News & Library
Keep up with the latest news about Firefly Children and Family Alliance, from recent announcements to new programs and services
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS FOR DEPRESSION
Depression takes its toll on all aspects of life, including the ability to perform well on the job. The disease can affect sleep, interpersonal communications, concentration, and physical health as well. Although many people with depression are able to continue working, severe depression may stop you from earning a gainful living or from holding a job at all. If this is true for you, then you may be able to qualify for benefits through the Social Security Administration (SSA).
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO CREATE CAMPFIRE MEMORIES
Creating family memories doesn’t need to be complicated. Imagine your family snuggled around a cracking campfire, laughing at your kid’s silly story with the lingering taste of charred marshmallow fluff on your tongue. If a backyard campfire sounds fun and doable to you, we want to help make it happen!
Kris’ Corner – You should never disrupt a placement, Part Two
As I mentioned in Part 1 of this “two part series”, we ended up disrupting two placements. And since this is clearly NOT what should happen, I want to discuss some ways I believe that at least one of these disruptions could have been avoided. Let me begin by saying...
Kris’ Corner – You should never disrupt a placement Part 1
OK so I’m about to delve into something I don’t like to discuss because it makes me feel as though I failed. I’m an enneagram Type 1 so if you’re into that sort of thing, you’ll understand that I am something of a perfectionist. And even though I am aware that I am...
Kris’ Corner – Does 1 parent need to stay at home?
As you may recall from the post about Foster Parents Must Be Married, (spoiler alert in case you have not read it): foster parents do not have to be married; single people can absolutely be foster parents. So if we understand that foster parents can be single, and we...
Kris’ Corner – Protecting your child’s story
One role of a foster parent which isn’t often discussed is that of “keeper of the story”. And what I mean by that is that as a foster parent, you are tasked with preserving and holding the story of the child entrusted to your care… So what IS the big deal about the...
Kris’ Corner – Foster care isn’t what you think it will be
So I have been ruminating this week about what we thought foster care would be like versus what it has ended up being for us. This will obviously be very different for every single person, but here are just a few of my thoughts and ramblings. Six years ago last week,...
Kris’ Corner – Not every foster child has medicaid
For once a belief some people have about foster care is actually true: not every child who comes into foster care has Medicaid. Albeit, most of them do enter the system on Medicaid…but not all of them. But before anyone panics and thinks that you shouldn’t be a foster...
MORE THAN JUST A PET: HOW ANIMALS BENEFIT OUR MENTAL HEALTH
As I write this article, my fluffy rescue dog Thor is curled up happily at my feet, blissfully ignorant of the global pandemic and all the sudden change and chaos it has brought to our lives. Thor is living his best life right now because the only thing different for him is that I’m spending a whole lot more time at home!
The benefit is mutual, though, as his friendly, happy spirit serves as a constant source of entertainment and companionship for our family during a time that has been full of lots of extra stress and uncertainty. In fact, research about the benefit of pets has shown that their presence in our lives can be a significant protective factor, both for our physical health and our emotional well-being.
Kris’ Corner – It takes so long to get licensed
This is one thing that people sometimes “wah wah wah” to me about…” It just takes so long to get licensed.” But honestly, it is more about how motivated someone is to get their foster care license. True, there are aspects about the licensing process over which you...