CAFCA
Happenings!CAFCA
Happenings!
February 2005
Congratulations to Eric West of Children’s ARK in Green Mountain Falls! His suggestion to rename the CAFCA Brief Update was chosen by our panel of distinguished judges (see new masthead above). Eric wins free admission (value up to $25) for himself or another person at Children’s ARK to a 2005 CAFCA workshop.
No February General Membership or CTS meetings
There will be no formal General Membership meeting this month to allow for a full-day workshop, “Retooling for New Realities. . . Child-Focused and Family-Centered Practice: Implications for Private Providers,” by CWLA’s Jeff Bormaster. NOTE: There will be NO CTS meeting in February either.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!!
Monday, February 28th
CAFCA’s ANNUAL LEGISLATIVE LUNCHEON
“Have a Heart for Kids”
MAGGIANO’S, DENVER PAVILIONS
11:30 a.m. –1:30 p.m.
Contact Mary for more Information
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CAFCA extends a warm welcome to the following new members: Tennyson Center for Children and Hand Up Homes for Youth. We look forward to renewing friendships and welcoming new ideas.
2005 Legislative Session
Mendez Steadman lobbyists meet every Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. during the first 8 weeks of the session with Peg and interested board or committee members. The group reviews new bills and current bills for positions, testimony and amendments. The Public Policy Committee invites every CAFCA committee chair to attend or send a representative to these meetings. A complete list of bill summaries and CAFCA’s position on tracked bills is available on the CAFCA website at www.cafca.net. This information is updated weekly throughout the session. Complete bills may be viewed and downloaded from the General Assembly Web page: www.leg.state.co.us. Here are some of the bills CAFCA is actively supporting or seeking to amend which mean that CAFCA is testifying in both houses on these bills.
HB1015
ADD SUBSTANCE
ABUSE TREATMENT TO MEDICAID
Rep. Romanoff
& Sen. Johnson
Requires the Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing to amend the
state Medicaid plan
to include outpatient
substance abuse treatment on or before Jan. 1, 2006.
On or before Jan. 1, 2011, requires
the state auditor to submit a report to the Legislative Audit Committee analyzing the
costs and savings to the Medicaid program that resulted from the inclusion
of substance abuse treatment as a covered benefit.
If the Legislative Audit Committee adopts a
resolution finding that this benefit has resulted in overall cost
increases to the program, the act shall be repealed by such action and the
benefit will
HB1035
MORE ACCESS TO
SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY
Rep. Hall
Eliminates need to know provisions in releasing sex offender
information. Gives local law enforcement agency
discretion regarding releasing information to a person not residing in the agency's
jurisdiction.
HB1084
RESIDENTIAL
TREATMENT SERVICE RATES
Rep. King and
Sen. Keller
Requires the Dep't of Human Services to develop a rate-setting process
for RTC providers. Requires the rate
setting process to provide for a range of reimbursement including a base
treatment rate and a defined service package that does not link the rate
to the child's assessment or evaluation.
Allows the Dep't to seek contracts for specialized services such as substance abuse,
sex offender services and services for the developmentally disabled.
Allows the rate to provide incentives for outcomes.
Requires an initial report including
an implementation plan to be submitted to the Joint Budget Committee by
July
HB1086
REINSTATE
MEDICAID FOR LEGAL IMMIGRANTS
Rep.
Plant & Sen. Tapia
Reinstates
medical assistance eligibility for legal immigrants.
Amended to require the department to recover
all medical assistance paid from
the immigrant's sponsor.
HB1093
ADOPTIVE
PARENT CRIMINAL HISTORY CHECK
Rep. Solano &
Sen. Shaffer
Requires in any prospective adoption the adoptive parents to submit and
pay for a national fingerprint-based criminal history check.
Requires the adoptive parent be responsible
for the submission of results of to
the court. Requires county or child placement agencies to report to the
court felony convictions or misdemeanors. Allows the Dep't
of Human Services to promulgate rules.
