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CBJ: Affordable Housing Network sells Geneva Tower, Hawthorne Hills properties

From the Corridor Business Journal:

Affordable Housing Network, Inc. (AHNI) has announced the sale of two of its Cedar Rapids multi-unit properties, Hawthorne Hills and Geneva Tower, to Edgemark Communities, the affordable housing division of Edgemark Development LLC, based in Denver.

The sale was finalized Dec. 2. The purchase price and other terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Edgemark Communities has extensive experience acquiring, improving, and managing affordable housing properties throughout the Midwest, Southwest, and Rocky Mountain regions, according to an ANHI news release.

Both Hawthorne Hills, at 2283 C St. SW, and Geneva Tower, 310 Fifth Ave. SE, receive subsidies from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and Edgemark has renewed the Housing Assistance Payments Contract for both properties for 20 years.

Mary Beth O’Neill, president and CEO of Four Oaks Family and Children’s Services and AHNI, said the sales followed extensive organizational strategic planning.

“AHNI has been evaluating our current portfolio of properties to ensure each one is aligned with our mission: to provide safe and sustainable housing that promotes stability for families and individuals, while also creating community,” Ms. O’Neill said.

AHNI is an affiliate of Four Oaks, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to assure children become successful adults. Services are focused on and rooted in the family, and Four Oaks’ philosophy is to positively impact communities by empowering children and families to achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

“This focus means AHNI and Four Oaks are prioritizing affordable housing opportunities that best serve children, families and community development – single-family homes, multi-family properties with a limited number of units, and a reduction in housing density overall,” Ms. O’Neill added. “AHNI has successfully been achieving that objective in Wellington Heights since 2012.”

Geneva Tower, built in 1971, is an income-based, 12-story property offering 183 efficiency and one-bedroom apartments to seniors age 62 and older and adults with disabilities. Hawthorne Hills, also income-based, was built in 1969 and has a total of 204 efficiency, one-, two- and three-bedroom units in several two-story buildings. The complex was extensively remodeled in 2010 and 2011.

“AHNI vetted a number of potential buyers and chose Edgemark based on the depth and breadth of experience,” Ms. O’Neill added. “We are confident that there will not be any gaps in services for the tenants.”

The Four Oaks/AHNI human resources department has worked to retain all staff during this transition.

ANHI retains a number of other multi-unit properties in Cedar Rapids, including the Cedar Valley Townhomes at 3000 J St. SW, William B. Quarton Place at 85 Harbet Ave. SW and Agin Court Apartments at Agin Court NE.

See the original story here 

KWQC: 2 Clinton County children find permanent homes during National Adoption Month

From KWQC:

CLINTON, Iowa (KWQC) – Four Oaks Foster and Adoptive Family Connections hosted a celebration, honoring National Adoption Month in Clinton on Tuesday.

Two children officially found their permanent homes at the Clinton County Courthouse during formal adoption ceremonies, followed by a small reception for their families.

For Jameson Herrmann and his family, getting adopted was a five-year process.

“I’m just glad it’s over. It’s been a long road, a hard road,” Eileen Herrmann, Jameson’s mom said. “We’re just going to have more time now to spend with him instead of talking to DHS and going here and going there for his meetings … All that we that will be gone”

Four Oaks offers adoption and foster services across 69 of Iowa’s 99 counties. Its resources guided both families in Clinton to complete their adoptions.

Recruiter Liz Estilow said it’s important to be able to celebrate the end of an often lengthy and complicated process.

“Some of these families have been dealing with DHS, and visitations and lawyers and stuff for years,” Estilow said. “This just finally is the finale [and] everybody is together. We can celebrate, we can breathe and we can move forward …, and build that strong bond as a family.”

Both adoptions on Tuesday were to grandparents. Estilow said these kinds of adoptions may be smoother for the kids.

“There’s no more wondering … where they’re going to for visits or …, anything they know that this is where their bedrooms are going to be at,” Estilow said. “This is where their homes at, this is going to be where they’re going to school, and then they know … this is their forever homes.”

