Ambassadors for Children

2012-02-07T13:44:00.002-06:00

Check out our February Ad in Springfield CARES Monthly Magazine (p.22)!

We'll have a full page article featured in the March issue...stay tuned for that and more exciting announcements!

Sondra Uzzell
Ambassadors for Children
A service agency of the Council of Churches
417-862-3586 ext. 236
suzzell@ccozarks.org
www.ambassadors4children.org

Not Too Early!!

2011-10-18T13:32:00.004-05:00

Want a fun Christmas project? Consider "adopting" a teen in foster care for Christmas!

We have well over 1,000 foster children from Greene County, with approximately 250 teenagers, who are often forgotten during the holidays when there's so much focus on young children and Santa Claus.

We provide the teen's first name, age, gender & wish list. You provide the gifts (5 gifts or spend up to $100)!

Sign up now: Sondra (suzzell@ccozarks.org) or call 862-3586 x 236

**Plus: let us know if you want to help wrap the gifts too! Our 2nd Annual Gift Wrapping Party will be December 19th & we need volunteers and donated wrapping supplies.

Child Abuse is up in Greene County

2011-09-20T15:05:00.003-05:00

We are facing a child abuse & foster care crisis in Greene County, MO. This issue has been on our community radar for several years, but we've seen some significant increases recently.

In 2009, there were an average of 780 children in foster care from Greene County. In 2010, that jumped 12% to 874 children on average. Now as of May 2011, we were well over 1,000 children in foster care from Greene County.

Additionally, in 2009 there were an average of 25 children placed into foster care from Greene County EACH MONTH. That jumped to 42 children per month in 2010. We are seeing significant increases in the need for our programs here at Ambassadors for Children as well.

What Can we Do?

Get Involved
Support our local Child Protective Services staff
Raise Awareness at your church, office and within your own family
Make sure our kids & young adults are equipped with effective coping skills so they can manage their emotions when they become adults
Become a Foster or Adoptive parent
Always Hotline suspected abuse or neglect: 1-800-392-3738

Get Involved
Volunteer or donate to an organization that helps prevent child abuse/neglect such as Isabel's House, Parenting Life Skills Center or even Pregnancy Care Center. To take care of our local abused kids, volunteer or donate to Ambassadors for Children (AFC). We focus on providing resources to fulfill needs for local foster children in order to improve their self-esteem and alleviate financial stress for foster parents--which also helps with foster parent recruitment and retention.

AFC provides brand new clothing, free 1-1 tutoring, hygiene items, new coats, shoes, sports registrations, graduation expenses, eye glasses, contacts and MUCH more for these kids. We are supported 100% by donations/volunteers and have served over 4,500 foster children since 1999.

Support Local Child Protective Services Staff
These folks work very hard and are exposed to gut wrenching stories of abuse & neglect daily. They need our community support and are doing the best they can--especially facing these increases. It's better to be too careful than too careless when it comes to child safety!

Adopt-a-Caseworker through Ambassadors for Children. The first program of its kind in Missouri, this program will match you with a local Caseworker & you get to fulfill unmet needs for the kids & families as they are presented to you. It's individualized & highly rewarding. The Caseworkers love it & so do their clients. We have approx. 24 local workers still waiting to be adopted. This program has served almost 1,000 children since March 2009!

Raise Awareness
People need to know about this issue & that THEY ARE NEEDED! This problem will not go away on its own. Churches, businesses & individuals need to step up (and many have done so already). Have Ambassadors for Children make a presentation to your group. Publish something in your church bulletin. Post something on your business website or intranet. Do a clothing collection for foster kids. Collect a donation among your group. Adopt-a-Caseworker or Adopt-a-Teenager in foster care for Christmas.

Equip Coping Skills
If folks know how to cope with their emotions (specifically stress) in appropriate ways, they may be less likely to lash out on children when faces with life stressors such as poverty. Encourage others to believe the best of themselves, help lead them to a place to learn more about spiritual fulfillment if they so choose. Help abuse survivors realize they have the power to break their family cycle of abuse/neglect.

Become a Foster or Adoptive Parent
We desperately need YOU. These kids need a safe place to stay while their parents work through issues to hopefully get their kids returned (if safe). These kids need adults willing to accept them into their family temporarily or permanently if their parents are unable to get them back. Every Child Deserves a Safe and Loving Home. Contact the Greene County Children's Division, Lutheran Family Children's Services or Missouri Baptist Children's Home for more information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent today!

Hotline
When in doubt, make the call anyway. A child's life may be at stake. Greene County, MO has had the highest number of mandated reporter hotline calls in Missouri. My theory is this is partly due to educating our community on the importance of the hotline.

Ambassadors for Children
417-862-3586 ext. 236
suzzell@ccozarks.org
www.ambassadors4children.org

Soccer & Bras & Basketball--oh my!

2011-09-13T14:08:00.002-05:00

We've been VERY busy today! Getting ready for our Advisory Committee meeting tomorrow, making new tutor matches for foster kids & fulfilling Project Self-Esteem requests. We helped pay for 2 little girls in foster care to play soccer, covered expenses for a teen girl in foster care to have a few specially fitted bras & talked to a foster mom about helping her 2 foster kids play basketball & participate in a hunters safety course.

All of these things are Vital to the well-being of children. Involvement in extracurricular activities makes a child 3x more likely to have a G.P.A. of 3.0 or higher (U.S. Department of Education)! Imagine the impact on a child that has been abused or neglected--it's incredible!

We are so proud to be improving the quality of life for the over 1,020 children currently in foster care from Greene County, Missouri. Thanks to all our supporters, donors & volunteers for making it possible:-)

2011-08-31T15:13:00.002-05:00

We are very proud to have received a renewed $2,000 grant award from the Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation to provide physical and medical self-esteem enhancing items for foster children through our Project Self-Esteem program!

Potential items we can fund include: eye glasses, contact lenses, eye exams, partial braces down payments, dental costs not covered by Medicaid, infant circumcision costs not covered by Medicaid and developmental disability equipment. All items are for children placed into foster care from Greene County, MO and must be requested by the child's foster care Caseworker.

For more info: Sondra Uzzell, Ambassadors for Children Director
862-3586 ext. 236

2011-08-26T16:32:00.001-05:00

Adopt-a-Teen for Christmas

2011-08-24T15:53:00.008-05:00

It's never too early to start planning for Christmas! Last year we helped over 100 local foster children receive Christmas gifts--kids who otherwise would have received little or nothing under their tree!

We need your help to accomplish this again for Christmas 2011. Christmas gifts are delivered discretely by the foster child's Caseworker--which means no embarrassment for the child!

Email Sondra at suzzell@ccozarks.org to "adopt" a teenager in foster care for Christmas. It's easy & fulfilling. It's also a great way to involve your family in a holiday service project. Please help us give these special children reasons to smile this Christmas. They've already been through so much & they need our help.

*If you'd like to make a monetary donation for this effort (or any other Ambassadors for Children programs), please make check payable to Council of Churches & put Ambassadors for Children in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to Ambassadors for Children, 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802. All donations are tax deductible. You may also donate securely online or donate via phone with credit/debit card by calling 417-862-3586 ext. 233 (be sure to designate your gift for Ambassadors for Children).

Thank You!

P.S. We'll also be hosting our 2nd Annual Gift Wrapping Party to wrap all these gifts before they're delivered to the kids. We wrapped over 500 gifts last year & need volunteer help. If you love to gift wrap, email Sondra at suzzell@ccozarks.org to sign up! Date &
Location pending.

So So Close!

2011-08-02T14:17:00.004-05:00

We need your help!

We only need to sell 15 more sweepstakes tickets to reach our goal of 300! This is a new record for us & if we make it, we will earn at least $10,000 in proceeds from our total involvement with the 22nd Annual Price Cutter Charity Championship this year.

It's not too late. Send your check this week to ensure I receive it before next Tuesday, August 9th. We're giving away a 2011 Mustang GT or $10,000, along with 500 gift certificates valued at $25 each. You have a 1 in 10 chance of winning!

Tickets are $25 each
Make checks payable to PCCC (or Price Cutter Charity Championship)
Mail check & Order Form to Sondra Uzzell, Ambassadors for Children, 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield MO 65802 by the end of THIS week to be entered.
Your ticket stub(s) will be returned to you via mail

Great Prizes--Great Cause! Help us help foster children. Thanks!

Back to School

2011-07-15T13:36:00.004-05:00

Check out the Council of Churches Back to School campaign! Ambassadors for Children is working alongside Crosslines to collect Brand New clothing items for foster children from Greene County and new school supplies for local children in need. Your help is very much needed & every little bit counts! Let's all pitch in to help our local kids have a confident & happy start this school year!

Link to & Print the flyer!

Your Chance to Win!

2011-07-07T12:08:00.003-05:00

For a great Cause!

Enter to win a 2011 Red Mustang GT or $10,000 & proceeds will support foster children from Greene County, Missouri. We are also giving away 500 gift certificates valued at $25 each. Only 5,000 tickets are sold, so there's a 1 in 10 chance of winning something. If you win a gift certificate, your name will be put back into the drawing for the Mustang & Cash drawings. This is made possible through the Marlin Network Charitable Fund Charity Sweepstakes & the Price Cutter Charity Championship annual golf tournament.

