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Fostering A Child
Caley Home staff provides a special holiday experience for the children
By Lake County Department of Job and Family Services
The Emma Caley Receiving Home is a residential facility for children located in Lake County. Each month we share the stories of the children placed there.
The spotlight this month is on all of the children who experience the holidays at Caley. At any given time, Caley is responsible for caring for up to sixteen children at one time. Therefore, Caley staff and the children’s social workers alike prepare to celebrate the holidays and make the day a special one to remember. There are many things to consider, foremost that the children have a happy holiday!
As December approaches, the children at Caley do not miss out on holiday tradition! The children help decorate the facility with fun Christmas decorations, put up a tree and decorate it! The cook also tries to gather favorite holiday recipes from the children so she can make them special dishes. The children also participate in baking Christmas cookies and all kinds of winter activities such as going sled riding, building snowmen and watching all of the Christmas classics on television like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Frosty the Snowman.” They also drive to downtown Cleveland and watch the annual Christmas lighting in Public Square and drive around with staff looking at the different decorated houses. They get to go Christmas shopping for their families too! Some shop at the “Caley Store” with the points that they have earned throughout the year while others choose to go out to the mall to purchase gifts.
Of course, Santa makes his annual visit to Caley too! Like everybody else, the children at Caley fill out their “wish lists” for Santa every year and on Christmas morning they have plenty of presents to open! Also, during this time of year, the agency tries to arrange for as many home visits as possible so children and their parents can be together for the holidays. If the children are unable to go home, Caley extends their visiting hours to accommodate as many families as possible for the holidays.
During the last two weeks of December/early January, the children are off from school enjoying their Christmas breaks. The children get to relax a bit but are still busy with their usual appointments and some other holiday activities. After Christmas is over, the children still look forward to yet another celebration – New Year’s Eve! Like any other holiday celebration, the children celebrate New Year’s Eve with cookies and lots of food! Those who can stay awake watch the New Year’s ball drop before going to bed.
Then after New Year’s, it’s back to business as usual. The children resume their normal activities; attending their appointments, going to school and working on their goals of reunifying with their families. Also, they dream of warm weather and the summer to come!
If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please call the Foster Care Inquiry Line, Lake County Department of Job and Family Services at (440) 350-4218. They will be happy to answer your questions and send you information about foster parenting. The Lake County Department of Job and Family Services is in need of families who would be willing to care for teenagers. Tell them you heard about foster parenting here.
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