HB1141
POSITIVE BIRTH
DRUG TEST AS CHILD ABUSE
Rep. Harvey
Amends
definitions of "abuse" and "child abuse or neglect" in
the Children's Code to include cases where a
newborn tests positive for a schedule -I
or schedule -II controlled
substance. Amended to direct
social services to cease abuse/neglect investigations if a voluntary
relinquishment is imminent or filed or the mother was legally prescribed
the drugs. Substitutes a positive drug test as the basis for termination
with a pattern of treatment failure thereby allowing the judge to order
termination with no further treatment
HB1170
NOTICE OF
EXPEDITED RELINQUISHMENTS
Rep. Schultheis
Authorizes the licensed CPA assisting a parent through an expedited
relinquishment to provide notice to any parent or possible birth parent.
Not more than 60 days prior to the anticipated birth, allows notice
to the other birth parent to be provided before or after the filing of the
affidavit and petition. Specifies that notice shall include: that the
person has been identified as a birth parent, that placing a child for
adoption requires termination of the legal relationship, that the birth
parent has a right to contest the termination, and that failure to contest the
termination will most likely result in termination of parental rights.
States that if
the noticed parent fails to reply within 20 days after the notice or prior
to the relinquishment
petition is filed, whichever occurs later, the parent waives the right to further notice unless
proof of clear and convincing evidence exists that the parent was unable to reply.
No later than 20 days after the notice or prior to the
relinquishment petition being filed a claim of paternity must be filed.
Requires the birth parent to disclose the name of the
other birth parent or possible birth parents, their addresses, the case number of the
pending action, and any court orders.
Requires a reply form with response options such as; the person
notified acknowledges there may be a parent-child
relationship and declares the intent to contest termination or waives the
right to contest, or that the person does not acknowledge a parent-child
relationship and waives the right to contest or be provided further notice
If there is acknowledgement than the parent is required to file a
paternity claim. The reply
must be returned by certified mail or the parent
or possible parent must
appear at the child placement agency.
If a reply or appearance does not occur the parent waives the right
to further notice. If the
parent appears at the child placement agency the CPA shall provide the
parent with a reply form. Requires
the CPA at the time of filing the petition for relinquishment to provide
the court the following
information: the affidavit, method and date of notice, the deadline, date
and intent
of the reply, a statement as to whether the person's response was timely
and the
HB1174
DEPENDENCY OR
NEGLECT CHILD PLACEMENT
Rep.
Stafford & Sen. Grossman
Specifies that the court shall order the parents of a child taken into
custody to provide the names,
addresses and telephone numbers of every grandparent, aunt, uncle,
brother, sister,
half-sibling,
or first cousin, rather than "any" relative of the child no
later than 15 days after the hearing.
Requires the court to advise the parent that not providing relative
information
may result in the child being placed outside the home of a child's
relative. Authorizes the court to
require a "county
department" to advise potential placement relatives that placement
in their homes may terminate, if seeking placement come forward early, to
cooperate with the county, to continue a relationship with the child
during the child's
out of home placement if they are a placement option, and to advise them
of the child potential attachment to a outside caregiver if the child is
later removed from that caregiver's home.
Requires the court to advise the parent of the emotional damage
that may
result if the child becomes attached to one caregiver and is later
removed. Allows the county to
place a child in temporary custody with a relative without a hearing if
the GAL
concurs its in the best interest of the child.
Requires periodic review of placement decisions to include:
assessment of the child's need, whether current placement is safe and
potentially permanent, any psychological ties to the current placement
provider, if the current provider is willing to maintain contact after
adoption, awareness of the child's culture, and the child's attachment to
the current caregiver.
HB1175
CRIMINAL
HISTORY RECORDS FOR D&N PLACEMENT
Rep.
Hodge & Sen. Takis
Requires the court in a potential emergency placement of a child to
conduct an initial criminal history check.
When the county has temporary custody requires local law enforcement to provide
the county with a verbal response regarding criminal history.
Requires
the person who has been given emergency placement of the child to have a
fingerprint check and to pay the costs of the check no later than 72 hours
after the emergency placement or the child will be removed.
Requires law enforcement to forward the fingerprints to CBI.