For baby Aurora Michaelsen, getting to being adopted was a 15-month process. Her parents are excited for her to have a new start.

“I’m hoping she’ll grow up and be something special,” Angela Michaelsen, Aurora’s mom said. “[Hoping she has a] Good career, teaching her all the right things.”

Four Oaks is currently recruiting potential families for their services. Those who are interested in becoming a candidate for fostering or adoption can visit their website. According to officials starting the process takes about an hour online.

Earlier in the month, Four Oaks held a similar event in Scott County celebrating 13 children finalizing their adoption process on Nov. 19.

See the full story here

Four Oaks Family Connections focuses attention on foster teens for Adoption Month

by Barry Green

Cedar Rapids — Monday afternoon, the Four Oaks Family Connections staff announced they will be focusing their attention on the unique needs teens in foster care for Adoption Month.

Every year, more than 23,000 teens transition into adulthood with no adoptive family or permanent connections to caring adults.

Securing lifelong connections for foster teens are a critical component for their:

  • Future.
  • Achievement.
  • Health.
  • Well-being.

Iowa’s News Now spoke with Tonya Watters, Four Oaks Caseworker and Recruitment Leader, to talk more about focus toward teen adoption.

People are intimidated I think when they hear that there’s a teen in need”, said Watters. “And so, I think that having some more education and some support and realizing that these are kids that you can really make the biggest impact with, those formative years. So I think it would be very helpful for folks to come forward and say that ‘they could foster a teen.

Four Oaks will host a National Adoption Day event on Thursday, November 17th.

Adoptions will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Juvenile Justice Center, 211 8th Ave. SW.

This event will feature:

  • Proclamation.
  • Photograph opportunities for families.
  • Food and celebration.

Four Oaks will also hosting several celebrations to recruit new foster families through out December.

The facility will provide support for foster families with:

  • Support.
  • Education.
  • Additional Resources.
  • Team enactment.

 

Full article can be read at Four Oaks Family Connections focuses attention on foster teens for Adoption Month | KGAN (cbs2iowa.com)

Four Oaks’ Liz Estilow Speaks About Foster Care and Her Organization, My G.E.A.R.

Kate Howes, Herald Correspondent

Nov 14, 2022

CLINTON – Liz Estilow has seen the terror in a 3-year-old’s eyes when they are taken from the only home they’ve ever known and put in the care of a complete stranger.

Some of them leave with only the clothes they have on, unable to take any of their own personal belongings.

For those who never have had experience with the foster care system, it’s difficult to imagine such a scenario.

However, as someone who worked in the child-welfare system for eight years, Estilow has seen it happen many times.

Seven years ago, she made the decision to create a program to help such children and ease what is often a frightening transition.

“I decided that we needed to do something for our local children going into foster, adoptive or relative placement,” Estilow related. “We did not have any kind of program in the community that took care of the most basic needs for these children at such a traumatic time in their lives.”

So, she founded the My G.E.A.R. Outreach program. “G.E.A.R.” stands for, to “Give” the hope of Jesus, to “Equip” with the most basic needs, to promote “Acceptance” and to “Restore” relationships in the community.

The program provides children going into foster, adoptive or relative placement with a 32-inch, wheeled duffle bag full of comforting essentials, including new pajamas, socks, underwear, pillows, pillow cases, blankets, toys, stuffed animals, crayons, pencils, pens and journals.

The program serves Clinton, Dubuque and Jackson counties in Iowa, and Carroll, Lee and Whiteside counties in Illinois.

The bags are for children ages 0-18 years old and are packed with supplies appropriate for their ages and genders.

These children, she noted, are all around us and need love and reassurance.

“Unless your world’s been impacted (by foster care), you probably don’t think about these kids,” Estilow shared. “But they are in your schools and in your city parks. We hope to shine some hope for these kids, and when they look back on their experiences someday, they can remember their communities tried to support them.”

