Cecily's Closet
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Forever Family Room Makeover

Alone. Unloved. Malnourished. Uncared for. Every day, hundreds of children in Southern California suffer the effects of neglect, abuse, illness, and abandonment with no one else to turn to.  

In San Diego, many children need a home. These children need the love, care and understanding of foster/adoptive resource parents.

​The latest recipient of our room makeover program opened their hearts to not one, but five children in need of help. We have changed these children's names to protect their privacy.

Baby "Y" was born in withdrawals and requires medicine twice a day for ADHD. It is very hard for him to sleep in his room. He suffers from separation anxiety and needs lots of love and support. Child "Z" receives speech therapy once a week and struggles with behavioral issues. He is prone to tantrums, biting and fits of anger. Their supportive foster parents wished for a place that would provide both boys comfort, and a safe play to sleep.  They needed a safe place where they would relax and play. 

In addition, this family opened their hearts to Child "S" and "T".  Both children share a room and are visually impaired. They both have Cerebral Palsy. While Cerebral Palsy is a blanket term commonly referred to as “CP” and described by loss or impairment of motor function, Cerebral Palsy is actually caused by brain damage. The brain damage is caused by brain injury or abnormal development of the brain that occurs while a child’s brain is still developing — before birth, during birth, or immediately after birth.  

​Child "S" has soft bones and breaks his femurs very easily he suffers from seizures on a daily basis. "T" has his seizures controlled by medicine, but also suffers with a dislocated right hip. He is visually impaired due to a shunt malfunction he suffered 6 yrs. ago when he was in ICU for 38 days on life support.  These children have faced challenges most of us could never imagine,, but they are now safe and loved and cared for. 

Tiger Nursery for Two

Giving from the heart

Thank you to the wonderful and generous people who helped Emily Dolton, Project Lead and Artist, take on this project to help five kiddos in need.  Emily has worked on more than fifty Cecily's Closet rooms! She has a heart of gold and goes above and beyond to ensure kids in need have what they deserve to grow and thrive.  This room would not have been possible without her willingness to take on such a large and daunting project.  We are extremely grateful to her for everything she has done for this family, and for bringing her crew of elves together to solicit additional donations for these special rooms!

A special thanks to Emily's crew of repeat givers. Thank you to Maria Nagy and Christina McNally for their shopping stamina. Thank you to Christina Kwik for finding the great superhero metal sign. Thank you to our volunteers who helped bring the art to life: Missy Kay Johnson, Cherri LeBus Cary, Victoria Johnson, and Carson Williams. 

​Thank you to our donors for their gifts that helped bring these rooms to life.  Cherri and William Cary donated the amazing tiger by the artist who paints at Night Zoo. Author Salina Yoon, for donating her books and a lovely tiger collage that mimics one of her board books. Thank you to Diane Erth for the beautiful stuffed tigers.

​And thanks to the wonderful people who gave up their weekend to make the install happen!  Thank you Gina (rock star) Clifton and family along with Jody Bondurant-Strong and family members Rick and Ndoto moved and assembled 13 pieces of furniture and hung art. And a special thanks to Emily's husband, Andrew Gilbert, for enabling her to contribute so much of her time and talent to support our mission. 

Steps to Becoming a Foster/Adoptive Parent

Becoming a foster/adoptive resource parent is a simple procedure, but takes time and determination to complete. All requirements for becoming a Foster Parent are intended to provide safety and security for both child and foster and adoptive resource parent. The steps are:
  1. Attend an orientation meeting 
  2. Fill out the application forms
  3. Fingerprint all persons in the household over the age of 18
  4. Receive a Home Visit
  5. Complete First Aid and CPR certification
  6. Provide a Health Report including a TB test result
  7. Complete 12 hours of TIPS (Trauma-Informed Pre Service) series of classes
  8. Complete the Resource Family Questionnaire
Upon completion of the foster home licensing process and TIPS classes, an adoption applicant worker will be assigned to assist you with the completion of the home study process. Completion and approval of a home study is necessary before you are approved to provide a foster/adoptive placement for children needing out of home care.

​Call 877-792-KIDS (5437) to learn how you can begin to change the life of a child.

Superheroes, Superkids

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