CAFCA (no so)  BRIEF UPDATE

March 11, 2003

UPDATE ON CAFCA Priority Bills(1)

HB 1286 Expedited Voluntary Relinquishment
This CAFCA bill passed the House on a 60-3 vote.  It passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee on 3/10 by a 6-1 vote after being amended to allow counties to utilize the process for abandoned babies.  It now goes to the entire Senate. 

HB 1024 Child Care & Child Placement Agencies
This bill would bring county child placement operations under the same statutes and regulations as CPAs, among other provisions.  It is in House Appropriations due to the fiscal note.

HB 1081 Limitations on Foster Care Abuses
This bill addresses several of the conflict-of-interest issues raised in the Foster Care Audit Report, using a broad definition of “relative.”  Has been amended (1) to require a county or CPA to refer a “relative” to another county or CPA for licensing and supervision as a family foster care home and (2) to require an appeal procedure to be established when counties or the state allege “misuse” of funds and seek recovery or withhold payment on that basis.

HB 1151 Regulation of Out-of-Home Placement Provider Consortia
This bill defines the term and allows CDHS to adopt rules to regulate consortia.  It has passed both houses with no amendments and is on its way to the Governor for signature.

HB 1004 Child Abuse Crime/Meth Labs & HB 1169
HB 1004 adds the manufacture or attempt to manufacture methamphetamine in the presence of a child as a class 3 felony (child abuse) in the criminal code.  It is in House Appropriations. HB 1169 expands the definition of child abuse in the Children’s Code (civil) to include manufacturing or possessing or precursors of controlled substances on the premises in the presence of a child.  HB 1169 passed the House on third reading.

HB 1211 Central Registry
This bill repeals the Central Registry and replaces it with TRAILS.  It passed the House and will be heard in the Senate HEWI Committee.

Budget Update

The FY 2002-03 budget has been completed.  Child welfare was not hit as hard as some other departments due in part to the windfall of federal TANF dollars.  The JBC emphasized its concern regarding the Governor’s apparent moratorium on spending legislated EPP funds and the loss of services. The Facility Schools Summer Grant Program lost its funding, but the statute will remain thanks to Senators Windels and Tapia. 

Approximately $850 million must be cut from the FY 2003-04 budget based on current revenue projections.  New revenue figures will be released March 20^th.  For FY 2003-04, the JBC budget analyst recommended a 2.8% increase in the child welfare budget, primarily for caseload increases. The COLA footnote has been deleted so providers will receive no legislated COLA (not that they have received it the past several years anyway.)  The Department of Human Services still has discretion in how it spends appropriated funds, however.  Education will be funded at the level required by Amendment 23 for this fiscal year, resulting in an increase in PPOR.  Information about the mental health, Medicaid (HCPF), and DYC budgets should be forthcoming as the JBC completes its work on these.

Committee Reports

Adoption
In addition to working hard on passage of HB 1286, the committee would also like to submit to the state standardized forms that could be used to accommodate the procedures in the bill. The Adoption committee will be researching the use of adoption facilitators for possible legislation in the 2004 session. Committee chair Virginia Appel has submitted her resume to represent CAFCA on a possible Governor's Commission on Adoption.  This commission is being considered both the Governor's and Lt. Governor's offices.

Foster Care
The committee is monitoring the above foster care bills. Members are investigating initiating meetings with county representatives to help improve communications between counties and CAFCA CPAs.  The hope is to increase placements from counties to CPAs. 

CTS
The CTS committee is focused on the RTC Medicaid audits, RTC waiver and licensing fees.  The Medicaid audit letter is nearing completion and will be sent to Marva Hammons (CDHS) and to Karen Reinertson (HCPF).  A copy will also likely be sent to the State Auditor.

Membership/Communications
The next meeting for the membership committee will be Thursday March 27^th 10 AM – Noon at CAFCA.  New members are encouraged to join as the committee shifts focus.  Members will discuss the annual meeting in November, review current membership materials and develop policies for CAFCA collaboration and information sharing with other organizations. 