The My G.E.A.R. founder and director said they have been fortunate to receive funding from a number of sources. The group has asked for churches to sponsor the program and have received grant money and private donations. One donation, given anonymously by a Clinton County resident, was for $15,000.

“We have several people who donate monthly,” she said. “Last year, instead of buying each other Christmas gifts, a family decided to donate money to a charity and we were chosen. We’ve had kids run lemonade stands, and people have garage sales and donate their proceeds to us. We really have an awesome community. People are great to us. We’ve never had to purchase a pillow case … they’re all handmade. We got a $1,000 check from the Round-Up at Randy’s Neighborhood Market, in DeWitt.”

People can donate via PayPal or Venmo on the program website, www.mygearoutreach.org, or email Estilow at mygearoutreach@yahoo.com. All the money donated stays to benefit local communities.

Running the My G.E.A.R. program is something Estilow does in addition to working as the recruiter and training coordinator for Four Oaks Family Connections.

According to its website, Four Oaks’ mission is to “recruit and retain nurturing and diverse foster and adoptive families to keep children safe from further trauma and assist them in their transition to permanency.”

She said the demand for more foster or respite families is bigger than ever.

“We are in great need throughout the whole state for more loving and stable homes,” Estilow shared. “This is happening. We need good, loving homes to support these children. There’s so much need; but, if we all team up together, it will all work out. We need to get as many people as possible involved in the adoption and foster care world.”

 

Story from Program aids foster children | Local News | clintonherald.com

Nine adoptions took place at the Juvenile Justice Center in Cedar Rapids

by Nada Shamah

It was an emotional day at the Juvenile Justice Center in Cedar Rapids.

Nine children were adopted Thursday afternoon.

For Michelle and Tom Wood of Hiawatha, their wait of 703 days officially came to an end.

They adopted three siblings, two sisters and a brother, into their family.

The couple says they knew the moment they met the children, they were the ones.

The Wood’s knew the birth mother of the children, and had made a promise they intended to keep.

“I just want to make sure they’re always safe and loved. And for my aunt Donna that always asked me for years if I would take them. She’s passed away but, we were just happy that we were able to do it.”

The Woods spent years fostering and adopting. They say it’s difficult but well worth it.

Their children range from ages 15 months to 24-years-old.

They say they don’t have plans to adopt more, but if it’s meant to be it will be.

The event was sponsored by Four Oaks Foster & Adoptive Family Connections.

November is National Adoption Month.

During this time, organizations work to raise awareness for the need and importance of fostering and adopting.

Full article found on Nine adoptions took place at the Juvenile Justice Center | KGAN (cbs2iowa.com)

Four Oaks Foster and Adoptive Family Connections held annual adoption celebration at Scott County Courthouse

By Larry Goodwin Jr.
Published: Nov. 20, 2022 at 10:27 AM CST

DAVENPORT, Iowa. (KWQC) – Four Oaks Family Connections raised awareness at Scott County Courthouse today for the need for and importance of foster and adoptive families across the nation.

“Today is an amazing day, so national adoption month is in November, and so every year we celebrate with the court,” Christa Hafel, Four Oaks Family Connections Recruitment and Training manager said. “And we do a big adoption day, we try to get as many families as we can to complete their adoptions on adoption day, which is today.”

With smiling faces of parents and children everywhere, one local dad gives his take on why he comes to this celebration.

“Hearing the stories about the, you know, the past adoptions and families and how they came, you know, all the different routes that, that people have taken to get to this day, and it’s, it’s good to hear stories like that,” Ethan Owen said, Adopter of four boys. “And just to kind of know that you’re not, you’re not really any different.”

Besides enjoying stories and families company, Owen adds some things that are important for being a stand-up dad.

“Time, patience and things like that, and it really helps me focus on those kinds of things and try to pass on more now as they’re older,” Owen said. “And I feel like they understand more of what’s going on in adult life to kind of give them more better advice.”