Tickets are $25 each & we get ALL proceeds for tickets we sell. Please help us help the over 1,000 children in foster care from our community!

Checks (made payable to PCCC) should be mailed to Ambassadors for Children at 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802. Click Here for Mail-in Order Form

Tickets can also be purchased with credit/debit cards via phone by calling Sondra Uzzell at 417-862-3586 ext. 236.

Somewhere over 1,000 Children....

2011-06-15T22:48:00.004-05:00

Well, I wish it were a rainbow, but it's actually a rainstorm.

We've learned that, as of May 2011, there were 1,021 children in foster care from Greene County, Missouri. That's the highest number I've seen in several years & many who've worked in the child abuse & neglect field in Southwest Missouri don't remember seeing the numbers this high in at least 12 years or so.

We are facing a foster care crisis here in Southwest Missouri. The Kansas City & St. Louis areas have traditionally ranked higher than Greene County for foster children, but who knows if they are experiencing comparable increases this year. If not, we may see Greene County jump to at least the 3rd highest ranked county in Missouri for Child Abuse & Neglect.

Not good...but there are things we can do. You can Adopt-a-Caseworker. We still have over 20 child protective services Caseworkers waiting to be adopted in Greene County. When you Adopt-a-Caseworker, you not only help a foster child & foster family with needs through foster care, but you can also help biological families get necessary resources to have their children returned home after foster care. This program strengthens children & families. Let's work together to break the cycle of abuse & neglect!

2011-06-14T15:59:00.003-05:00

Adopt-a-Caseworker Program

~ A Story ~

A ladies church group has adopted a foster care Caseworker from Greene County. They provided a large wagon for the dad to transport groceries and his children to/from the grocery store. One of the children asked where the wagon came from & the dad said, "A group of Angels." It's amazing how something so small can make such a big difference for a family. Having this resource could help the dad keep his children at home & avoid another foster care placement!

There are still over 20 Caseworkers waiting to be Adopted in Greene County. If you want to make a difference & be part of a story like this, please contact me!

Sondra Uzzell
Agency Director
Ambassadors for Children
An Operating Agency of the Council of Churches
417-862-3586 ext. 236
suzzell@ccozarks.org

2011-05-26T22:33:00.005-05:00

"Comfort for Kids"
Care Kits for Children in the Joplin Area

The Council of Churches is collecting NEW items to distribute to children in the Joplin, MO metro area to assist in dealing with the stress & trauma of the recent tornado disaster. Additional basic coping tips will also be included.

In just 2 days, we have already received nearly 5,000 requests for the Care Kits from the Jasper County Children's Division, Joplin area Childcare Providers & other Joplin area children's service agencies--with many more requests expected. We need your help!

"Comfort for Kids" Flyer & List of needed Items

Donation Drop Off sites

Volunteer Opportunities to sort donations & assemble Care Kits

Make a Monetary Donation ($10 per Care Kit)

Council of Churches staff will deliver Care Kits to the Joplin area June 9-10. THANK YOU!!

Adopt-a-Caseworker Luncheon

2011-05-26T22:29:00.003-05:00

If you're in the Springfield area, please join us for a free Lunch event on Thursday, June 2nd to learn more about our Adopt-a-Caseworker program.

What a great way to get involved to support local abused & neglected children! We still have 26 Caseworkers waiting to be adopted.

Details available at: Adopt-a-Caseworker Luncheon Flyer

2011-04-25T13:44:00.002-05:00

So excited that we just matched a new foster child with a Volunteer Tutor & will soon have 2 new Volunteer Tutors joining our program. This is such a blessing considering that we have 1 child on the waiting list!

It only takes 1 hour per week & can change a life. If you want to be part of this exciting program that allows you to make a direct impact in the life of a foster child from Greene County, Missouri, we'd LOVE to hear from you!

Volunteer Tutor Information
Our Website

Mustang Madness!

2011-04-19T11:12:00.008-05:00

Okay--the fun has officially begun as we've started to sell entry tickets to win a 2011 Mustang GT (red with black racing stripes and yes, a 5.0L engine) or $10,000. These are given away as grand prizes at the Price Cutter Charity Championship golf tournament at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield on August 14th.

Ambassadors for Children was the 3rd highest ticket seller in 2010 (out of over 40 other local children's charities). ***We also sold the winning ticket for the car last year!! With over 970 children in foster care from Greene County, we need your help to support these kids!

Please consider purchasing 1 or more entry tickets. Here are the details:

Each ticket is $25
Each ticket enters you to win a 2011 Mustang GT or $10,000 cash grand prize drawn August 14, 2011
Each ticket also enters you to win one of 500 prizes valued at approximately $25 each
Each ticket includes admission to all four days of the Price Cutter Charity Championship golf tournament at Highland Springs August 11-14, 2011
Only 5,000 tickets will be sold

Ambassadors for Children will receive 100% of proceeds for the tickets we sell
Hurry! Tickets have sold out the past couple years.

2 Ways to get your tickets:
1-Purchase your ticket at the Council of Churches office Monday-Friday 8-4:30pm
2-Print the order form, complete it & send with payment to Ambassadors for Children (we'll mail your ticket stub back once payment is received).

Sondra Uzzell, Ambassadors for Children Director & Jerry Hatfield, 2010 Mustang Winner!

Pancakes, Cinnamon Rolls & Jazz!

2011-03-07T14:58:00.004-06:00

Shrove Pancake Supper

to benefit local children's charities--like ours!
Hosted by the Binnie Clements Guild of First & Calvary Presbyterian Church

Tuesday, March 8th from 5-7:30pm
First & Calvary Presbyterian Church
820 E. Cherry Street (Springfield)
Adults $5, Children 3-11 $2.50, Under 3 Free

Kid's Helping Kids

2011-03-07T14:54:00.002-06:00

A BIG Thank You to the children & members of National Avenue Christian Church for organizing a Silent Auction & Spaghetti Dinner to raise money for our charity!

This was the idea of the Elementary children at the church, who decided to help support local foster children. The event raised $1,146!!!

It's truly inspiring to see Kids helping Kids. We are honored to be chosen by this church to receive this very special gift & we will definitely put it to good use. We are seeing close to 1,000 children in foster care from Greene County, Missouri alone. We appreciate all help as we serve these special kids!

New Volunteer Tutors!

2011-03-02T11:31:00.002-06:00

Hip, Hip, Hooray!!!

We have 5 new Volunteer Tutors trained & almost ready to be matched with foster children from Greene County, MO. We also have 1 additional student opening, so hoping to make 6 new tutor matches in the next few weeks. We're in the process of making 2 matches already, so that will be 8 new foster children receiving free 1-on-1 tutoring in the first couple months of 2011.

Very exciting to be able to help these special kids. Thank you to our special Volunteer Tutors who donate their time & resources to make a difference. You can too! Want more info on becoming a Tutor, check out our Tutoring Webpage.

Special Thanks to Katelind Rohde, our BSW Intern, for doing such a wonderful job promoting our program & recruiting Tutors!

Have a Heart, Help a Child

2011-02-11T16:18:00.006-06:00

During the month of February, stop by Old Missouri Bank (both locations) & purchase a red or pink heart. Choose a $1 or $5 heart and all proceeds will help Old Missouri Bank fulfill needs shared by their Adopted Caseworker through the Ambassadors for Children Adopt-a-Caseworker program!

Their Adopted Caseworker works with local children at immediate risk of foster care placement. Each need Old Missouri Bank is able to fulfill brings a family one step closer to staying together--to not losing their children to foster care. You can help them make a difference OR....

You can Adopt-a-Caseworker too! Want to learn more--visit: Ambassadors4children.org

"A Night at Qdoba"

2011-02-09T15:15:00.007-06:00

Fundraiser & Clothing Drive to benefit Ambassadors for Children

Join Us as we raise $$ to help local abused & neglected children and collect new clothing items for foster children from Greene County. Clothing will be distributed through our Kid's Clothes Closet program.

Here's the Scoop:

What: Qdoba will donate 10% of total profits from the night to our agency!!
When: Thursday, February 24th from 5-9pm
Where: Qdoba Mexican Grill, Battlefield Marketplace (by Bandana's BBQ)
Bring: New clothing items (in all sizes) for foster children & be entered to win a door prize! More Info: www.facebook.com/ambassadors4children

We'll see you there!!

Check this out!

2011-01-25T12:03:00.002-06:00

Our fantastic Practicum Student created this video for our Tutoring Program called, "Become a Tutor" !!!

Volunteer Tutors Needed

2011-01-18T15:01:00.003-06:00

We desperately need volunteers to tutor local foster children. Can you imagine being abused or neglected, placed into foster care, possibly being separated from your brothers & sisters AND having to struggle with schoolwork?

With all the other drama in their lives, these special children need some consistency and support with their homework, developing study skills, reading, history, math and more! It's not just about tutoring, it's about mentoring.

Volunteer tutors meet with learners once per week in a public setting. Free training is provided and volunteers must be 21 years old. Please visit our website for more information and the Volunteer Tutor Application.

Thank You!!

Thank You!

2011-01-18T14:58:00.002-06:00

A special Thank You to Springfield AITP (Association of Information Technology Professionals) for a $318 donation to support our work with local foster children! We truly appreciate their support as we serve some of the most vulnerable children in our community.

Thank You!

