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SibNews April – June 2023

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Your SibNews for April-June 2023

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Featured in this issue:

  • Cover features photos of past 25 years.
  • National Siblings Day
  • Sibs Are My Peeps
  • Calendar of events for April to June 2023.
  • Recipe for Easy Fresh Spring Green Salad

 

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SibNews – Nov-Dec 2022

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Your SibNews for November-December 2022

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Featured in this issue:

  • Sheri Ramsey tells her story about assuming her brother Mark’s care; how she found resources and tips for other siblings assuming the role of caregiver for their sibling with disabilities.
  • Mathilde Steeneporte, shares her experience as a WisconSibs Intern.
  • Calendar of events for November and December 2022.
  • November is Family Caregiver Month
  • Recipe for Holiday Fruit Crisp – Gluten Free!

 

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COVID-19 No Match for Peeps

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COVID-19 got you down? Stuck indoors? Looking for ideas to keep the kids happy while schools are closed?

PEEPS TO THE RESCUE!!

While in-person WisconSibs events are suspended for a few weeks, the Sibs Are My Peeps Photo Challenge is going strong! Kids, adults, grandparents…ANYBODY and EVERY BODY…can join in and have fun.

HOW TO ENTER

1. Using Peeps® and a box (not to exceed 24” deep X 24” tall) create a scene that depicts “Take a Peep Around the World”, the theme of the 2020 WisconSibsSibs Are My Peeps®Photo Challenge. Take your Peeps® on a magical, marshmallowy-sweet adventure to anywhere in the world. Melt ‘em, mold ‘em, dress ‘em up. Be creative. Find ideas at: https://wisconsibs.org/what-we-offer/sibs-are-my-peeps/

NEW OPTION!  Don’t have Peeps® or a box in the house and can’t get out to get some? No problem.  Make a “flat Peep” display using paper, some crayons, and of course your imagination.  Pinterest is a good place to find Peeps coloring pages or download this one. Peeps coloring page

2. Email no more than two photos of your scene to: [email protected] Photos must be .jpg, .jpeg or .png. Your email must also include:

Names, ages and hometown/state of all who helped create the scene.

Phone number and e-mail address (not for publication).

Title of your scene. (Extra points for cleverness of course.)

2-4 sentences about your creation or its significance.

All submissions will be reviewed and five winners will be announced. Winners will be awarded  “Sibs are my Peeps” t-shirts.

“In these confusing times, its even more important to find ways to use our imaginations as an escape or respite. We hope this challenge will provide some fun for siblings and many others. We also hope to raise awareness of the many roles siblings play in our lives as we approach National Siblings Day on April 10. We especially acknowledge the often-overlooked critical roles that siblings play when one may have a disability. ” says Harriet Redman, Executive Director of WisconSibs.

The Sibs are my Peeps®” Contest welcomes friends, families, or co-workers, or any other individual or group, regardless of age or ability. No purchase is necessary to enter the contest.

QUESTION?

Do I need to be a sibling?  Nope. Anyone can enter. Any age. Any ability. Any person. Any group, business, or school. From anywhere.

Do I need to be artistic? Nope. Just be willing to have fun with it. The theme this year is “Take a Peep Around the World”.

Does it cost anything? Nope. Only cost is purchasing Peeps which are about $1.30 a package.

May I post my creation on social media? You sure can! Just tag it with #sibsaremypeeps and #wisconsibs  To officially enter the challenge, please email your 2 photos to [email protected]

Additional tags could include #covid-19nomatchformypeeps   #takeapeeparoundtheworld

How do I enter?
Go to www.wisconsibs.org/what-we-offer/sibs-are-my-peeps to get details and see examples.

  • Create your scene.
  • Take 2 photos
  • Send photos to [email protected]. Enter anytime between March 1 and April 5, 2020 (deadline extended recently). Finalists will be announced on the WisconSibs Facebook page on National Siblings Day, April 10, 2020.

#covid-19nomatchformypeeps #sibsaremypeeps   #wisconsibs  #takeapeeparoundtheworld

 


NOVEMBER IS FAMILY CAREGIVER MONTH

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More than 65 million people, 29% of the U.S. population, provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year and spend an average of 20 hours per week providing care for their loved one.  Family caregivers are the foundation of long-term care nationwide, exceeding Medicaid long-term care spending in all states.  National Alliance for Caregiving and Evercare. March 2009

While most siblings don’t think of themselves as caregivers for their sisters and brothers with disabilities, it is one of the many roles they play, whether they are children or adults. Sisters especially play a huge role throughout their lives in providing care, companionship, and other needs of their siblings with disabilities, sometimes even from long distance.

“My sister doesn’t live with me but we have a routine that every night I call her and read her a story,” explained Barb Wentzel in a recent Sibling Panel discussion.

Siblings also recognize and value the need for paid caregivers to provide respite for their parents who may be doing the bulk of the caregiving. “It is important that parents receive respite care so they are able to pursue things that are important to them and spend time with their other children.” stated Christiana Yablonowski in her recent Sibling’s Choice nomination to honor Todd Steven & Associates for providing care and community support for her brother. READ MORE ABOUT SIBLING’S CHOICE AWARD  WINNERS

WisconSibs, Inc. is a member of the Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance (WFACSA) dedicated to the needs of caregivers and advocating for them.

