Page 15 - Stuart Exposure - March '22

Stuart Exposure, Page 15

Spotlight

Local Child Welfare Pros that began Jan. 24 with a daylong rally, press conference and
And Foster Parents Rally In legislative reception and ended earlier this week at the close
of Children’s Week 2022.
Child-welfare professionals, youth and caregivers visited
Tallahassee To Raise The Salaries the state capital for both events to help bring awareness to the
Of Dependency Case Managers issue of case management turnover and to garner support for
a $40 million workforce development request.
Child welfare improvements have taken Florida from the “We can’t afford to have our case workers get overwhelmed
bottom to the top of the national pack in the past two decades. or leave the job,” said Rose Bailey, an adoptive mother from
In fact, Florida ranks first in all states in several key Port St. Lucie, who, as a former foster parent, understands the
indicators, including time spent in the foster care system. important role a case manager plays in the life of a child. “It has
But critical turnover among case managers threatens that, a rippling effect to both the foster parent and the foster child.”
say child welfare professionals. In fact, Florida’s award- Bailey and her daughter, Elise, visited several legislators with From left are Rose Bailey, Caryn Toole, Elise Bailey, Rep.
winning system of community-based care could start to go that message, along with CCKids staff members Jerra Wisecup Dana Trabulsy and Jerra Wisecup
backward very quickly if state leaders don’t get their arms and Caryn Toole, and an Indian River County resident.
around the problem. “It’s a good investment,” said Dominic Calabro, president “This is all about good public policy and doing what’s
That was the message during a two-week advocacy spree and CEO of Florida Tax Watch, speaking at the press conference. right,” Calabro said. “We have a good system, but it costs
money to do it right.”
High case manager turnover is costly to the taxpayer, he
Home Care said. And it’s bad for children and families.

There are about 2,000 case management positions
statewide. More than 600 – or 30 percent – are vacant.
You Can Trust! case managers on the job and supports this $40 million ask,”
“Tax Watch believes that increased funding will keep more
Calabro said.
Committed to Compassion Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun
Striving for Excellence Harris said her agency supports the ask.
The department has two goals, she said: Strengthen family

Serving Responsibly preservation to avoid the removal of children and, when that’s
Affordable Care not possible, ensure speedy permanency.
24 hours a day None is possible without the proper workforce.
“We need to make sure the tremendous amount of work
7 days a week that case managers are doing is appropriately compensated,”
she said, adding that Florida has been leading the pack for its
OUR SERVICES vision in child welfare.
“Other states are watching us.”

• Personal Care (Bathing, Grooming, Toileting,
Hygiene, Feeding, Dressing, and Ambulation)
• Non-Medical Care Club NewS
• Companionship
• Meal Preparation Finding Biological Roots
• Medication Reminders Call Today! With The Martin County
• Transportation Services
• Grocery Shopping and Errands (561) 888-9443 Genealogical Society
• Light Housekeeping and Laundry
Finding one’s birth family is challenging, but in recent years
• Assist with Exercises DNA testing has made the search much easier. At the Martin
• Assistance Upon Discharge from Hospital or Rehab Follow us on County Genealogical Society’s April meeting, in a presentation
• Safe transfers and Injury prevention entitled “Finding Your Biological Roots,” Martin County
• Anyone with Disabilities gracehomecarefl@gmail.com Genealogical Society (MCGS) member Toni Marie Mascari-
• Dementia/Alzheimer’s Care www.gracehomecarefl.com Luisi will provide a step-by-step guide for adoptees to use on
the journey to discover their birth families. “DNA provides the
first clues to finding birth parents,” says Mascari-Luisi. “From
there you build family trees by using information from DNA
matches as well as traditional sources such as census records,
vital statistics, newspapers and obituaries.”
Free and open to the public, the meeting will be in person
at the Blake Library in Stuart from 1 to 3 p.m., Friday, April
15. Masks are optional. To participate via Zoom, go to mcgsfl.
org and register before April 14.
Toni Marie Mascari-Luisi has been doing genealogy
research for 13 years. Her passion for helping people find their
birth families began when Ancestry DNA revealed a half-sister
she never knew about. Mascari-Luisi volunteers for Search
Angels, an organization that uses DNA matches and a variety
of other sources to help people find their birth families. Born
and raised in New Jersey, she also has extensive knowledge
about the records of that state’s vital statistics, cemeteries
and Roman Catholic dioceses. Mascari-Luisi works for ARC
(Advocates for the Rights of the Challenged) of Martin County
serving people with disabilities.
In April, the genealogical society is also presenting
“Introduction to Genealogy, a three-part course taught by
MCGS member Carolyn Lancaster. Presented in partnership
with the Martin County Library, the sessions will be 2 to 4 p.m.,
April 2, 9 and 23 at the Blake Library. Starting with the basics,
the course provides a “how to” approach to building your
family tree, including pedigree sheets, research methods and
organizing information. A past president of the Treasure Coast
Genealogical Society, Lancaster teaches beginner genealogy
classes and co-hosts the genealogy podcast Family Digging.
The course is free and open to the public, but attendance is
limited to 25 people. For details go to mcgsfl.org or martin.
fl.us/libraries, or call Lisa Tompson, (772) 888-2422.
In addition to its monthly meetings and special courses,
the genealogical society offers a variety of services at the
Genealogy Room in the Blake Library in Stuart including an
extensive research library, access to several genealogy websites
and assistance from MCGS volunteers. For more information
about membership, activities and services go to mcgsfl.org.