2011-01-12T15:27:00.003-06:00

Thank you to Malone Finke Eckhardt & Collins, Inc. for a $700 donation to support our programs! We also want to thank Old Missouri Bank for a $650 donation to assist local foster children through our agency.

We truly could not meet the needs of our community without your help. Thank you so much.

We need your Support

2011-01-12T15:15:00.003-06:00

With the number of children in foster care from our county on the rise, we are struggling to financially meet the demands for our services. We have also set new service records for 4 of our programs in 2010 and continue to serve approximately 600-750 children per year.

Because we are 100% funded by donations and private grants, we need your help. Your donations are used to help purchase new clothing for foster children, match foster children with volunteer tutors, provide hygiene items and extracurricular activities for foster children--and much more!! We educate and mobilize our community to support local child victims of abuse & neglect, while also serving the needs of the children and reducing extra financial strain placed upon their foster parents.

Please consider making a donation by check or securely online. Checks should be made payable to CCO-AFC and mailed to Ambassadors for Children, 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802. Any amount is truly appreciated! Making a donation in honor of a friend or family member also makes a perfect unique gift. Thank you so very much:-)

2010 Child Abuse & Neglect

2011-01-12T15:10:00.003-06:00

The Greene County Juvenile Office has completed their 2010 Child Abuse & Neglect statistics for Greene County, MO. There was a tremendous increase in the number of children placed into foster care, averaging 42 children per month. This is up from the average of 25 children per month in 2009.

Chronic Neglect continues to be the leading factor for children being placed into foster care from Greene County, followed by Drugs/Alcohol issues.

On a positive note, the number of children reunited with their parents after foster care increased 5%, so credit is due to the Greene County Children's Division and Juvenile Office for helping this happen!

You can view all the stats online at: http://www.greenecountymo.org/juvenile/file/abuse10.pdf

New Year, New Fun!

2011-01-12T15:01:00.005-06:00

We are thrilled about 2011 and the exciting things we have planned for this year! We have an intern with our office from January-May and are looking forward to our 2nd Annual Appreciation Dinner in April.

We will also take part in the Annual Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner on May 5th and will be eager to begin planning for the Annual Price Cutter Charity Championship fundraiser golf tournament this summer.

Kringle Talk is Back!

2010-11-23T14:19:00.006-06:00

It's time to order your personalized letters from Santa for the special children in your life. Great for your children, grandchildren nieces & nephews. Create Christmas memories and support local foster children at the same time!

The best part is 30% of the proceeds for each letter benefit Ambassadors for Children as we continue our ministry to serve local foster children. Create Christmas memories and support abused & neglected children at the same time!

Click Here to order!

Project Self-Esteem grant app

2010-11-02T16:07:00.003-05:00

Just finished a grant draft for Project Self-Esteem! We have already served 40 foster children through this program in 2010 and will likely serve up to 10 more through December.

We have provided self-esteem enhancing items & activities to over 170 local foster children since 2005!

Learn more---visit our Project Self-Esteem web page!

You can Help!

2010-10-29T11:47:00.003-05:00

With over 900 kids in foster care, sometimes it seems the problem of child abuse & neglect in Springfield & Greene County is overwhelming, but there are ways you can help. One of the biggest obstacles is finding a place to "jump in" and serve where your talents and resources can be used to make the biggest difference. With so many non profits in our area, even the task of finding an agency to call can be overwhelming!

That's where we come in. We mobilize community members to support local abused & neglected children and their Caseworkers and it's all very EASY! You have a few options:

Adopt-a-Caseworker: you, your family unit, Sunday school class, Church, coworkers, book club or any other group you participate in can do this. We match you with a Greene County foster care Caseworker. They tell you what the kids/families on their caseload need and you help if you can. It's flexible, informal and builds relationships!

Be a Volunteer Tutor: you meet with a foster child 1 hour/week in a public setting and help them with homework, studies and building confidence. No teaching experience is necessary but you will need to pass a couple background checks.

Donate Clothing or Coats: we always need Brand New children's clothing and new winter coats of all sizes. We give these away to foster children through our Kid's Clothes Closet. We distribute only new items on purpose--this is to enhance the self-esteem of children who have often never worn a new clothing garment before:-)

Donate Money: we are a charity, so we always need money to help cover operating costs so our 1 staff person can implement programs. Our services can't exist without an administrator:-) We also need money to purchase new children's clothing and help kids with eye glasses, contacts, school trips, summer camps and much more through Project Self-Esteem. Your tax-deductible gift can be mailed to Ambassadors for Children @ 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802 (payable to CCO-AFC or Ambassadors for Children).

Donate Gently Used Items: You can put a description and photos of any item you would like to donate on our online Web Exchange. It's exclusively for our charity and child protective services workers in Greene County, MO. You list your item and a Caseworker will contact you if they have a client family that needs it.

2010-10-28T14:28:00.002-05:00

We need foster & adoptive parents in Greene County! Find out how you can make a difference for abused & neglected children by opening your heart and home.

Our programs relieve the financial strain upon foster parents and the state provides compensation as well. This is a free event!

November 2, 2010 from 6-8pm
Schweitzer United Methodist Church
2747 E. Sunshine, Springfield, MO

Serving More Kids

2010-10-28T13:39:00.002-05:00

We are serving 11% more foster children through our Kid's Clothes Closet than last year (which was a record setting year for us)! This makes sense, considering the number of foster children from Greene County has risen to over 900 this month.

Anyone can help & here are 2 main ways:

Support our local Caseworkers by adopting one of them through our Adopt-a-Caseworker program. Your support helps ease their stress as they work with a very large caseload. Remember...these Caseworkers help the families, they don't "take" kids away. Children's Division does not have the legal authority to place a child in foster care, they simply manage the child's case after they are placed.

Donate brand new children's winter clothing and new winter coats of all sizes to help keep our Kid's Clothes Closet restocked.

Although Greene County does have high rates of child abuse & neglect, we are not the highest in Missouri. According to 2009 data, Greene County ranks 4th in the state for the number of children in foster care (source: Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division 2009 Annual Report).

More 180 Film Fest Pics

2010-10-15T15:50:00.004-05:00

Kelly Ennis, Leslie Boughton & Sondra Uzzell pose while cleaning up after the event

Volunteer Kelly Ennis strikes a pose with the table centerpieces!

The Child Care Resource & Referral staff are all smiles!

A couple volunteers help Richard Virnig (center) load the John Deere riding mower that was purchased at the Live Auction

180 Film Fest Photos!!

2010-10-15T15:39:00.008-05:00

We had a blast putting on the 1st Annual 180 Film Festival!
Check out these photos of staff & volunteers:-)

(Sondra Uzzell & Anne Schubert at the Ambassadors for Children Reverse Auction Display)

Halloween Fun

2010-10-15T15:26:00.009-05:00

Check out our dedicated Advisory Committee members (Connie Condict, Mary Casada & Karenanne Miller) putting together Halloween Goody bags for Greene County child protective caseworkers!

We included a "goulish" note to remind them of our programs & show some appreciation! This type of creative marketing will take place quarterly with the seasons/holidays. We are excited & the Caseworkers LOVE them!

Breaking Service Records!!

2010-10-15T15:22:00.003-05:00

We are breaking service records again for the 2nd straight year!

Over 350 foster children served through the Kid's Clothes Closet in 2010
Winter Coats needed (brand new only)

Over 110 Project Self-Esteem requests for foster children in 2010

180 Film Festival & Auction THIS Saturday!!

2010-10-06T10:22:00.003-05:00

THIS Saturday, October 9th 5-8pm @ Remington's on Republic Road

Come one, come all to this fundraiser to benefit Ambassadors for Children and 7 other operating agencies of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks!

Featuring:

Film Premieres (180 seconds each)
People's Choice film award (you get to vote!)
Food catered by HuHot Mongolian Grill (also including hot dogs, popcorn, cookies & drinks)
Live Auction (John Deere riding mower, David Yurman bracelet, Puerta Vallarta Getaway & More!)
Reverse Auction (you get to purchase items WE need to provide our services)
Door Prizes
Prizes for those who make Donations through the Reverse Auction
Kid's Zone (crafts, face painting, childrens donation area)

4 Easy Ways to get tickets

Council of Churches office (Glenstone & Chestnut Expressway, behind El Maguey restaurant)
Lifeway Christian Store (by Shoe Carnival in the Primrose Marketplace)
Online at www.ccozarks.org
Purchase tickets at the door!

Foster Parents Needed!

2010-09-23T16:19:00.003-05:00

Greene County placed approximately 25 children into foster care last week alone! We're seeing a spike in the number of kids coming into care recently and we don't have enough foster homes for all the kids.

It's completely FREE to become a foster parent and the rewards are priceless. It only takes about 5 months to complete the process & the state (in addition to our programs) offer lots of assistance and support.

Check this out for more information today! These special kids need you desperately.

Thank You IPC Foundation!!

2010-09-08T14:57:00.007-05:00

We want to shout a "Howdy" Thank You to the IPC Foundatio n for donating 250 kid's cowboy hats for the Kid's Zone at the upcoming Council of Churches 180 Film Festival & Reverse Auction! These fun hats will keep the kids entertained while the adults bid on live auction items and reverse auction items to benefit our agency and 8 others (who are all part of the Council of Churches in Springfield, MO).