Did you know? (facts identified in a recent survey of WI family caregivers conducted by WFACSA)

  • 73% of caregivers are not meeting their own personal needs
  • 60% are not balancing needs of their other children and family members
  • 72% of caregivers are tired/worn out a lot of the time
  • 64% social life has decreased
  • 90% indicate their emotional and/or physical health has worsened

Learn more at http://wisconsincaregiver.org/alliance

Earlier this year WI Governor Tony Evers has set up a special Caregiving Task Force to identify ways WI caregivers can be better supported. See his recent proclamation.

Wisconsin Family Caregivers!
We celebrate you. We thank you, especially the often overlooked life-long role siblings
play in the care and nurturing of their siblings with disabilities.

 



National Caregiver Day – Feb 15, 2019

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It is estimated that in Wisconsin, 549,000 caregivers are providing 588,000 million hours of care to loved ones annually, valued at nearly $6 billion dollars.[1]  MORE INFO

Making up a significant portion of those caregivers are siblings caring for their aging parents AND their siblings with disabilities, often while caring for their own growing children!

To recognize the care providers, both paid and unpaid, who provide personal cares of all types to people with disabilities, older adults and other family members and friends who require support to remain healthy and living in their homes and communities, we celebrate National Caregiver Day on February 15, 2019 (3rd Friday of February).

Many of the siblings, usually sisters, caring for family members are also employees and often challenged to juggle the needs of their family members with job requirements. Often they must choose to either remain employed or leave to care for their family. Employers are feeling the effects.

Wisconsin employers recently confirmed the impact of caregiving on the Wisconsin workforce in a survey sponsored by the Wisconsin Family and Caregiver Support Alliance (WFACSA). WisconSibs is an active member of WFACSA.

 

PRESS RELEASE

[1] National Center on Caregiving https://www.caregiver.org/caregiving-across-states-50-state-profiles-2014

 


Upcoming events for 2019

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Time to mark your 2019 calendar:

Sibshops

February 9, 2019 – 2-4 pm – YMCA, Kimberly
March 3, 2019 – 1:30 – 3:30 pm – Old 45 Archery, Hortonville – note – SPA Sibshop
April 11-13, 2019 – Autism Conference – Kalahari at The Dells
May 2-3, 2019 – Circles of Life Conference Sibshop Form

Summer Camps

NEW!June 20-23, 2019 – Sib Camp for ages 9 plus in TENTS, Door County
July 22-26, 2019 – SibDays of Summer for ages 6-12, Plamann Park
August 8-11, 2019 – Sib Camp for ages 9-11 in YURTS, Door County
August 15-18, 2019 – Sib Camp for ages 12 – 16 in YURTS, Door County

Teen Sibs

February 9, 2019 – WisconSibs Facilitator Training – Appleton

April 12-13, 2019 – Leadership trip – Autism Conference – Kalahari at The Dells
June 13, 2019 – Teen Sib Leadership Day – Beaming, Neenah
July 22-26, 2019 – SibDays of Summer for Teen Sib Leaders, Plamann Park

Fundraisers

March 8, 2019 – Vegas Madness – Timber Rattler’s Fox Club, Appleton
October 22, 2019 – Celebrate Sisterhood – Red Lion Hotel, Appleton

Conferences and Trainings

February 7, 2019 – Dementia in Persons with IDD, Appleton
February 9, 2019 – WisconSibs Facilitator Training, Appleton
March 9, 2019 – K.I.T.E. Conference, Appleton
March 20, 2019 – Disability Advocacy Day, Madison
April 11-13, 2019 – Autism Conference – Kalahari at The Dells
May 2-3, 2019 – Circles of Life Conference, Stevens Point Sibshop Registration Form

Other

January 10, 2019 – TOP 10 THINGS SIBS WANT YOU TO KNOW,Kaukauna
March 1-31, 2019 – Sibs Are My Peeps photo contest- open to all individuals and groups
April 6, 2019 – Fox Cities KIDZ EXPO – WisconSibs Sibling’s Day Celebration, Appleton

Watch for more updates on our calendar page


SibNews – Special Anniversary Edition

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This Special Anniversary Edition of SibNews features Ben and his sister, Amanda. Ben has been active with WisconSibs since practically the beginning and shares how the organization and the siblings he’s met has made a difference in his life.

Plus, LOTS OF PHOTOS from our 20th Anniversary Celebration and some of the amazing treasures found in the Time Capsule that siblings created 20 years ago at one of the first Sibshops.

DOWNLOAD A COPY

or Contact us to request a printed copy.


“The SibDays of Summer are the best days of the year!!”

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At least that’s how these kids seem to feel.  While its the long and hot “Dog Days of Summer” for the rest of Wisconsin, these WisconSibs ages 6-12 and their teen/young adult counselors, all (but 2) having siblings with disabilities, are having a blast at the “SibDays of Summer”.

Learn more about their week of activities and growth by downloading their SibDaily News issues.

Newsletter-July 23 2018

Newsletter-July 24 2018

Newsletter-July 25 2018

Newsletter-July 26 2018

Can’t wait for next year!! In the meantime, watch for information about Sibshops starting in September.