Public Policy
Please remember that he CAFCA website now has a listing of current legislation we are following.  Friday morning meetings with the lobbyists are now on an “as needed basis.”   CAFCA did not oppose the proposed emergency rules to increase licensing fees by 36% (down from the originally proposed 64%).  Peg met with Dana Andrews and the Executive Director of the Colorado Child Care Association, which also had concerns about the fees and future increases.  As a result of additional concerns shared at that meeting, CAFCA representatives will meet with Pam Hinish and Michael Gallegos to share information regarding the activities of the 24-Hour Monitoring Team.  Medicaid Vol. VIII rules revisions are underway, including new rules for documentation standards and recovery procedures.  CDHS has stated that it is committed to making the new rules fiscally neutral if possible. The legislature is contemplating several proposals to change TABOR, Amendment 23, the Gallagher Amendment, and the Senior Homestead Exemption.  Rep. Keith King is calling for an Interim Legislative Committee to look at these for possible referenda, while Mike Coffman, State Treasurer, is convening a committee of think tank representatives to review these and possible ballot measures. A legislative referendum would require a 2/3 majority vote of the General Assembly.

IMPORTANT DATES/EVENTS

Friday, March 21^st  Liability Insurance Problems?
CAFCA general membership meeting 9:00-10:30 a.m., 1st floor conference room at 455 Sherman St.  Our featured speaker this month will be Betsy Jansen, CEO of CANPO ASI,  Ms. Jansen will describe the liability insurance products available to CAFCA members through CANPO and the Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance (ANI).  Peg will also share her CAFCA survey member recommendations for liability insurance carriers.  The CTS Committee will meet after the general membership meeting, following a break.

March 27^th HIPAA Workshop #2
Participants reported that the first HIPAA workshop was very successful.  The second workshop in the series of six will be held Thursday, March 27^th at the Ben Nighthorse Campdbell Building on the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center Fitzsimons campus.  Please be sure to park across the street from the building in the West lot for $2.  This will save you a $20 parking ticket!

Foster Care Siblings Reunite!
There are over 600,000 children in foster care nationally, with 65-85% of them having at least one sibling.  Seventy-five per cent are separated from at least one sibling when placed in foster care.   Camp To Belong was founded in 1995 to give siblings separated by the foster care system an opportunity to create childhood memories together during a weeklong summer camp.  Between June 13-18, siblings between the ages of 8 and 21 can attend Anderson Camps in Gypsum, Colorado.  The $1500 cost is discounted to $500 by donations to the program from such sources as Casey Family Programs, Project Linus, and the Sara Lee Company. The April 15^th application deadline is fast approaching.  If you would like more information about the camps, would like an application or are interested in volunteering as a camp counselor, please contact: Lynn Price at 303 791-0915.  Visit their website at: http://www.camptobelong.org.

April 18^th Methamphetamines and Kids
CAFCA  general membership meeting 9:00-10:30 a.m., first floor conference room, 455 Sherman St.  Our featured presenter will be Jim Gerhardt of the Rocky Mountain Drug Task Force who will share information about the effects of exposure to  methamphetamines and their precursors on children and adults.

May 16^th   CAFCA’s Annual Spring Conference
CAFCA’s annual conference, “Staying on Track,” will be held on the campus of Regis University.  Keynote speaker will be Christina Dalpiaz. We will again accept nominations for a variety of awards to be given at the conference.  Early registration (prior to May 2^nd) is $45 for CAFCA members and $75 for nonmembers. Brochures will be mailed in early April. If you know someone who should be added to our mailing list, please send all pertinent information to Mary Simons at: Mary@cafca.net.

NEW Publications
Check out the following from Arvin Publications:
“Professional Parenthood: A Guide for Foster Care” at:   http://www.arvinpublications.com/parenthood.html
“The Adoption Dilemma: a Handbook for Adoptive Parents” at: http://www.arvinpublications.com/adoption.html.

CELEBRATE SPRING ON MARCH 21^ST!