Want one? Well, you'll have to get your ticket for the 180 Film Festival:-) OR, you could visit Springfield's Incredible Pizza Company game room to play and cash in your tickets for one of these. Happy Trails:-)

Thank you to our lovely model, Christine Moses, Special Events Coordinator at the Council of Churches!

180 Film Festival

2010-08-20T14:13:00.005-05:00

It's been 41 years in the making and now it's HERE!! A fundraiser event that benefits the operating agencies of the Council of Churches of the Ozarks (including Ambassadors for Children).

Check out the 180 Film Festival & Reverse Auction, October 9th from 5-8pm at Remington's in Springfield, MO. We'll have film premieres, awards, live and reverse auction, food and kid's activities.

Enter your 3 minute film and you could WIN $2,000!!! Films are due 9/18/10--so HURRY! This is great for individuals, Churches, Youth Groups and much more. Be part of an innovative community event that supports charity for children, seniors and people with disabilities:-)

Project Self-Esteem Gets Support

2010-08-20T14:09:00.003-05:00

We are very proud to have received a $2,000 grant award from the Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation to provide physical and medical self-esteem enhancing items for foster children through our Project Self-Esteem program!

Potential items we can fund include: eye glasses, contact lenses, eye exams, partial braces down payments, dental costs not covered by Medicaid, infant circumcision costs not covered by Medicaid and developmental disability equipment. All items are for children placed into foster care from Greene County, MO and must be requested by the child's foster care Caseworker.

For more info: Sondra Uzzell, Ambassadors for Children Director
862-3586 ext. 236

Winning Ticket!

2010-08-20T14:04:00.004-05:00

Yes, you saw that correctly. Ambassadors for Children sold the winning ticket for the 2010 Mustang given away through the Price Cutter Charity Championship on August 15th!

Congratulations to Mr. Jerry Hatfield! We sold approximately 252 tickets this year, raising $6,300 unrestricted dollars for our organization. We are so grateful for the Price Cutter Charity Championship and the opportunity it provides us to raise money and strengthen relationships with other children's charities.

This is me after learning we sold the ticket. It was about 100 degrees on the golf course. To my knowledge, this is the first time Ambassadors for Children has sold a grand prize winning ticket since we joined the tournament about 7 years ago:-)

Sweepstakes Tickets Going Fast!

2010-07-13T11:09:00.004-05:00

Get your ticket today to win a 2010 Mustang or $10,000 cash. All proceeds go to charity and Ambassadors for Children gets proceeds for tickets we sell. With only 4,000 tickets sold, they are sure to sell out again this year--don't miss your chance to win big!

The drawing is August 15th at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield. Sondra Uzzell, Agency Director for Ambassadors for Children, will be present at the drawing to claim a prize on your behalf if you win and cannot be present yourself. Please help us reach our sales goal of 280 tickets!!

Ticket Order Form--click here

Order by mail (above order form) or come see us tonight (7/13/10) at Hammons Field Gate #1 from 5:30-7:30pm or this Saturday (7/17/10) at the Branson Landing to get your tickets!

Thank you Old Missouri Bank!

2010-07-13T11:05:00.004-05:00

We partnered with Old Missouri Bank for a Facebook/Twitter fundraiser in May and June. They gained 100 new fans during that time and donated $1 for each to our charity! We are so appreciative of their support and creativity when it comes to supporting our work for abused children.

Check them out at www.bankwiseonline.com

Summer is Spectacular!

2010-07-01T16:12:00.002-05:00

We are always busy during the summertime!

Last weekend we sold over 32 sweepstakes tickets at the Branson Landing! At $25 per ticket, we made $800 for our organization! Thank you to the volunteers who helped. We'll be at it again on Saturday, July 17th--so come see us and the 2010 Mustang we are selling tickets for.

Last Friday we joined 95 supporters for Ambassadors for Children Night at the Springfield Cardinals game! It was a fantastic game and we enjoyed some spectacular fireworks afterward. Since the Springfield Cardinals matched our ticket sales, we now have 95 game tickets to give away to the children & families we serve! That distribution is also under way.

We are actively seeking donations for the "Party on the Green" charity auction on August 5th from 6-9pm at University Plaza in Springfield. We get proceeds from each item we contribute--so please help if you can! Tickets to the auction are $25 and will be sold at the door.

Springfield Cardinals Game

2010-06-10T14:43:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow is the last day to get your tickets to the Springfield Cardinals Game on June 25th. Each ticket is $9 and Ambassadors for Children gets the proceeds. Tickets are seated together and are in the Purple sections A-C or N-M.

The Springfield Cardinals will also donate 1 ticket for each one we sell--which will be distributed to local abused and neglected children who otherwise might never see a professional baseball game!

Get yours now by paying securely online with credit card. Click Donate, register, click One Time Gift, Ambassadors for Children and Springfield Cardinals Game 6/25.

Your purchased tickets will be mailed to you the week of June 14th. THANK YOU!!

Concert ticket winner!

2010-06-10T14:40:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to Christine Giddings! She won 2 tickets to the sold out Carrie Underwood concert in Springfield, MO next week. We are all so excited!!

Thank you Christine for your support of our programs for this very special fundraiser Giveaway!

Carrie Underwood Concert Ticket Giveaway

2010-04-30T17:27:00.006-05:00

Want tickets to the SOLD OUT Carrie Underwood concert in Springfield, MO on June 15th?

Your $20 donation to Ambassadors for Children in May will get you 1 Official Entry to win a pair of tickets!! Make donations online (click Donate, register, One Time Gift, Ambassadors for Children & Carrie Underwood Ticket Giveaway).

Or, make checks payable to Ambassadors for Children and mail to 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802. Your Official Entry Form Receipt will be mailed to you. Check out the Official Rules.

Enter NOW and support our Charity!

Special Thank You to Clear Channel Radio and 105.9 KGBX with Woody and Janet in the Morning!

Busy Times are Coming!

2010-04-27T13:03:00.003-05:00

May is gearing up to be our busiest month of the year! Stay tuned for 4 different FUN-draisers we are starting in May. A few of them will extend through the summer.

We need everyone's help to make these a success:-)

2010-03-24T11:15:00.002-05:00

We currently have 7 local children waiting for a Volunteer Tutor. Can you help? They are girls and boys ages 11-19 and need help with things like Math, Reading, Study Skills and preparing for a GED.

If you want to make a real difference and tutor/mentor a local abused or neglected child 1 on 1, scroll down to my previous post for Volunteer Tutor information and application forms.

Thank you~!

Volunteer Opportunities

2010-02-16T10:14:00.005-06:00

Saw it in our E-Newsletter? Here's a bit more information for you about our current & upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Volunteer Tutors

tutor a local child who has experienced some level of abuse or neglect
1 tutoring session per week (approximately 1-2 volunteer hours/week including session, prep & travel time)
must be 21 years old
must pass Child Abuse/Neglect & MO Highway Patrol background checks
All tutor sessions occur in a public location
No experience required & training is available
Volunteer Tutor Job Description, Tutor Application, Child Abuse background check form, Highway Patrol background check form

Clothing Drive Coordinators

Help organize a clothing drive at your school, work or church
Deliver collected clothing to The Kid's Clothes Closet
We need to collect brand new children's clothing size infant-teenager for boys & girls to keep our Kid's Clothes Closet restocked
The Kid's Clothes Closet provides brand new clothing, socks, underwear, pajamas and coats for local foster children

Groups to Adopt-a-Caseworker

Perfect for a Church, small faith group, business, group of work colleagues or a family
We match you with a local Child Protective Caseworker
The Caseworker tells you the needs of the 20-25 children on his/her caseload
You try to fulfill the needs when you are able (with used or new items)
Adopt-a-Caseworker Frequently Asked Questions (page 1, page 2)

Raffle Ticket Sellers

Saturday, June 26th at the Branson Landing
Saturday, July 17th at the Branson Landing
Help us sell raffle tickets for a new Mustang (as part of the Price Cutter Charity Championship)
We need volunteers from 9am-10pm both dates (volunteer shifts are 2 hours)

Golf Tournament Volunteers

Price Cutter Charity Championship August 5th-August 15th
Many volunteer jobs available based on your preferences
No golf experience necessary for most volunteer jobs

Are you our next Sponsor?

2010-02-16T09:47:00.003-06:00

We are still trying to get 1 or more local businesses to sponsor Ambassadors for Children at the 21st Annual Price Cutter Charity Championship this summer.

The sponsorships start at $500 and include a great ticket package and business promotion at one of the top sporting events in our area. Plus, Ambassadors for Children receives a portion of the sponsorship amount when charity funds are distributed after the tournament.

If you want to learn more, please contact Sondra Uzzell at suzzell@ccozarks.org or 417-862-3586

Thanks!

Say What?

2010-02-16T09:19:00.004-06:00

Yes! We are finally on Facebook and Twitter! It took me several months, but I'm so glad we are now using social media. I thought it was going to be a lot of extra work, but it's actually quite fun to keep everyone updated daily about the great things we are doing. I love to get comments and hear what everyone else is saying. If you haven't become our Fan or Follower yet, you are missing out!

I can't believe we have 171 Facebook fans in our 1st Facebook week!

Tweet with us on Twitter (search: Amb4Children)

Become a Facebook Fan

2010-02-08T12:06:00.004-06:00

We are now on Facebook!

