January 2008

Happy New Year to all the wonderful supporters of Sibling House!

It has been another remarkable year for all of us and it's time to give you an update on the progress we have made in response to the incredible support we have received this past year.

First off, Thank You for the faith you place in our mission, which is to keep siblings together, as a family, while in foster care. Without your help, we would not be able to meet this challenge.

Over the past year the Sibling House Network, a community of licensed foster homes we have provided support to, has continued to grow. As word of our existence spread, we began to receive emails and phone calls from other foster homes that were struggling with one challenge or another, and did not know where to turn for help. By the end of 2007, 55 homes, and more than 130 children, had received some degree of support from Sibling House, a 58% increase in 2007 alone!

The need for clothing, shoes, major appliances, food, cars and car repairs, computers, bedding, furniture, enrichment lessons or classes of all sorts, even a flooded basement in one home, is just a partial list of the challenges these dedicated parents meet as they try to provide adequate care for the kids we invite into our homes. Sibling House, through your support, has been able to help meet these challenges, and allow sibling groups to remain in a stable, loving environment.

Our Outreach and Mentoring Program continues to provide material needs for the kids, as well as emotional and practical support in the form of mentoring to the caregivers. This combination has been of tremendous benefit in helping to provide stability in the caregivers homes, thereby reducing the attrition which often precedes the need to move the kids into another home. This program is where the majority of our efforts are focused.

Project Sheltering Tree is our program where tutoring is provided to the kids, and advocacy training for the caregivers. Many of these kids are lagging behind in their education, which, if left unaddressed, has historically caused more than 50% of foster children to fail to graduate from high school. If we can make efforts to head that off at an early age, the results will pay dividends later on in their lives. What a great investment this program makes in kid's futures!

The Transition Program works with the foster family, the birth family and/or the adoptive family to make the transition from foster care into a permanent long term placement.

The Outdoor Experience Program is just for fun! We go on camp-outs, and field trips, in the mountains, to the ocean, the San Juan Islands, and elsewhere, so that foster kids can experience the many natural resources we are so fortunate to have available here in the Northwest. These trips create memories that last a lifetime.

Part of the success of the Sibling House Network is the benefits from our "get-togethers". Several times each year, Sibling House invites everyone in the network to get together, share experiences and advice, and create bonds. Some of the many events we sponsored were a trip to the Zoo, participating in the 4th of July parade, a going away party for 5 siblings that were adopted together, a picnic and swimming party, attending The Nutcracker Ballet, and of course, our annual Holiday Party where St. Nick made an appearance and passed out stockings to more than 50 children.

Caring for foster children can be a considerable challenge at times. When there are siblings involved in the placement, it multiplies those challenges by the number of children involved. The entire family is impacted by the decision to accept sibling groups and this is why we feel so strongly that support must be provided not only to the foster siblings, but also the caregivers as well. When you add up all the individuals that are involved in creating a family atmosphere where unconditional love is practiced, more than 250 people have been recipients of the support we strive to provide from Sibling House.

None of this would be possible without our 'army of angels' that have provided support to us and, by extension, all the kids and caregivers in the Sibling House Network. We are grateful for your belief in what we are doing.

There is a saying that "It takes an entire village to raise a child". We are grateful you are a part of our village.

Have a wonderful and prosperous 2008!

Thank You and God Bless.

Sincerely,

Michael and Lynne Gaskill
and all the kids, and caregivers, of the Sibling House Network.