CAFCA
HappeningsCAFCA
Happenings
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CAFCA Happenings |
July 2005
CAFCA Training on C & D Campaign –MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
CAFCA is conducting a workshop on Referendums C & D for CAFCA members on Friday, August 19th, 9:00-10:30 a.m. at Denver Children’s Home, 1501 Albion St., Denver. Co-presenters will be Mendez Steadman and the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute. This workshop is designed to educate CAFCA members about the issues, how to address the opposing positions on C & D, and how to become actively involved in supporting these ballot measures. The entire child welfare system will be negatively impacted if these measures do not pass. Come learn about the content of these referendums and how you can make a difference for children! CAFCA is planning a similar workshop in September just for board members. More about that later.
Meet Legislators During the Off-Session - SAVE THESE DATES!
In accordance with its Public Policy Strategic Plan, CAFCA will be conducting Regional Meetings in September for members and legislators to educate elected officials about CAFCA, its activities and its members’ services. Locations have been identified based upon the membership analysis and database set up by Mendez Steadman. These will be held 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. and will be hosted by a CAFCA member. The meetings will include a presentation on CAFCA, highlights of its public policy strategic plan and Mendez Steadman’s role, followed by a tour of the host facility and a meet-and-greet time. We will start around 2:00 p.m. and plan to conclude each meeting by 4:30 p.m. Legislators will receive information about other providers in their geographic area and will be contacted by CAFCA members to set up additional visits. Invitations to these meetings will be extended to members of Colorado’s Congressional delegation as well. Fact sheets, including one or two public policy goals, for each of the major child welfare service areas (adoption, foster care & residential care) will be provided to legislators along with a list of CAFCA members by geographic region.
Dates and locations are as follows:
Committee Activities
Adoption, Carol Lawson, Chair
Committee members met to discuss implementation of the new administrative notice provisions in expedited adoptions (HB 05-1170). Agenda items for the 2006 session include clarifications regarding dual licensing for foster care/day care. The group expects to be actively involved in developing rules regarding the scanning of adoption records (HB 05-1227).
Foster Care, Bonnie McNulty, Chair
Revisions to the proposed SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation) rules are still in process and discussion with CDHS continue regarding provision of the CPAs’ home studies to counties. This committee is also concerned about the dual licensure issue and will survey members of both Adoption and Foster Care committees to determine the impact and whether a legislative change is necessary. The creation of professional foster parent status has raised questions about compliance with the conflicts portion of the CPA statute that was amended in 2003. Although the Attorney General’s opinion is that the statute doesn’t prohibit such arrangements, the committee is working on an amendment that would exempt professional foster parents from the prohibited employee conflicts section of the statute. The group selected Keith Hughes of Lost & Found as the Interim chair to complete Bonnie’s term.
Children’s Treatment Services (CTS), Patty Erjavec, Chair
An ad hoc subcommittee was established to develop a CAFCA position on implementation of the Juvenile Standards for Sex Offenders. This will then be presented to the Sex Offender Management Board. Pam Hricik is leading this group. Anyone interested in serving on this short-term subcommittee should contact Pam: phricik@hotmail.com. Members continue to work with CDHS and HCPF on establishing a treatment rate methodology that will pass federal muster.
Public Policy, Cyndi Dodds, Chair
As you can see by the lead-in announcements in this issue of the CAFCA Happenings, the Public Policy Committee is very busy working on regional meetings to bring legislators and members together, especially those legislators new this past session. Members of the group are looking into how CDHS uses federal training dollars and who it partners with to deliver this training. Another type of training identified as needed in the state is cultural competency for serving Native American and Alaskan Native children. Peg and Heidi Hendricks of the Child Welfare League are collaborating with the Denver Indian Resource Center and Casey Family Programs to develop a grant proposal targeted for such training. Peg and Fofi had an opportunity to attend a meet-and-greet event with Rutt Bridges, announced democratic candidate for the 2006 Governor’s race. They shared information about child welfare services and learned about the candidate’s platform.
Training Committee, Renee Johnson, Chair
The committee is geared up for CAFCA’s largest conference ever to be held on July 22nd. Keynote speaker is Charlie Appelstein whose address, “The Glass Ain’t Half Full. . . Heck It’s Overflowing!” will focus on creating a positive, strength-based culture for children and families. We reached capacity at our new location. Perhaps next year we’ll have to book the Pepsi Center!
The Colorado Department of Education has just issued its guide on special education rights of students and their parents. The 9-page document provides updated information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) since it was reauthorized by Congress last session. Although this document is not yet available on the CDE website, it will be shortly. If you’d like a copy in the interim, please contact Peg at cafca1@aol.com.
CDE has also begun a new project designed to encourage retention of facility school teachers. Called RAFT (Retaining Alternative Facility Teachers), this project is an endeavor to support educators on TTE’s as they complete course work for special education licensure. Financial support is provided through a State Improvement Grant. RAFT offers facility school teachers stipends ($600) and bonuses ($600) for continuing to teach in a facility school setting. Application deadline is October 10, 2005. For more information and an application packet, go to: www.cde.state.co.us//cdesped/AlternativeFacilities.asp. This incentive was one of the recommendations that came out of the Facility Schools Task Force, to which Peg was appointed as a provider representative.
The 17th Judicial District FASD Initiative is presenting a series of 2-day trainings in August 2005. Diane Malbin, national expert and Director of FASCETS, Inc. will be the presenter. These are aimed at parents, and professionals who work with children who have or may have Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder. Content will focus on brain function/dysfunction, symptoms, behaviors, treatment models, outcomes, etc. There is no cost to residents of Broomfield or Adams County. Registration fee for those outside these counties is only $15. If interested, Please contact Peg for a flyer and application form. For more information, contact Tarrah Marcus at 303 655-3917 or Eileen Bisgard at 303 654-3246.