Follow our link and become our fan today!

Critical Need

2010-02-08T11:44:00.005-06:00

We are in desperate need of donations to support our Kid's Clothes Closet program. We served 427 local foster children in 2009 through The Kid's Clothes Closet by providing them with FREE brand new clothing (6 shirts, 6 pants), socks (6 pr.), underwear (6 pr.), pajamas (2), winter coats (1), shoe gift cards (2-4 cards) and haircut coupons (2). Last year we received $35,000 for this program and we spent less than $100 for each child.

We have received just over $14,000 in program grants this fiscal year and we need at least $21,000 to keep pace with current needs.

Donations can be made several ways:

Make a secure online donation HERE (follow the link, click the Paypal donate button and put Kid's Closet in the description box)

Mail a check to Ambassadors for Children, P.O. Box 3947, Springfield, Missouri 65808. Make check payable to Council of Churches and put Ambassadors for Children-KC in the check memo line

Purchase brand new children's clothing items yourself and deliver them to The Kid's Clothes Closet (located inside the Ronald McDonald House) at 949 E. Primrose, Springfield, Missouri from 9am-9pm, 7 days/week

We partner with the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks for this program and the free haircut coupons are donated by The System, A Paul Mitchell Partner School.

Letters from Santa

2009-11-24T09:13:00.002-06:00

Every young child wants their own letter from Santa! Get your child or grandchild a unique and memorable gift this year (and support Ambassadors for Children in the process).

Click here and purchase a personalized letter from Santa for your special little one. Ambassadors for Children will receive 30% of proceeds from each letter that is purchased. This special gift will allow us to continue our work to ensure the needs of local foster children are met this holiday season. Thank you KringleTalk.com and Merry Christmas to all!!

Back to Work

2009-11-24T09:06:00.003-06:00

My baby girl was born just 9 days after my last post! After 10 weeks of maternity leave, I'm back at work and getting caught up on many things. I have several Project Self-Esteem requests to process, as well as 3 new child referrals for our Tutoring Program! That is very exciting news. I will be spending the next weeks (and time into the new year) searching for more volunteer tutors to meet the growing needs of the Tutoring Program.

We also have quite a need for The Kid's Clothes Closet! In October alone, we had over 80 appointments and are struggling to keep the Closet stocked with clothing to meet the demand. It is difficult to see the foster children visit The Kid's Clothes Closet and leave with very little because we do not have their sizes. This is especially hard as they try to find a winter coat. We don't want any child to be cold this season. You can help by donating brand new children's clothing and coats of all sizes to The Kid's Clothes Closet, located at the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks (949 E. Primrose, Springfield, MO 65807, 7 days/week from 9am-9pm). Thank You!!

Bump Watch

2009-09-03T10:48:00.003-05:00

That's right! We are watching my growing baby bump each day now, waiting for my baby girl to finally arrive. This is a very exciting time for my family.

Ambassadors for Children is essentially a 1-person agency. As the Director, I do not have an Assistant or other staff to ensure our programs continue to run smoothly and efficiently while I am on maternity leave. Therefore, I will continue to monitor all programs and perform necessary functions from home for 10 weeks following the birth of my daughter (until I return to full-time work). All of the Ambassadors for Children programs will continue during this time, and we will continue to accept donations, referrals for Project Self-Esteem, referrals for our Tutoring program, and Volunteer Tutor applications. We will also continue to monitor data for all programs.

The great work we do must continue as we strive to ensure quality services and supports for local abused & neglected children!

Big Thanks to Many!

2009-09-03T10:38:00.003-05:00

We would like to thank Ozarks Health Advocacy Foundation for a $6,000 grant award in support of our Project Self-Esteem program. This gift was desperately needed, as Project Self-Esteem has experienced an explosion of growth in 2009. This is already a record-breaking year for this program and we are excited to be serving more foster children!

A huge Thank You as well to James River Assembly Cherish Kid's Ministry, who donated $1,500 in gift cards to Walmart and Target for our Kid's Clothes Closet program. This is a great blessing, as the Kid's Clothes Closet is also heading toward a record-breaking year and we are struggling to stretch our funding to meet the increased need.

Price Cutter Charity Championship 2009

2009-09-03T10:19:00.003-05:00

This year was a great success for Ambassadors for Children as we participated in the 20th annual Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr. Pepper! We sold over 260 raffle tickets this year and smashed our record of 108 set in 2008. As the Ambassadors for Children Director, I once again joined the Charity Auction Committee and am happy to report that we estimate the Auction made about $10,000 more than it did in 2008.

Times are difficult, but the local giving spirit lives on to ensure the most vulnerable folks in our area continue to receive the services they need.

Thank you to everyone who helped sell raffle tickets, purchased raffle tickets, volunteered at the Auction, and donated items for the Auction. You are appreciated so much!

"Smiles for Saving" Fundraising Event

2009-06-17T15:47:00.003-05:00

"Smiles for Saving"
Free Food & Fun for a Good Cause

What: Ambassadors for Children Fundraiser & Old Missouri Bank 10th Anniversary Celebration

OMB will donate $1 to Ambassadors for Children for
every person that attends

Featuring: Food, Bounce Houses, Face Painting, Drawings, Coloring/Drawing Contest with Prizes, Chance to Purchase Raffle Tickets for 2010 Camaro

When: Friday, July 24, 2009 2pm-6pm

Where: Old Missouri Bank 3570 S. National (National & Primrose) 1535 W. Sunshine (Sunshine & Kansas Expwy)

Cost: ABSOLUTELY FREE !!!

visit http://www.bankwiseonline.com/smilesforsaving.asp for coloring/drawing contest forms and more information

Raffle Ticket Mania!!

2009-05-26T14:39:00.007-05:00

We are currently selling raffle tickets for the Marlin Network Charitable Fund Charity Sweepstakes as part of our participation in the 20th Annual Price Cutter Charity Championship golf tournament this year.

Each ticket is only $25 and includes a 4 day tournament pass and enters you to win a 2010 Camaro or $10,000 cash and one of four hundred gift certificates valued at $25. We are one of forty-three other local charities trying to sell a maximum of 4,000 tickets, so competition is steep! Each ticket has a 1 in 10 chance of winning a prize. Ambassadors for Children receives 100% of all proceeds for every ticket we sell. Please help us continue our mission of serving local abused & neglected children.

To purchase a ticket, click here and complete the order form and listed instructions. Or simply mail your check (payable to PCCC) to Ambassadors for Children at 627 N. Glenstone, Springfield, MO 65802.

Thank you for your support!!

Ronald McDonald House Volunteer Dinner

2009-05-01T09:09:00.003-05:00

'Tis the season for annual banquets!! The Ronald McDonald House annual Volunteer Dinner will be held Thursday, May 7th. Ambassadors for Children operates The Kid's Clothes Closet program in collaboration with the Ronald McDonald House to provide free brand new clothing items and shoe gift cards for children in state custody in Greene County jurisdiction.

This event provides an opportunity for Ambassadors for Children to acknowledge the efforts of Ronald McDonald House volunteers throughout the year to help organize The Kid's Clothes Closet and facilitate appointments with foster parents and foster children. I will also be sharing some exciting upcoming changes to the program to allow appointments to run more smoothly and be more time efficient.

The Ronald McDonald House has a special place in my heart, as I worked there from 2001-2004 and have continued to volunteer 3 hours/week since. My son was also born 4 weeks premature and spent nearly 1 week in the Intensive Care Nursery a couple years ago, so I more than appreciate the special services they offer in addition to being a partner with Ambassadors for Children.

Thank You Ronald McDonald House Staff & Volunteers!!!

Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner

2009-05-01T09:03:00.002-05:00

The annual Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner will be held on Thursday, May 7th at First Baptist Church in Springfield. This event honors foster parents from Greene County and their willingness to open their hearts and homes to local abused & neglected children.

This event is organized by a variety of area agencies, including Ambassadors for Children. The event will feature free food, entertainment, guest speakers, and child activities for the kids. Area agencies also donate "theme" baskets for giveaways to each foster family. This year, Ambassadors for Children is pleased to donate a "Game Night" theme basket. I hope the receiving foster family has as much fun playing with these games as I had picking them out!

Sweet Success!

2009-04-17T13:18:00.006-05:00

We had nearly 80 attendees at our Adopt-a-Caseworker orientation luncheon on March 31st. This event provided community members the opportunity to interact with Caseworkers served by this program and to hear from several guest speakers. So far, we have 4 new confirmed Partner groups who have "adopted" a Caseworker after attending the event. We have at least an additional 6 potential Partner groups pending following the event.

We also now have 22 active Adopt-a-Caseworker matches in Greene County! This is spectacular success considering we just started making matches 1 month ago and our goal for the entire year was 25!!

Caseworkers have already been making requests and lives are already being changed by this tremendous program. We are so thrilled and recognize this success would not be possible without the dedication of each Partner group and the teamwork established with their "adopted" Caseworker.

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice."

2009-02-05T14:00:00.009-06:00

Please Join Us!!