When the CBI fingerprint check is complete, law enforcement or the county department
shall review the check and identify any criminal activity that would
result in the child's immediate removal.
Such offenses that would trigger removal are as follows: child
abuse, crimes of violence, felony unlawful sexual behavior, felonies with
the underlying factual of domestic violence, felony assaults or drug
related offenses, violation of a protective order, or homicide.
HB1189
COURT
APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES CHECK OFF
Rep. Soper
Changes the name of the court appointed special advocates (CASA) to the
child abuse and
neglect fund. Extends the
period the voluntary tax check off until 2009.
HB1198
OBJECTIVES OF
CHILD WELFARE
Rep. Stafford
& Sen. Sandoval
Adds
the child welfare reform objectives to include: the
"development of a family-centered, community based strategy
for placement decisions that includes team decision making, family-group
decision-making, or other agency decision making processes that involve the family and
community support and; assuring the local placement of children with
families by recruiting and supporting family foster homes within the
neighborhoods and communities in which identified children reside.
HB1227
CHILD CARE
LICENSING
Rep.
Frangas
Defines
a CPA to include any corporation, partnership, association, firm, agency,
institution or person unrelated to the child who facilitates placement for
a fee. On or after July 1,
2005 allows CDHS to license and accredit a CPA to facilitate
"convention" adoptions pursuant to the "Intercountry
Adoption Act of 2000." Requires
that a child placed by the county in a foster home operated by a CPA to
remain in foster care status for the purposes of payment
until final decree. Allows the
state board of Human services to promulgate rules to require the scanning
of adoption records for the purpose of
HB1280
CHILD FATALITY
PREVENTION PROGRAM
Rep.
Stafford & Johnson
Requires each
judicial district to establish a local fatality prevention review team.
Authorizes the
review team to review cases of death of children 18 years and younger.
Requires
the team to follow best practices, review findings of the death, evaluate
if the death could have been prevented, determine if the team concurs with
the original findings, release
the team's findings to public and private agencies and request a plan of
actions for agency improvements
to prevent child deaths in the future. Make the Colorado state child
fatality prevention review team a
type 1 board. Require the
governor to appoint 14 members to the board and
to have the members select 32 public and non public agency and community members.
Requires the board to outline trends and patterns in child deaths,
identify and investigate risk factors , services offered, , system
responses, and steps for improvement and to report to the Governor.
Subject to appropriations allows the findings to be made
available to the public. Establishes
a liaison between the State board and local teams.
States that the teams and board are not subject to open meetings.
Specifies that the reviews shall take place no later than 60 days
after a child death.
HB1287
ACCESS TO
ADOPTEES BIRTH CERTIFICATES
Rep. Coleman
& Sen. Kester
Declares that
"more" access to adoption information for the adoptee
"would be" appropriate.
Allows an adult adoptee, adult birth parent, adult descendant or
their legal representatives
to obtain to obtain access and receive a non certified copy of the
unaltered original birth
certificate of the adoptee. Directs
the registrar to make available to the birth parent a preference consent
regarding the adoptee or their descendants, and whether or not the birth parent
wants contact through a CPA or confidential intermediary.
Directs the registrar to
prescribe an updated medical history form that can be filled out by the birth parent. Allows
adoptee and other authorized persons to access these completed forms from
the registrar. Changes the age
of an" adult adoptee" from 21 to 18 years.
Eliminates the
provision that allowed an adult adoptee to prevent the release of
identifying information concerning the adoptee.
Effective July 1, 2006.
SB022
MEDICAID
PREFERRED DRUG LIST
Sen. Johnson
& Rep. Boyd
Creates a pharmacy and therapeutics committee in the Dep't of health
care policy and financing that would
create an evidence based preferred drug list.
Allows a health care provider to prescribe a
drug not on this list if the drug is approved through a prior
authorization. Exempts
antiretroviral medications for AIDS and HIV and atypical antipsychotic
medications from prior authorization. Amended to exempt
"biologics" and drugs that treat biologically based mental
illnesses from PDL, to add a child psychiatrist to PDL development
committee and to pay a $12 fee to pharmacists that intervene in off-
PDL prescriptions
thereby avoiding prior authorization process.
