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Show i Basin Life Uintah Basin Standard ter the system time and again, and Governor Calls For 3000 New Foster Homes The hardships and the joys of working as a foster parent By Cheryl Mecham They are a rare breed - foster parents, and the ones who do their job and do it well make a significant difference in the lives of the children they care for. Gov. Mike Leavitt honors those who do the job of foster parenting and do it well, and calls for 3,000 additional foster families in Utah by the year to 2000. One of the best examples of a foster parent is Leona Michelle Cotonuts of Roosevelt, honored last September with the 1997 Governors Foster Family Award. Leona believes in structure, lots of love and a positive outlook. As a singIewoman, she has cared for nine children in her home over the last few years, providing a safe haven while biological parents or family members make the necessary changes to regain custody. This is the one commonality that all foster parents share - that the children whom theyVe grown to love, and worried over and sacrificed for will eventually leave them. Cotonuts says it is difficult and emotionally taxing. Honie Bird is also a Roosevelt foster parent who knows that the old Native American boy who she has cared for nearly a year will soon be removed from her home, and in this case she is pleased, because the circumstances are positive. The family member who will eventually take custody of the boy has worked closely with Honie over ar the past few months and is "making every effort to prepare for the responsibilities of parenthood, Honie said. Separation after only two or three days can be difficult. "The case worker says Honie youre too attached, she explains, adding, "but you see these terrible things the kids are going through, you try to make them feel safe, and you try to help them. Children normally come into the foster home with lice, Honie says. Sometimes they bear physical wounds from sister-- easy it was to build those friendships and I thought we can do this, I can help. Honie has learned that the road to foster parenting takes much time and commitment, and struggle, and that occasionally no are most often returned to the same foster home they are familiar with. While the tribe is working to establish Native American foster homes, efforts are still in the early stages. These changes have already touched Homes life, when her in-law Sheila Bird had three tribal foster children abruptly removed from her home after six years of care. (See story on front page.) Both Sheila and Honie wrote letters to the Uintah Basin Standard expressing their concern and outrage at the action, and feel that the children were placed into an unsafe environment. "Its heartbreaking, Honie expressed, adding that she grieves along with Sheila and the entire extended family who are suffering from the loss of the three boys. Honies other foster child is also a Ute Indian, yet she is not worried that he will be removed from her care saying, "I have a very good relationship with his mother and frequent visits, she is happy he is here, and he is old enough to know what he wants and to voice his opin- matter what effort is made sometimes a placement will not be successful. "Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, what you do the kids just dont fit in to your family ... you want it to work and it doesnt, she explained. Such a situation causea pain for both the foster parent and the child, Honie said. Other issues, such as the new Indian Welfare plan, an agreement between the state and Ute Indian tribe signed last September, has caused anxiety for state foster parents who have Ute children. Honie foster parents must says complete cultural sensitivity train- abuse and neglect, and are usually developmentally behind. "We care for their wounds and their fears. To see what they are like when they come in and see them progress ... its a great thing, Honie expressed. Since becoming licensed foster parent four years ago - Honie with ing. The agreement will also help to her husband, Sonny, have cared for approximately 15 children. Hie Di- fund the new Ute Child Welfare vision of Child and Family Services system with the intent of placing Indian foster children in Indian require a background check on perspective foster parents and their homes. Because about 80 of the homes must meet state criteria for Basins foster children are Native American this will mean a large adequate space and safety. Honie began in basic care, pro- shift in placement in the coming viding for infants and small chil- years. Tribal counselors say that Ute dren and is now qualified through additional training to take children children removed from a home will probably never be in "specialized care. With four children of their own returned to a home, even Honie says she became interested if they enter foster care again, bein foster parenting because "Four of cause of the cultural differences. my five siblings do this - the kids are This is a significant change ofvenue at every family function, I saw how because foster children often reen- non-Indi- non-Indi- an non-Indi- ion. Honie says she will continue to take Ute children and will complete the sensitivity training that is re- quired, because while foster parenting is not easy, she finds it quite gratifying. "It is hard when they go back into the homes, but it felt good knowing that we had loved them and they became healthy and learned to crawl, and talk and walk. Building Nearly Finished Coordinators named for Children's Justice Center By Cheryl Mecham The Duchesne County Childrens Justice Center Council have named Rob Caldwell as director and Michelle Graves as administrative coordinator of the Center. The center serves as a shelter for young victims of physical or sexual abuse, and provides a central junction fir everyone from law enforcement officers to counselors and medical experts to work to serve the best interests of the victim. . Robert (Rob) Caldwell has been employed with the Division ofChild Family Services for the past six yean, working the last three as a lead worker in the home unit in the Roosevelt office. COUNCIL MEETS-T- he Children's Justice Center council recently met to discuss plans and progress made. The council also announced the names of the new director, Robert Caldwell and assistant coordinator, Michelle Graves. School district acquires new office space from county By Dixie R. Brown Duchesne County School District officials have started the remodeling process and hope to take advantage ofthe office space left empty by the recent move of the Duchesne County administrative offices. School district maintenance crews are renovating office space and say the work will be complete in two to three we ' a. "We are usir g our own crews, said Phil Thompson, district clerk. "There will be just a minimal amount of most of the work involved will be painting the office space. Officials expect that the total cost of the project will be less than $3,000. According to Thompson, there is no plan in the immediate future to close the districts satellite offices in Roosevelt Nor is it on the agenda to close the Duchesne office. Both George Ray, district media specialist who had