Adopt-a-Caseworker Orientation Luncheon

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

12noon-1pm

St. John's Cancer Center 2nd Floor Auditorium

(2055 S. Fremont, just South of Fremont & Cherokee)

Free Lunch Provided

RSVP Required by March 24th to Sondra Uzzell

417-862-3586 or suzzell@ccozarks.org

To learn how you can make a difference in the lives of local abused & neglected children in a direct and positive way, please reserve your seat today! This fantastic program matches local community members & groups with a Child Protective Caseworker to fulfill the specific needs of children on the Caseworker's caseload. You can be an Ambassador for Children through this program! RSVP today--Seating is limited!

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice."

KGBX Women's Show

2009-02-05T13:47:00.005-06:00

Ambassadors for Children will have a booth at the Annual KGBX Women's Show in Springfield on Saturday, February 28th from 8am-4pm at the E-Plex (Ozark Empire Fairgrounds). Admission is $5.00 and parking is Free. Please stop by and learn more about our Adopt-a-Caseworker program and the difference you can make in the lives of local abused & neglected children.

We will also be inviting folks to attend our 2nd Adopt-a-Caseworker Orientation event on Tuesday, March 31st from 12-1pm at the St. John's Cancer Center (see more details above).

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims oice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice."

Adopt-a-Caseworker Begins!

2009-01-21T21:22:00.003-06:00

January is FINALLY here and that means the program begins this month! After 10 months of planning, procedures, guidelines, policies and forms are all complete. A program manual has also been completed (30 pages long).

We currently have 17 Partner groups to match with local Caseworkers. One group is adopting 2 Caseworkers, so we will have 18 matches in month #1. That is a very strong start to this amazing program and we look forward to recruiting enough groups for the remaining 54 Caseworkers. I have completed training for Caseworkers and the Primary/Secondary contact persons for each Partner group. I look forward to making matches by the end of this month!

The Web Exchange is up and running. I finished entering in all Caseworker emails today and will be listing our first item before the weekend. The Caseworkers are very excited about this resource. It's a great way to provide resources for the Caseworkers who are still waiting to be adopted. Please visit the site at www.ambassadors4children.org/xchange

New Gifts to Support the Kid's Closet!

2009-01-21T21:13:00.004-06:00

The Kid's Clothes Closet recently received generous funding from the following organizations. We are so thrilled to receive this funding and look forward to using these funds to purchase new clothing, coats and shoe gift cards for local foster children. Thank you so much for your wonderful generosity!

The Musgrave Foundation: $1,000.00
The C.W. Titus Foundation: $10,000.00
Pauly Trust: $5,000.00
The Gannett Foundation: $2,500.00

Kid's Clothes Closet Update

2009-01-21T21:07:00.002-06:00

The numbers for 2008 are in! The Kid's Clothes Closet program saw nearly 350 appointments from Greene County foster children in the pursuit of new clothing. The program served just under 300 total foster children in 2008, which is slightly less than the past few years.

As I've been training Caseworkers for our Adopt-a-Caseworker program, I've discovered that there was a great deal of foster care Caseworker turnover in 2008. That likely explains the decline in children served this year, as the Caseworkers are not aware of the program. To address this problem, I created a Kid's Clothes Closet flyer and emailed it to all Greene County foster care Caseworkers. They were all encouraged to make copies and distribute the flyer to foster parents. I also plan to pursue having the flyer included in all new foster parent training materials. My next shopping trip is Friday, so the Kid's Clothes Closet will be well-stocked for the weekend!

Gearing up for the New Year!

2008-12-19T07:20:00.005-06:00

January 2009 will mark the beginning of our new Adopt-a-Caseworker program. This program has been in the "planning" stages for around 9 months, so you can imagine what a celebration it is for the program to finally be implemented. This means that both Caseworkers and Partner groups in the community will be trained and matched in January. Once matched, these partnerships can begin to provide much-needed resources for local abused & neglected children and their families. Many of the needs this program can fulfill are not being fulfilled by other local charities. With the economic decline and the loss of several jobs locally, increased needs are expected. Can you help?

If you are interested in partnering with a child protective Caseworker to support the needs of his/her caseload, please call 862-3586 and ask for Sondra.

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims oice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice."

Coats Needed

2008-11-25T10:58:00.002-06:00

Our Kid's Clothes Closet needs new children's winter coats to fulfill the needs of local foster children this winter season. This program serves children infant-teenager, so all sizes are welcome. The coats must be new and can be donated at the Council of Churches (627 N. Glenstone) or the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks (949 E. Primrose).

Thank you for helping us keep children warm this season!

Adopt-a-Caseworker Web Exchange

2008-11-14T15:52:00.017-06:00

Exciting news!!

Our Adopt-a-Caseworker strategic planning meeting is now over and we continue to finalize our program policies and procedures in preparation for the January 09 program kick-off.

With the brilliant donated help of my husband, an online Web Exchange program is being created. This program will allow the exchange of items available for donation from Partner groups when their "adopted" Caseworker does not have a need for that item on his/her caseload.

It's a way we can channel all available donations to Greene County Caseworkers to distribute to their client families without the fiscal or physical responsibility of providing storage for the items.

How does it work?

~ Partner groups with available donations first offer the item to their "adopted" Caseworker
~ If their "adopted" Caseworker has no need for the item on his/her caseload, the Partner group asks Ambassadors for Children to list it on the Web Exchange
~ Greene County Caseworkers are notified by email each time a new listing is posted
~ Caseworkers contact the Partner group to receive the item for a family on their caseload
~ This system operates on a 1st come, 1st serve policy
~ Items are automatically removed from the Web Exchange 7-14 days after being listed
(depending on how long the Partner group is willing to hold the item)
~ Caseworkers are responsible for either delivering items to their clients or following
procedures for arranging delivery (in the case of large items)

The Web Exchange site will be available for use in January 2009
To view the new Ambassadors for Children website, (in progress) click Here
To view the current Ambassadors for Children Website, click Here

Pictured: Some of the items expected on the Web Exchange

It's almost January!

2008-11-14T11:19:00.008-06:00

You know what that means...our Adopt-a-Caseworker program will be starting! We are very excited for this program to become operational as we begin to make "matches" between Partner groups and Child Protective Caseworkers.

~ A few upcoming events ~

Caseworker Training
Ambassadors for Children will be training Greene County Caseworkers at Children's Division and their Contracted sites providing Foster Care Case Management and Intensive In-Home Services. The training will occur during regularly scheduled Caseworker staff meetings in early January 2009.

Partner Group Training
Ambassadors for Children will be training faith, business & civic Partner groups who have already expressed a verbal committment to participate in Adopt-a-Caseworker. This will take place at the Council of Churches on January 20, 2009.

Recruitment Luncheon
We are planning another Adopt-a-Caseworker Partner Group recruitment luncheon in February/March 2009. The program will be presented and attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions as they decide if it's a good "fit" for their group.

Missouri Compassion Conference
Ambassadors for Children is partnering with Missouri Compassion and other local faith-based organizations to provide a conference for the faith community in April 2009 on ways to help local families involved in Child Protective Services. The Adopt-a-Caseworker program will be presented at one of the breakout sessions at this conference.

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims oice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice."

Tutoring Program adds New Element

2008-10-14T17:00:00.006-05:00

Ambassadors for Children has begun a wonderful partnership with The Ozarks Literacy Council to enhance the Tutoring Scholarships program we offer for Greene County foster children! In addition to funding tutoring sessions, we will be providing tutoring "starter kits" to each foster child as they begin tutoring. These kits will be assembled by The Ozarks Literacy Council and will contain brand new books and other educational resources specialized for each child's educational and emotional needs.

There will be a benefit car wash to support this project at the In & Out car wash (North Glenstone, just South of Kearney in Springfield) on November 19th. All proceeds will benefit this program. Sondra Uzzell, Ambassadors for Children Director, has also been invited to participate in a radio interview from 4-6pm on November 19th (at the Car Wash benefit) with Paula Shumaker, the Director of The Ozarks Literacy Council.

Free Haircuts for Foster Kids!

2008-10-14T16:52:00.003-05:00

Our Kid's Clothes Closet program is now offering a free haircut coupon to every foster child each time they visit to pick out new clothing (2x/year). This is made possible through an extremely generous donation from The System, a Paul Mitchell Partner School in Springfield. Special Thanks to Christy Sandwell, friend, staff member at Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks, and student at The System for initiating this fantastic partnership! Special Thanks also to Mr. Greg Kellogg at The System for being so generous and pleasant to coordinate with!

2008 Business Expo

2008-10-14T16:44:00.007-05:00

Ambassadors for Children was successfully represented at the 2008 Springfield Business Expo sponsored by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce on October 2, 2008. Our booth was staffed from 8:30am-7:00pm and we had the opportunity to share our Adopt-a-Caseworker program with many people in the community.

This was a fun event and we are thrilled to continue expanding community awareness about our programs, especially Adopt-a-Caseworker. Special Thanks to the following members of our Advisory Committee who volunteered time at our booth: Karenanne Miller, Connie Condict, Cynthia VanBuskirk, Denise Bredfeldt, and Mary Casada. It couldn't have been done without your help and support!

Pictured above: Sondra Uzzell, Agency Director poses just after booth set-up

Pictured at Left: Sondra Uzzell & Cindy VanBuskirk, Advisory Committee member, pose at the Expo

Pictured Below: Two side views of our Expo Booth

$19,500 Grant Awarded by Community Foundation of the Ozarks

2008-10-13T10:49:00.009-05:00

Ambassadors for Children was awarded a $19,500 grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks on October 1, 2008 as part of their 2008/2009 Health & Social Services grant cycle.