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Adoption, Carol Lawson, Chair
The
Committee held a special meeting on February 16th to review adoption
bills and concerns. The administrative notice in expedited relinquishments bill
passed the House HHS committee and full House unanimously. It goes to the Senate
HHS next. Next scheduled meeting: Thursday, March 10th,
9:00 a.m. at Adoption Options.
Foster Care, Bonnie McNulty, Chair
The committee has invited several metro area counties to a March 11th panel discussion regarding foster care rates and payments. Committee members will follow the presentation with a discussion of follow-up action. Next meeting: Friday, March 11th, noon-1:30, location TBA.
CTS, Patty Erjavec, Chair
CAFCA RTCs requested in writing an opportunity to provide information for inclusion in the Department’s vendor proposal for an actuarial analysis. Peg, Arnie Goldstein, Terry Rogers and Susan Krill-Smith attended a follow up meeting with Judy Rodriguez and Kathy Chase and compiled a document of CAFCA member RTCs’ suggestions for components to be analyzed in an actuarial process. The RTC bill unanimously passed the House HHS Committee and the full House. It is now on its way to the Senate HHS. Volume VII rules are undergoing several revisions and will be put on a fast track once approved by HCPF. Peg Long and Scott Shields attended a charter school advisory committee meeting to learn more about the option for facility schools to apply for charter status. Denver Children’s Home CFO Ann Thomas is coordinating a quarterly roundtable discussion on financial issues facing RTCs. This will be an informal, brown bag-style open discussion. Contact Ann if you have not already expressed interest in this group and would like to participate: athomas@denverchildrenshome.org.
Next CTS meeting: March 18th 10:30 a.m., location: TBA.
Public Policy, Cyndi Dodds, Chair
The committee met and developed the draft public policy strategic plan for presentation to the joint CAFCA-Association boards in March. All committee members are urged to make calls to legislators and other CAFCA members reminding them of the February 28th luncheon. The idea of converting facility schools to charter schools has surfaced again. Next Meeting: Tuesday, March 1st, noon-1:30 p.m. at 1120 Lincoln St., law library conference room.
Membership/Communications, Jim Worthen, Chair
The committee is reviewing all CAFCA membership materials for effectiveness and image; including reviewing the current “tag line,” and website. In 2005 the committee will plans to review dues structures and benefits of other agencies like CAFCA in efforts to possibly reduce dues and increase/improve services. CAFCA members interested in participating in this process are encouraged to contact Jim for further information: jim@namaqua.com. Next meeting: March 17th, 2:00 at CAFCA.
Training Committee, Renee Johnson, Chair
The Annual Educational Conference will be Friday, July 22nd at Bethany Lutheran Church, Englewood. Funds raised at the 2004 Bold Strokes for Kids are being used to bring in a nationally recognized speaker for the keynote, Charlie Appelstein. “Understanding Colorado’s Program Improvement Plan”, by Joe Sprague, held February 9th was a great success. Upcoming workshops include: “Child-Focus Family-Centered Practice” by Jeff Bormaster of CWLA on February 18th and “Becoming an Effective De-Escalator,” by Jedd Hafer, Children’s ARK, March 23rd.
Web-Based Resource Center for Caregivers of Children & Adolescents with Depression
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) have developed a new web-based resource center for parents and caregivers of children and adolescents with depression. The web site, www.ParentsMedGuide.org , includes a fact sheet for families titled The Use of Medication in Treating Childhood and Adolescent Depression: Information for Patients and Families. The web site also includes a guide for physicians on treating depression in children and adolescents, including information on treatment alternatives and the latest science and research findings.
********************************************** Save the Date!
17th Annual Colorado Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference April 10 - 12, 2005 Colorado Springs Sheraton, Colorado Springs, CO
More information will be available soon at http://ccamhc.org.
Nicholson & Associates Presents
Understanding and Intervening with Adolescents
These Workshops are Geared for Professional Development; However, Foster and Adoptive Families are Welcome!