This organization provides the tools and services needed for families interested and children in need.

“Every month we have adoptions and Four Oaks Family Connections takes great pride in training and preparing those families for reunification,” Hafel said. “And when that can’t happen, we absolutely love to support them in the adoption route. We also provide adoption support services to those families for forever, so they can have that service.”

The family connections event included area professionals and local families finalizing the adoption process.

Click the link to see the full video

Four Oaks Foster and Adoptive Family Connections held annual adoption celebration at Scott County Courthouse (kwqc.com)

Copyright 2022 KWQC. All rights reserved.

Four Oaks Education Liaison Kara Grafft Appears as Guest on KCRG News

On Friday, November 18, 2022, Four Oaks Education Liaison Kara Grafft made an appearance on KCRG News! Kara shared tips and coping techniques that anyone can use when they are feeling stressed or overwhelmed. Kara did a great job and will be back on KCRG on December 19! Click here to watch the interview!

 

 

Four Oaks Is A Candidate In Veridian’s Spark The Spirit Campaign

By

CBJ News Staff

 –

Veridian
Critter Crusaders was the Cedar Rapids-Iowa City Corridor’s top vote-getting organization in Veridian’s Spark the Spirit giving campaign last year. CREDIT VERIDIAN

Veridian Credit Union is accepting votes for nonprofit organizations across Iowa and eastern Nebraska to receive $38,000 in celebration of Giving Tuesday on Nov. 29, including five organizations in the Corridor.

Twenty organizations across Iowa and eastern Nebraska have been nominated for the Spark the Spirit campaign by Veridian employees, including these five in the Corridor: Deafinitely Dogs!, Four Oaks, Freedom Foundation, Trees Forever and Willis Dady Homeless Services.

Veridian’s annual Spark the Spirit campaign is designed to be a reminder that Giving Tuesday is approaching and an invitation for public input on where a portion of the credit union’s giving should be directed to celebrate.

Votes are being accepted through Nov. 11 at veridiancu.org/sparkthespirit.

“The holidays are often a time of increased need, and many in our communities are facing an additional, unique set of challenges,” said Renee Christoffer, Veridian’s president and CEO, in a news release. “Spark the Spirit is one way to make a difference and a reminder for all of us of the importance of giving locally.”

The top vote-getting organization in each region, including Waterloo/Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, the Des Moines Metro and Omaha/Council Bluffs, will receive $5,000 each. Organizations receiving the second- and third-most votes in each region will receive $2,500 and $1,000, respectively. Organizations receiving the least votes will receive $500. Details are also available at veridiancu.org/sparkthespirit.

Veridian Credit Union, founded in 1934 in Waterloo, Iowa, has 30 branches across Iowa and eastern Nebraska. For more information, visit veridiancu.org or call (800) 235-3228.

Students from Four Oaks ATLAS Program Part of a Record-Breaking COMPASS Graduating Class

Graduating class

From Linn-Mar alternative program helps get students on track to graduate, pursue their future | The Gazette  by Grace King

 

Linn-Mar alternative program helps get students on track to graduate, pursue their future

By Grace King

Sep. 12, 2022 6:00 am

 

MARION — The hallway at Linn-Mar’s COMPASS Alternative Center filled with students last week as they celebrated Kira Sharp, 17, dressed in a cap and gown.

Upon completing the credits Sharp needed to graduate, she walked the halls as a student for the last time at the alternative program to a round of applause, taking time to hug and high-five classmates and teachers alike.

COMPASS was “my lifesaver to get the help I needed,” Sharp said.

Sharp, who was a student at Linn-Mar High, made the decision to attend COMPASS last year because she struggles with anxiety that causes her to miss classes. Some mornings, she would arrive at school and be unable to leave her car, she said.

At the COMPASS program — which serves more than 100 11th- and 12th-grade students — Sharp said she didn’t feel overwhelmed like she did at the 2,200-student high school.