been working out ofthe Roosevelt office, and Larry Tri Henry, director of the districts special education division, who had office space in Altamont, will be moving their offices into the Duchesne office. Additionally, administrative staff members who worked out of the mobile units at the bus garage will be moving to the new district offices in the former county courthouse. School district officials dont know yet whether the mobile unit will be utilized for adult education classes or if the facility will be sold. The former county courthouse is in need of a new roof and district administrators hope that the work will begin this spring or early summer. The school district and the county will share the cost of the repairs. The cost will be divided based upon the amount of square footage used by the school district When Duchesne County administrative offices moved from the old courthouse late last year they offered the vacant office space to the school district for $1 for a 99 year County Health lease. A cost feasibility study was conducted to determine if the echoed district could afford necessary remodeling expenses. ALL IN A DAYS WORK-Fos- ter Parent Honie Bird oversees her children, Travis, (Three and Brittney during homework. Honie believes that being a foster parent to the two children in her care (not pictured) has been a rewarding experience. istrative coordinator would be responsible for scheduling and organizing the multiple agencies that will be involved with the center. Michelle is the daughter ofW ally and Gwen Graves of Neola, and a graduate ofUnion High School. She is working to complete her Bachelors degree in Family and Human Development and will graduate from Utah State University this June. Michelle is currently engaged to marry Chet Stevens in March. "I started out in elementary ed. It was different than I thought it would be. I've worked at the Family Support Center since High School and loved working with the families and kids, thats why I changed my direction 1 love the feeling that Im making a difference. Graves said she will be responsible for running the day to day operations of the Center and will also track children to make certain that after the interview process they will continue to receive necessary services to help them in their recov- Robert Caldwell -- Caldwell holds a bachelors degree from Brigham Young University in psychology and will receive his masters in social work in June. He resides in the Dry Fork area of Vernal with his wife Carrie and two children. Caldwell has had experience with the Childrens Justice Centers in Layton and Ogden while investigating child abuse cases. Because the concept of the Justice Center is fairly new to Utah both he and Graves will somewhat pioneer the direction of the Roosevelt Center, which Caldwell explained has "positive and negative aspects which gives you latitude to be creative and run it the way you want to run it. Childrens Justice Center Council member Tammy Bostick-Coopintroduced Graves at the last council meeting, saying that the admin er ery. During a recent council meeting chairperson Jane Thompson informed member ofa fiscal bill sponsored by Senator Craig Peterson of the Cache County region for $240,000 that will not only fund present functioning Childrens Justice Centers but will add Duchesne County and Cache County into the funding package. She admonished them to contact or write to Rep. or Sen. Beverly Evans to show Alarik Myrin support for Petersons effort Michelle Graves "How do you vote against the 200 or 300 people who have done all of this, council member Russ Cowan stated, explaining the work by the community to build the Childrens Justice Center which is now weeks away from completion. To contact either Rep. Evans or Sen. Myrin and add to the councils support send letter to: 319 State Capitol, Salt Lake City, Utah 841 14. Options available to negotiate terms with the IRS The IRS is willing to help taxpayers out oftheir debt through IRS "fresh start programs. Taxpayers caught in the middle of a seizure of assests or a wage garnishment can receive immediate relief. Taxpayers can also negotiate pennies on the dollar and settle their tax debt by taking advantage of these programs. Consumer Tax Relief is a company designed to help people file for this type of relief. If you or someone you know has a tax problem, you may have noticed that trying to deal with the IRS is next to impossible. However, if taxpayers file the proper forms and work through the appropriate channels, they can be helped. Many people dont realize the options available, but the majority of delinquent taxpayers quality for these programs. People that need e immediate help should call the Consumer Tax Relief Hotline at The caller will receive a free diagnosis of hisher tax problem, along with the types of relief available. All calls are kept confidential. Consumer Tax Relief is not affiliated with the IRS. toll-fre- The Tri County Health department will offer cholesterol screening on Wednesday, Jan. 28 from 9 a.m. 12 noon. There will be a charge. The 5 Health Department is still located at 34 South 200 East Call for more information. -- 722-508- Essay and Poster Contest Duchesne County Farm Bureau would like to invite all county residents to join us in contemplating the benefits of being part of our fine agricultural heritage. The theme for the contest is "Why Fanners Care for the Land. For further information call Virginia Pratt at Deadline is April 1. 848-572- 5. Moon Lake Electric Meeting The Utah Division o Forestry, Fire and State Lands is accepting orders for low-cotree and shrub seedlings. The seedlings are made available through the Lone Peak Nursery for use in conservation projects such as windbreaks, wildlife habitat and erosion control. Purchases can be made by the pub st The Moon Lake Electric Director Nominating meeting dates printed in the Standard last week were wrong. The correct dates will be Monday, Feb. 2 for District 5 at Myton Elementary; Tuesday, Feb. 3 for District 4 at the Moon Lake building in Roosevelt; and Thursday, Feb. 5 for District 7 at the Weiss Activity Center in Rangley, Colo. All meetings R COPY Tree and shrub seedlings available "VMM- - REMODELING PRQJECT-Duche- sne County School District work crews are busy with repairs and remodeling chores in the former Duchesne County Courthouse. The school district will be moving some of their offices iust down the hall into the vacant building. lie in miqjmum quantities of 100 plants. State produced seedlings are not suitable for landscaping purposes and the average price of seedlings is 55 cents. Choice ofnative plants and seed source integrity are important to match the plant to different regions of the state, explains Glenn Bea gle, conservation center coordinator. "The state nursery produces unique plants meeting conservation needs for most areas of the state and we're proud to state that they are a homegrown 'Product ofUtah." Orders can be placed directly with the Lone Peak Seedling Nursery or through one ofthe six Forest ry, Fire and State Lands area otti ea. For a complete listing and d scription of the seedlings call tl 0 state nursery at (801) visit the nurserys new web site 571-090- www.nr.state.ut.usslflonepea home2.htm. |