CAFCA Foster Care Committee Minutes

August 17, 2006

Present: Melissa Maile (Catholic Charities), Adrienne Elliot (Adoption Options), Peg Long (CAFCA), Katie Mason (CAFCA), and Susannah Carroll (CAFCA)

2007 Legislation

Peg questioned whether the committee had discussed 2007 legislation. The committee reported that they do not have any legislative issues for 2007. Peg will contact Bob Tiernan and Andi Leopoldis about any CPA Network legislation. Peg asked about recent reports of unionized foster parents in other states. The committee had heard about the issue but did not have much information.

HB 05-1207 – Salaried Foster Parent Rules

On September 22^nd from 9:00-11:00 AM, the Department of Human Services will meet with a workgroup to draft rules for this bill.  Peg inquired about the CPAs’ experience with professional foster parents. Melissa commented that Catholic Charities had not been able to find families that the counties felt were appropriate. Jefferson County did not accept the proposed families because they felt the families lacked experience. Melissa is concerned that the counties will treat the professional foster parent families as the option for placing high level children. This was not the intention of this bill or the concept, which was based on the successful Hull House model in Chicago. That program targeted sibling groups and minority children. Peg facilitated discussion about the types of placement that would work for CPAs. The committee decided that mutual care children, sibling groups, and minority children would be best served in this situation. The committee also discussed the need for families that have a willingness and capacity to work with the biological parents. Peg encouraged the committee members to attend the rulemaking session. CAFCA brought the bill, and CAFCA should drive the rulemaking discussion.  

CAFCA Support of Foster Care in Colorado

Peg is going to budget additional funds in 2007 to help support foster care activities. These funds will be used to sponsor the foster care rally and foster parent celebration.

Foster Care Audits

Peg reminded the committee that legislation may follow the release of the State Foster Care Audit. She asked if any of the agencies present had been audited. Adrienne informed the committee that Adoption Options will be audited in September.

CAFCA Continuum of Care Meeting

Peg addressed the suggestion from the last meeting about having a joint Children’s Treatment Services and Foster Care Meeting. She thinks that this is a great idea and will try to schedule a joint meeting for this fall.

Treatment Foster Care

The 2006 Colorado legislature added “treatment foster care” to the list of legally recognized types of foster care. The committee is curious about treatment foster care. They requested an informational session with PATH. This session will hopefully address how treatment foster care works, what the staff structure looks like, and the treatment and business implications. Following the meeting Peg contacted Paul Groskopf at PATH who agreed to attend the October 19^th meeting of the Foster Care Committee with his clinical supervisor. They will discuss both the business model and the treatment components for treatment foster care.

Foster Parent of the Month

Susannah told the committee that she would send the Foster Parent of the Month reminder email. This email can be sent directly to staff in order to increase submissions.

Next Meeting: September 21, 2006, 9:00 AM-11:00 AM at Panini Joe’s, Wheat Ridge.

Respectfully Submitted,

Katie Mason