AWFC Families Make BIG Splash at Sea World, Texas
Our AWFC family definitely made a huge SPLASH at Sea World on June 27, 2009. We had families from across the state converge on Sea World to celebrate our Annual Summer Family Picnic. This was our biggest year with over 1650 family and staff members sporting their red AWFC t-shirts throughout the park. Truly this was an adventure of a lifetime for our kids in care.
Seeing the smiling faces and glowing hearts of our very special foster children was so heart warming. Watching the families interacting and experiencing such a fun filled day brought tears to ones eyes. This type of adventure is made possible by the generosity of AWFC’s supporters. Instead of their dreams being sugarplums dancing in their heads, our kids’ dreams are filled with Shamu launching out of the water. What fabulous memories were made that very special day!
AWFC Gala supports “EXTRAS” for Foster Children
A World For Children is happy to announce our upcoming 2009 Gala: Night of the Child. Because of the generosity our wonderful patrons and sponsors, AWFC raised enough money to make our trip to Sea World possible as well as provide clothing for children when they first come into care and when they begin school. The $175,000 raised last year really made a difference in giving our children “extras” that state reimbursement does not cover.
Mark your calendar for September 12, 2009. Our Night of the Child Gala will be the “talk of the town” as we put “kids first”. It will be held again at the Four Seasons Hotel. Our third annual Night of the Child Gala is designed to help raise funds that are desperately needed to support these foster children and families committed to giving them a brighter future.
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, Honorary Chair of the 2008 gala last year states “I was honored to serve as Honorary Chair for the 2008 Diamonds in the Rough Gala to help the Texans who need us most. Together we can help improve the lives of children and create a brighter tomorrow for them. With your support for this worthy endeavor, A World For Children can continue to make a difference in the lives of Texas children.”
For information contact: Monica Burcham, Gala Chair at 512-845-5614
or visit our website at www.nightofthechild.com.
Last spring, the Executive Commission on Health & Human Services approved several revisions to the “Immunization Requirements for Children and Students in Texas Public and Private Schools” [Title 25. Health Services, Chapter 97, Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §97.61 and §§97.63-97.77].
The changes to the requirements were made in order to update the Texas elementary and secondary school immunization requirements so that they adhere more closely to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP).
The following immunization requirement changes are effective beginning August 1, 2009 and include:
Hepatitis A Vaccine: Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering kindergarten will be required to have two (2) doses of Hepatitis A vaccine.
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine: Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering kindergarten will be required to have two (2) doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Varicella Vaccine: Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering kindergarten and 7th grade will be required to have two (2) doses of varicella vaccine. A written statement from a parent (or legal guardian or managing conservator), school nurse, or physician attesting to a child’s positive history of varicella disease (chickenpox), or of varicella immunity is acceptable in lieu of either dose of varicella vaccine.
Tetanus, Diphtheria and acellular pertussis-containing vaccine (Tdap): Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering the seventh (7th) grade will be required to have one (1) dose of Tdap only if it has been five (5) years since their last dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Students in grades 8-12 are required to have a booster dose of Tdap if it has been ten (10) years since their previous dose of a tetanus-containing vaccine. Td is acceptable in lieu of Tdap if a contraindication to pertussis exists.
Meningococcal Vaccine: Beginning August 1, 2009, all students entering 7th grade will be required to have one (1) dose of meningococcal vaccine
Conscientious Exemption: Beginning August 1, 2009, all students with an affidavit for Exemption for Reasons of Conscience entering kindergarten or seventh (7th) grade must present a valid affidavit that includes the above mentioned immunizations for their records to be considered to be complete
Admission to school is only allowed when records are produced showing (1) that the child has been immunized in accordance with the rules; (2) the child has an exemption from immunization requirements on file with the school in accordance with the rules; or (3) that the child is entitled to Provisional Enrollment in accordance with the rules as adopted by the Texas State Department of Health Services