She felt supported by teachers who were able to get to know her better because of smaller class sizes, Sharp said.

Sharp was able to catch up on the classes she missed at Linn-Mar High and graduate earlier than she was expected to in May 2023. She still hopes to walk with her graduating class in the spring.

The small celebration last week, however, is the way many students at COMPASS are recognized for their achievement instead of waiting for a larger graduation ceremony in May.

COMPASS had a record-breaking number of graduates during the 2021-22 school year with 76 students graduating, said COMPASS director Steve Goodall.

The program meets each student where they are by providing them an individualized graduation plan, modified schedule and small student-to-teacher ratio.

A transfer to COMPASS can be made with the support of a students’ parents or guardian. Students who attend COMPASS may have experienced a disruptive life event that interferes with their progress toward graduation or need an altered school day schedule other school’s can’t accommodate.

COMPASS is open to students until they are age 21.

Students come to COMPASS from Linn-Mar High School, the Marion Independent School District and ATLAS — which stands for Achieving Transition through Learning, Advancement and Success — a program through Four Oaks for at-risk youth.

Four Oaks is a nonprofit juvenile justice, and behavioral health agency in Cedar Rapids that provides services to children and families across Iowa. Children in the ATLAS program live in Four Oaks residential facility in Marion.

A solution for some

Logan Adams, 17, was a student at Marion High School when he decided he needed something different.

“I didn’t try to reach my full potential” at Marion High, where he felt like he was “hanging on by a thread,” Adams said.

COMPASS was a solution for him. Since transferring into the program, Adams said he’s never felt like he wasn’t going to graduate. He also has plans to pursue college or trade school after graduating, which he expects to do in January 2023.

Kourtney Albright, COMPASS Language Arts teacher, said she sees incredible growth from students during their time in the program. School goes from something they feel like they have to do to a priority, she said.

Amy Stevens, a teacher with the ATLAS program, said 90 percent of her job is being a mom first, then an educator since the students aren’t living with their families when they’re in the program.

“We show them this is a safe place, and we’re here to support them and their progress,” Stevens said. “I listen without judgment.”

Students are typically in the ATLAS program between four to nine months, Stevens said.

“We try to love them while they’re here and make this a positive experience — plant a seed,” Stevens said.

COMPASS counselor Danielle Patterson said the program is like a family. Staff members know learning can’t happen if a student is hungry, sick or experiencing a panic attack. The school has a food pantry, clothing closet and hygiene pantry available to students.

COMPASS is Patterson’s “favorite place I’ve been” she said.

“These are my favorite kids,” she said. “You give them love and a place to grow and they do incredible things.”

Comments: (319) 398-8411; grace.king@thegazette.com

Four Oaks Partners With The Waukee Community School District To Stop Child and Teen Vaping

 

 

WAUKEE, Iowa — The Waukee Community School District plans to add vape detectors to some of the bathrooms in its high schools sometime this school year.

That makes them the second school district in the metro to add vape detectors, the first is Valley High School in West Des Moines.

David Maxwell, Valley’s principal, said that the detectors have made a big difference in the four years since they were first installed.

But Valley High School isn’t just focused on catching kids vaping. It also has programs that students have to complete after they are caught to deal with addiction.

Josh Griffith, an Associate Principal at Valley High School said the school partners with Four Oaks Children and Family Services’ Healthy Lifestyles Program. Griffith said that when students are caught vaping they meet with a healthy lifestyle coordinator to work on addiction treatment.

Griffith also said the school partners with the West Des Moines Police Department when they catch students vaping illegal substances. If it is a student’s first offense they can participate in the Police Department’s Youth Justice Initiative Program which can help them get back on the right track.

Griffith said both programs have been successful.

“When students have gone through that program in conjunction with the healthy lifestyles program it’s been unbelievable. We have very very few repeat offenders,” Griffith said. “There’s a lot of restorative circle conversations students get to learn the impact that it has not just on themselves but anyone and everyone that cares for and works with that student.”