of the foster/adoption process will be the topic of a public forum Jan 15. Organizers of the forum hope to clarify public misconceptions and highlight the urgent need for foster families, which, can make a lasting difference in the lives of displaced children.
“I wish everyone would give it a try,” says Jessica Steadman, foster mom for over 4 years, “it’s very rewarding. Some people just think that it takes a lot to be a foster parent. But [the kids] can adapt within a day or two to your home. They are very grateful, and they aren’t really any more difficult that my own children. Just give it a shot and see.”
Steadman has helped over 100 kids in the last two and a half years alone. The greatest challenges she has faced include time commitments for meetings and reviews with caseworkers, and saying good bye to children who are going back home.
Substance abuse by parents is a factor is most cases where children need to be placed in foster care, according to the Utah Foster Care website. Other factors include abuse or neglect. “It is a tragic reality that children, for their own safety, must sometimes be removed from their homes,” says The Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City. “Foster care is the combination of public policy and private action that addresses this reality.”
The need for foster families has grown significantly in the last few years. In the Salt Lake Area alone, there are at least 1,000 children in need of foster care, but only 375 foster families available. This demands that some children are placed in homes in neighboring counties, requiring additional and challenging adjustments such as changing schools and making new friends, or with families that may not be completely matched to meet the children’s needs. “A generous supply of families who can welcome a foster child into their home is essential so that every child can be placed where his or her unique needs can be met,” continues Wester.
At the forum, people who currently foster children will be available to answer questions and will talk about the challenges and rewards they have encountered, how their biological children have been affected, their experiences with reunification and working with birth families.
The forum is the result of a partnership between the Utah Foster Care Foundation and Juan Diego High School. Families from all religions are welcome.
The forum will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Juan Diego High School, 300 East 11800 South. The forum will be held in the Black Box Theater. For more information call Christine or Mike at 801-944-5205 or visit: www.utahfostercare.org.
The reality of the foster/adoption process will be the topic of a public forum Jan 15. Organizers of the forum hope to clarify public misconceptions and highlight the urgent need for foster families, which, can make a lasting difference in the lives of displaced children.
“I wish everyone would give it a try,” says Jessica Steadman, foster mom for over 4 years, “it’s very rewarding. Some people just think that it takes a lot to be a foster parent. But [the kids] can adapt within a day or two to your home. They are very grateful, and they aren’t really any more difficult that my own children. Just give it a shot and see.”
Steadman has helped over 100 kids in the last two and a half years alone. The greatest challenges she has faced include time commitments for meetings and reviews with caseworkers, and saying good bye to children who are going back home.
Substance abuse by parents is a factor is most cases where children need to be placed in foster care, according to the Utah Foster Care website. Other factors include abuse or neglect. “It is a tragic reality that children, for their own safety, must sometimes be removed from their homes,” says The Most Rev. John C. Wester, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City. “Foster care is the combination of public policy and private action that addresses this reality.”
The need for foster families has grown significantly in the last few years. In the Salt Lake Area alone, there are at least 1,000 children in need of foster care, but only 375 foster families available. This demands that some children are placed in homes in neighboring counties, requiring additional and challenging adjustments such as changing schools and making new friends, or with families that may not be completely matched to meet the children’s needs. “A generous supply of families who can welcome a foster child into their home is essential so that every child can be placed where his or her unique needs can be met,” continues Wester.
At the forum, people who currently foster children will be available to answer questions and will talk about the challenges and rewards they have encountered, how their biological children have been affected, their experiences with reunification and working with birth families.
The forum is the result of a partnership between the Utah Foster Care Foundation and Juan Diego High School. Families from all religions are welcome.
The forum will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Juan Diego High School, 300 East 11800 South. The forum will be held in the Black Box Theater. For more information call Christine or Mike at 801-944-5205 or visit: www.utahfostercare.org.
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