These funds will be used to purchase brand new clothing for The Kid's Clothes Closet program and to fund tutoring sessions for Greene County foster children through our Tutoring Scholarships program. There were over 819 foster children in Greene County in FY 2007 (source: Greene County Children's Division FY 2007 statistics), and these programs served 337 of those children. With this great support from The Community Foundation of the Ozarks, we can continue to provide these wonderful services for foster children in our community.

Thank You Community Foundation of the Ozarks!

Pictured at right: Dr. Gary Funk, Community Foundation of the Ozarks, and Sondra Uzzell, Director of Ambassadors for Children

Fun on a Friday!

2008-09-26T14:25:00.005-05:00

I finally finished putting several finishing touches on the Ambassadors for Children booth for the Springfield Business Expo! I put special effort into making the booth appealing, as to stand out among the other non-profit booths. This will be a major recruiting effort for business Groups to participate in our new Adopt-a-Caseworker program. Several members of the Ambassadors for Children Advisory Committee will be volunteering at the Expo to facilitate discussions about the program and a fun game to enter the drawing. No more spoilers...you will have to come check out our booth to learn more.

Click this link to our September newsletter and print page 2 for a free ticket. See you on Thursday at the Expo!

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims oice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice."

Win 2 Dixie Stampede tickets!

2008-09-26T09:25:00.003-05:00

Email Sondra at suzzell@ccozarks.org to get your free ticket to the Springfield Business Expo on Thursday, October 2nd at the Springfield Exposition Center (9am-7pm). This is a $10 value!

Come and "party" with Ambassadors for Children in booth 803 for a chance to win 2 tickets to Dixie Stampede in Branson. These tickets were generously donated by Dixie Stampede for our booth drawing. Our theme is "Every child deserves a Happy Birthday!" Come find out how you can support this cause thorough our Adopt-a-Caseworker program.

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims oice Programs, U.S. Department of Justic, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice."

Junior League of Springfield goes Shopping...

2008-09-26T09:14:00.007-05:00

Volunteers from The Junior League of Springfield went shopping for The Kid's Clothes Closet on August 29th as part of their Done in a Day project. The timing of this project was perfect, as it took place the day following the rotation of winter clothing into the Closet by Great Southern Bank volunteers (see next post). This allowed us to make sure winter clothing was well-stocked in preparation for the season. Thank you so much Junior League of Springfield!

Ready for Fall & Winter...

2008-09-26T09:05:00.005-05:00

A group of volunteers from Great Southern Bank has once again ensured in-season clothing is available in The Kid's Clothes Closet. The group spent part of the day on August 28th rotating in Winter clothing and took a break to pose for this picture. Thank you so much Great Southern Bank for your continued support and dedication to this program!

Kid's Clothes Closet Milestone

2008-09-12T20:44:00.003-05:00

The Kid's Clothes Closet served its 2500th foster child in August 2008!

We are proud to be a service and resource to local foster children and foster parents. We also proudly collaborate with the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks to make this program a reality. Thanks to everyone who has made this possible!

Pictured: a Thank You drawn by a foster child served through The Kid's Clothes Closet

2008 Springfield Business Expo

2008-08-26T09:55:00.010-05:00

Ambassadors for Children will have our own booth at the Springfield Business Expo, which draws around 6,000 spectators each year. This is a very exciting opportunity for us, as we will be recruiting business groups to participate in the Adopt-a-Caseworker program.

____________________________________________

This program will allow local businesses the opportunity to support local child victims of abuse/neglect and their Caseworkers in a very specific and direct way. Volunteers from the Ambassadors for Children Advisory Committee and the Agency Director, Sondra Uzzell, will staff the booth from 9am-7pm on Thursday, October 2nd. To receive a free Expo ticket, please contact Sondra Uzzell at suzzell@ccozarks.org or call 417-862-3586.

Come see us on October 2nd in booth 803!!!

____________________________________________

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims oice Programs, U.S. Department of Justic, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice."

2008 Day of Caring

2008-08-15T14:52:00.010-05:00

The 2008 United Way Day of Caring proved to be a huge success for Ambassadors for Children!

A total of 14 fantastic volunteers from the City of Springfield volunteered their time and energy on Thursday, August 14th to help organize and distribute duffel bags for our Pack-a-Bag with Love program. Their total in-kind volunteer time was 52 hours!

These volunteers completed 185 duffel bags for children entering foster care in Greene County and also assisted to transport 100 of the bags to the Greene County Children's Division Office.

A total of 265 bags had already been completed and delivered to Missouri Baptist Children's Home, Presbyterian Children's Services, Boys & Girls Town, and Springfield Partners by volunteers from Ash Grove First Christian Church.

We truly appreciate the help and support of these wonderful people!

Check out these amazing Before & After pictures!!!

Bags before prep, empty storage boxes after prep, and finished bags ready for transport

Foster Parent Insight

2008-08-15T14:44:00.004-05:00

Local Foster Parents were given the opportunity to participate in a special focus group last night (8/14/2008) to share their thoughts about Ambassadors for Children and our new Adopt-a-Caseworker program.

21 Foster Parents participated in the event. They shared enthusiasm for the program, as well as the existing Ambassadors for Children programs that serve them and their foster children exclusively.

Many great questions, suggestions, and opinions were shared among the group. Thanks to all who participated in this process! The information gathered will be used to assess our community needs as we embark upon the strategic planning process for this new and exciting program!

For more information about Adopt-a-Caseworker, see the program information section to the right.

"The Adopt-a-Caseworker project is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or polices of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice"

Adopt-a-Caseworker Luncheon a Success!

2008-07-24T14:38:00.010-05:00

Ambassadors for Children hosted a free luncheon on July 22, 2008 for local faith, business, and civic groups to learn more about the Adopt-a-Caseworker program. This event was attended by 80 individuals representing the following faith groups, business groups, civic groups & organizations:

Churches & Faith Groups

Ash Grove First Christian Church

Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau

Christ Episcopal Church

First & Calvary Presbyterian Church

Grace United Methodist Church

Incarnate Word Associates Group

Messiah Lutheran Church

Park Crest Calvary Temple

Presbyterian Church of Willard

Ridgecrest Baptist Church

Royal Family Kids' Camp

Springhill Baptist Church

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Willard Mt. Zion Presbyterian Church

Temple Israel

Business Groups

Bancorp South Mortgage Center

City Utilities of Springfield

Gold Mechanical

Great Southern Bank

Old Missouri Bank

SBU St. John's School of Nursing

Civic Groups

Alpha Delta Mu Honor Society

Girls on the Run-Downtown YMCA

Missouri State University Social Work Club

Springfield Downtown Kiwanis Group

Springfield Rotary Southeast

Organizations

Boys & Girls Town of Missouri

Child Care Resource & Referral

Community Partnership of the Ozarks

Council of Churches of the Ozarks

Greene County Children's Division

Greene County Juvenile Office

Greene County Prosecuting Attorney's Office

Guardian Ad Litem

Jordan Valley Community Health Center

Missouri Baptist Children's Home

Missouri State University

Parenting Life Skills Center

Partners for a Better Tomorrow

Presbyterian Children's Services

Special Thanks for Media Coverage Provided By:

KY3

Springfield News-Leader

KSMU

Special Thanks to Caseworker Table Hosts From:

Missouri Baptist Children's Home

Presbyterian Children's Services

Greene County Children's Division

Boys & Girls Town of Missouri

If you would like more information about our Adopt-a-Caseworker program or would like to schedule a presentation of this program for your group, please contact Sondra Uzzell at suzzell@ccozarks.org

Please click here to view our printable brochure

Please click here to view the fantastic News-Leader article that depicts the Adopt-a-Caseworker program and our recent event.

Below: Pictures of event preparation and guest arrival

The Adopt-a-Caseworker project is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or polices of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice.

Lemonade Stand Catching on...

2008-07-16T14:21:00.003-05:00

The Children Taking a Stand initiative started by Clever First Christian Church is continuing to make an impact on our community. In addition to the 3 local churches who have already had Children Taking a Stand events and contributed to Ambassadors for Children, 2 others have joined the movement.

Ash Grove First Christian Church has set up the Lemonade stand at their annual BBQ summer event and at their "Sparks in the Park" event to celebrate the 4th of July. I also learned today that Messiah Lutheran Church youth have also raised funds for Ambassadors for Children through this effort. To learn more, please contact Juli Nelson, Pastor of Clever First Christian Church, or Sondra Uzzell, Ambassadors for Children Director. All funds received through Children Taking a Stand will be used to support our non-federally funded programs.

Thank You!!

Above: Children from Clever First Christian Church pose in front of their lemonade stand on Mother's Day 2008.

We Exceeded our Goal!!

2008-07-16T14:10:00.003-05:00

Our goal for Marlin Group Charitable Fund Sweepstakes raffle tickets (as part of the Price Cutter Charity Championship): 100 tickets

Total Number of raffle tickets sold: 108 tickets

Total Number of raffle tickets sold last year: 82 tickets

With the great work and support of staff and volunteers, we exceeded our goal of 100 tickets and made a total of $2,700 dollars from raffle ticket sales alone! We look forward to hearing our total award amount in December 2008 at the Celebration of Sharing event.

