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Gateway-Longview Foundation Feature Stories Congratulations to the Parents in the Incredible Years Training Program. |  A celebration was held to honor all the parents who participated in the 2009-2010 Incredible Years parent group training at Gateway-Longview. These individuals have accomplished milestones in their parenting skills under the direction of Gateway-Longview staff facilitators, Keri Raymond and Maria Slawson. This training series teaches parents of children enrolled in the agency's Therapeutic Preschool how to strengthen their relationships with their children and encourage social and behavioral development during these early years. Incredible Years is funded through a generous granted gifted by the Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation.
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Five Sisters Receive a Family… Just In Time For Christmas. |  The holiday season is a time when wishes and dreams come true. For Jessie Washington and her five foster children, their dream of becoming an official family turned into a reality just in time for Christmas.
On Tuesday, December 15, 2009, Erie County Family Court Judge Margaret Szczur gave Washington and her five foster children what they have always wanted, a loving mother and a permanent place to call home. Washington and all five biological sisters: Telesha, 13; Jayla Infinity, 11; Ladaeja, 9; Lashaundra, 8; and Michelle Sayonna, 6 are finally a forever family.
As a single woman in her 60’s, Washington, never imagined having more than one child. However, her dream of becoming a mother brought her to Gateway-Longview in 2004 to open up her home to a foster child in-need. After going through the six week certification course, Sayonna, who was an infant at the time and suffering from numerous medical issues, was placed in Washington’s loving care.
In addition to Sayonna, Washington welcomed her foster daughter’s four other sisters into her heart and her home. The girls had been living in separate foster homes, but Jessie believes nothing is more important than family and nothing is more important than keeping the girls together.
Did you know that in New York State there are over 30,000 children in the foster care system waiting to be welcomed into a home? Of those children, 1,000 live here, in Erie County. Placement with foster parents is intended to be temporary. However, in many cases, it is not in the child’s best interest to return to their home and end up becoming freed for adoption. These are the children waiting for their forever family. They are in need of a parent, like Washington.
For more information on becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please call (716) 883-4531, today.
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