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News Release

DATE: June 23, 2010
CONTACT: Johanna VanRenterghem
PHONE: (419) 224-2279

For Immediate Release

Healing Hearts, Healing Lives
SAFY Recognizes Local Foster Parents

SAFY (Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth) recently acknowledged extraordinary foster families who have opened their hearts and their homes to youth throughout the state. The theme for this year’s event was: Healing Hearts, Healing Lives and the ceremony, which took place in Columbus, acknowledged, honored and rewarded those families who truly embody and excel in the treatment foster care arena from across the state. This year’s local award winners are:

LaDonna Smalley, Lima/Findlay 2010 Foster Parent of the Year. During the two years in which the Hunts have fostered children, eight youth have been placed in their care. Their commitment to these children has resulted in no child experiencing unplanned moves while in their safekeeping. Youth participate in family activities that make them feel at home. This family becomes so bonded to the foster youth they encourage and look forward to phone calls, texts, and visits after youth are reunified in their biological homes. Recently, a biological parent thanked the Hunts for assisting their child in raising grades and making her part of their family.

Janice Chambers, Findlay/Lima 2010 Friend of the Children Award Recipient. Foster parents who work with Chambers know she is always a phone call away, no matter what day or time it is. In her role as Social Services Supervisor at Paulding County Job & Family Services (JFS), she is available to youth on her case load 24 hours a day, seven days a week and helps in any way she can. During her home visits she takes time to talk with children and foster parents, never making them feel rushed. They know she truly enjoys spending time with them. Staff at Paulding County JFS say Chambers goes above and beyond what is expected to ensure her children achieve their greatest potential.

SAFY is a leading not for profit foster care and adoption agency headquartered in Delphos, Ohio. Each year, SAFY serves 4,300 difficult-to-place foster children in eight states. SAFY utilizes trained treatment foster families to provide these youth with a caring, stable environment. For more information or to learn more about becoming a foster parent, contact SAFY at 800-532-7239 or visit our website at www.safy.org.

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