I will be working concessions this Sunday from 1-4 at the Price Cutter Charity Championship at Highland Springs Golf Course, so please stop by if you will be attending. The grand prize drawings for the $10,000 and 2008 Pontiac Solstice Convertible will be Sunday afternoon.

Peace, Love & Charity Auction

2008-07-07T20:41:00.034-05:00

Thank you very much to the local businesses that donated gift certificates and tickets for the Peace, Love & Charity Auction as part of the Price Cutter Charity Championship! Ambassadors for Children receives 50% of the proceeds for all auction items donated on our behalf. These proceeds will be used to operate our Kid's Clothes Closet, Project Self-Esteem, Pack-a-Bag with Love, and Foster/Adoptive Parent Recruitment programs. Total value for donated items exceeds $600!!

Please join us for the auction at 6pm on July 15th at University Plaza. Visit http://www.pricecuttercc.org/ for more information.

Adopt-a-Caseworker Event

2008-06-24T08:31:00.003-05:00

Plans are well under way for this exciting event that will increase public awareness and hopefully motivate many to participate! The invitations will be complete this week and will be mailed by the end of this week or beginning of next week.

We are truly hoping for a good turnout, as this is such an excellent opportunity to learn more about the program, which serves as a specific, direct, and immediate way to help local child victims of abuse/neglect and their families.

Our community is strong and has accomplished many great things. Our faith, civic, and business community members are powerful resources for local children and families that are struggling. Individuals and groups (big or small) can make a huge difference in the lives of children!

If you would like to learn more about this fantastic program and how you can help, please come to our event (scroll down for detailed event information or click on the event flyer link).

The Adopt-a-Caseworker project is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or polices of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice.

Pack-a-Bag Success

2008-06-24T08:06:00.004-05:00

A couple weeks ago the first bundle of 20 duffel bags filled with hygiene and children's items was delivered to Missouri Baptist Children's Home! With their new location at the caseworker's offices there, the bags will be more accessible and will make their way to children entering foster care in Greene County.

20 more duffel bags will be delivered to the Ozarks Family Resource Center on the Boys & Girls Town campus this week. This facility serves as an emergency placement for children entering foster care who are awaiting an available foster home. In addition to this, 20 duffel bags will be delivered to the Boys & Girls Town Foster Care Case Management office.

Wait...there's more! 200 duffel bags will be ready and delivered to the Alternative Opportunities Foster Care Case Management offices next week! We are still in the process of finding some available storage space at the Children's Division office for duffel bags, but we anticipate also being able to store some at that location for those Foster Care Caseworkers:-)

We have also started duffel bag sign-out sheets to account for the number of bags taken and trends in usage for statistical purposes. None of these exciting changes would be possible without the help of Ash Grove First Christian Church and the support of our local foster care case management offices!

Reminder: We are still in need of donated large plastic storage tubs. These will be used to store surplus duffel bags so I the foster care office supplies can be replenished as needed.

Pictured above: just a portion of the blankets and books used to "stuff" the bags

Adopt-a-Caseworker Orientation Event

2008-06-09T11:55:00.008-05:00

Adopt-a-Caseworker

Ambassador Orientation Event

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
12 noon-1:00pm

Christ Episcopal Church
601 E. Walnut (corner of Walnut & Kimbrough)
Springfield, MO

FREE LUNCH provided!!

RSVP required by July 14 to Sondra Uzzell at suzzell@ccozarks.org or 417-862-3586 ext. 236 (space is limited, so RSVP early)!

**If you lead or belong to a church, faith, business, or civic group that wants to enhance the lives of local abused and neglected children and their families in a very direct and powerful way, this event is for you!!

Featuring:

Darrell Moore, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney
Vonda Wallace, Greene County Children's Division Circuit Manager
David Hockensmith, Council of Churches Executive Director
Sondra Uzzell, Ambassadors for Children Director

and more!

The Adopt-a-Caseworker project is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or polices of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice.

Junior League "Done in a Day" Award Recipient

2008-06-09T11:37:00.004-05:00

We are pleased to announce that Ambassadors for Children has been awarded a 2008-2009 "Done in a Day" award of $2,500 from the Junior League of Springfield, Missouri, Inc. The Junior League will provide volunteers to buy and put away new clothing for foster children in Greene County as part of our Kid's Clothes Closet program. There will be a designated day around Fall 2009 and Spring 2008 to complete this project. We are so appreciative of this support from the Junior League and we know this project will provide many new clothing items for local foster children!

Pictured: Sondra Uzzell (Ambassadors for Children Director), David Hockensmith (Council of Churches of the Ozarks Executive Director), and Linda McAllister (Junior League of Springfield President).

The Kid's Clothes Closet is a project supported in-part through funding and volunteers provided by the Junior League of Springfield.

Children Taking a Stand

2008-06-09T11:23:00.004-05:00

Children are Taking a Stand against child abuse and neglect across the Ozarks! This initiative started in Clever, MO from the ingenuity of a young boy who wanted to help local child victims. With support from his pastor and Clever First Christian Church family, the young boy's idea came to fruition on Mother's Day and several other local churches and groups are following suit! To learn more about this initiative, visit our June Newsletter link or the Council of Churches of the Ozarks link.

Last week, Ambassadors for Children received a gift of $650.80 from Clever First Christian Church (represented by Pastor Juli Nelson) as a result of this initiative. As part of this movement, we also received a gift of $150.00 from Evangel Temple in Springfield and a gift of $159.00 from Clever United Methodist Church. The funds raised by Children Taking a Stand will be used to support our non-federally funded programs. Thank You!

Pictured: Sondra Uzzell, Director of Ambassadors for Children and Juli Nelson, Pastor of Clever First Christian Church

Bags Finding new Homes

2008-06-09T10:58:00.012-05:00

We recently decided to look at alternative storage options for our Pack-a-Bag with Love bags. They are currently housed at the Boys and Girls Town, where they are accessible to foster care caseworkers at that location, but not easily accessible to other foster care caseworkers in the county.

The bags are in the process of being neatly organized and we are hoping to have them housed at each of the offices where Greene County foster care caseworkers are located. That way, the caseworkers won't have to travel to an external location to pick up the bags when a new child is taken into care. The caseworkers work very hard and are extremely busy, so this will hopefully simplify the process for them and allow more local children to receive the bags.

So far, 20 bags have been deliverd to Missouri Baptist Children's Home,
and 200 bags are ready to be delivered to Alternative Opportunities. New bag sign-out sheets have also been developed so we can track the number of bags taken, child ages, and child gender. This will help us sustain supply for the ages/genders that are more prevalent in our county.

Thanks Ash Grove First Christian Church for making this happen!
Above: picture of bags before being newly reorganized
To the Right: picture of hygiene items used to fill the bags

Fantastic Volunteers

2008-06-09T10:34:00.005-05:00

I have been tracking total volunteer hours on a monthly basis since February. For our federal grant (Adopt-a-Caseworker program), we have a total of 175.25 in-kind hours from February-May 2008. Thanks to our in-kind staff and volunteer Advisory Committee members for all your hard work to make this program a success! Also, a huge thanks to my husband for his IT and programming expertise in helping develop this blog, our newsletter, and providing other technical assistance related to this project.

The Adopt-a-Caseworker program is supported by grant #2005-VF-GX-K009 awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, in cooperation with HALOS. Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of HALOS or the U.S. Department of Justice.

For our non-federally funded programs (Kid's Clothes Closet, Pack-a-Bag with Love, Project Self-Esteem, Tutoring Scholarships, Foster/Adoptive Parent Recruitment), we have a total of 109.75 volunteer hours from April 2008-present. A HUGE Thanks to Connie Condict and members of Ash Grove First Christian Church for their hard work getting Pack-a-Bag with Love bags organized and ready for delivery!

Recently Restocked

2008-05-27T15:32:00.012-05:00

Former Director, Kate Baldi, and I went shopping last week to restock the shelves of the Kid's Closet. We were nearly out of summer pajamas and boys toddler clothing. Now the shelves look great and are ready for local foster children and foster parents to go "shopping" for summer items!

A huge THANK YOU to all who have donated or contributed to the success of this program. There were a total of 465 visits to the Kid's Closet in 2007 and we served 335 Greene County foster children.

The boys shelves are restocked and additional outfits hang in the back of the Closet. As you can see, we are still needing toddler clothing. Please see our "Wish List" section for details. Clothing can be donated to the Council of Churches office or to the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks on Primrose. All donated clothing items must be brand new with tags attached. These new clothing items help to enhance the self-esteem of foster children.

This is the view foster children, foster parents, caseworkers, and volunteers first see as they enter the Kid's Closet.

Special "Thanks" to the staff and volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks. They help organize the clothing, help families find clothing, schedule appointments, and track monthly statistics. This program would not be possible without their wonderful partnership and support!

Welcome!!

2008-05-27T14:53:00.003-05:00

This blog is a new and exciting way to keep you updated on our programs, events, news, and fundraisers. New posts will be added weekly (or more often). I look forward to sharing our progress, success, and even obstacles as we strive to fulfill the needs of local child victims in the Ozarks.

We have also started a free monthly e-newsletter called "Kidz Biz" that will highlight stories and feature an Ambassador of the Month! To subscribe, simply email suzzell@ccozarks.org