Adolescent
Development
Course # AD022305D, February
23, 2005, 8:30am
– 4:00pm
Location: The
Four Points Sheraton at Cherry Creek, 600 S. Colorado Blvd., Denver. These
workshops provide in-depth information on: problematic adolescent behaviors,
treatment & intervention strategies, de-escalation, avoiding power struggles
and related topics. Register: On-line
registrations now available at www.cocwtraining.com.
For questions, please call Centralized Registration at 303.556.5205. For
More Information: Please
contact Nicholson and Associates at 303.758.0799.
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BlueSky
Bridge Presents
Where Did Mommy Go?
A Look at the Impact of Separation and Loss on Young Children
Friday, March 11, 2005, 8:45 am – 11:00 am
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 3700 Baseline Rd., Boulder (303.494.8094)
This presentation will focus on the importance of early attachment relationships for the young developing child, including the impact of separation and loss, early emotional development and their later mental health. Along with lecture, case examples will be used to demonstrate the importance of therapeutic attention to this often silent and overlooked issue. Presenter Melinda Davis, LMFT has spent much of her career working in the field of early intervention with high-risk parents of young children. Currently on staff at the Kempe Children’s Center, the National Center for Child Abuse Prevention, Melinda provides therapy to children and families involved with the Denver Department of Human Services and has a private practice in Denver Cost: $15; Groups of 3 or more-- $12 ea. REGISTRATION: Please include address, agency (if applicable) phone, and e-mail, and make checks payable to: Blue Sky Bridge, P.O. Box 19122, Boulder, CO 80308. For information on this program, please call 303.444.1388, or visit their web site at www.blueskybridge.org. The lecture is accredited for 2 hours of continuing education for physicians and other mental health professionals.
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The Institute for Families at the University of Denver Presents
Healing Traumatized Children in Substitute Care
March 18-19, 2005
(From 4:30 pm to 9:00pm on Friday, and 8:30 am to 4:30pm on Saturday)
AmeriSuites, 503 W. Garden of the Gods Rd., Colorado Springs
· Learn supportive responses that encourage a team approach in working with the child’s birth parents and to promote emotional healing in the parent.
· Identify and apply corrective care giving responses that promote emotional healing in children who have been separated from their families.
· Know the potentially traumatic outcomes of the separation and placement experience for children and their families.
This training is FREE for all county foster parents and workers, kinship and adoptive parents, and $25.00 for foster parents with private agencies. To register online, visit: www.cocwtraining.com, create a student account, and use Class Code HTCS031805SE. For those without internet access, please contact: The Family Center, Metropolitan State College of Denver, 303.556.5205 or Toll Free:888.569.1830.
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Reminder: It’s tax season so don’t forget the tax check off for services to the homeless!
These funds allow CAFCA members like Family Tree to serve the homeless.
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Did you miss the SOMB training in January?
“Understanding and Responding to the Sexual Behavior of Children and Adolescents”
will be offered again. Register at: 303 458-1909, or info@itcservices.org
$40 per person, $35 each for groups of 5 or more. Repeat dates and locations are:
Tuesday, March 22nd
9:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at the Lakewood Police Dept. Training Room,
445 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood
Friday, April 22nd
9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Community Services Building, Conference room 1060,
510 29 ½ Rd., Grand Junction, 970-347-2376.
Training in the Stress Model and Family Regulatory Parenting, developed by Dr. Bryan Post,
is coming to Denver. An Intensive Therapists’ Boot Camp will be held March 10-12, 2005 in Denver.
There are 14 spaces remaining in this workshop. For more information, go to:
www.postinstitute.com/services/workshops.htm. Or contact Juli Alvarado at 303 941-7473.
Check out a couple of terrific resources for Colorado nonprofits.
These organizations offer workshops, publications and consulting services
to assist nonprofits with development, strategic planning, board and staff support and
many other services.
Community Resource Centerat www.crcamerica.org AND JVA Consulting, LLC at www.JVAconsulting.com