CAFCA Happenings

September 2005

October General Membership Meeting

There will be a CAFCA General Membership meeting on Friday, October 21^st, 9:00-10:30 a.m. Michael Gallegos and members of the 24Hour Monitoring Team will present an update on the monitoring process and answer questions.  Location: Savio House, 325 King St., Denver 80219. The CTS Committee will meet immediately following at the same location.

CAFCA Annual Meeting

You should have recently received a SAVE THE DATE reminder for CAFCA’s Annual Membership Meeting, scheduled for Friday, November 18^th 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Maggiano’s in Denver. We have lined up a special keynote speaker who will address “change”—something all of us in the child welfare sector are facing to some degree. Seating will be limited and a discount will be given for those sending three or more people from the same agency. CAFCA members and Child Advocate Affiliates are invited to this annual event. Get your reservations in early so you are not left out.

Thank you to CAFCA Members!

Thank you for the warm welcome and wonderful response you have all given Katie Mason since her arrival as CAFCA’s Coordinator of Member Services in August. CAFCA soon hopes to bring on board another new staff member, our part-time Deputy Director, in late October or early November. Watch for more information coming soon.

Regional Legislators Meetings A Success

Thank you to all CAFCA members, board members and Child Advocate Affiliates who attended the CAFCA regional meetings this past month! To implement its Public Policy Strategic Plan, the CAFCA Public Policy Committee conducted a series of regional meetings in September for members and legislators. The purpose of these meetings was to educate elected officials about CAFCA, its activities and members’ services. Locations were based on membership and legislative demographics and a geographic database set up by Mendez Steadman. The agenda included a presentation on CAFCA and its members, 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. Fact sheets, including one or two public policy goals, for each of the major child welfare service areas (adoption, foster care & residential care) were provided to legislators along with a list of CAFCA members by geographic region. Legislators were encouraged to contact the CAFCA members within their districts to set up tours.  Although new legislators were especially targeted, attendance included a number of experienced legislators who wanted to know more about CAFCA members and the current Medicaid issues facing providers.

Business Coalition for Children Fall Breakfast Series

This fall, the Colorado Business Coalition for Children is hosting three breakfast meetings featuring Colorado legislators and others speaking about the current political landscape and what it means for Colorado’s most vulnerable children.  These one-hour breakfast meetings are open to business, nonprofit and community leaders. Speakers will share information about Referenda C and D and other important policy matters.  Please share this invitation with your friends, board members, community leaders and colleagues. The Business Coalition for Children was established several years ago. Its purpose is to educate and engage the business community in advocacy activities on behalf of Colorado’s most vulnerable children and families.

Breakfast I: Thursday, October 6, 2005 7:45-8:45 a.m. Featured Speaker: State Senator Moe Keller, Location: Mile High United Way, 2505 Eighteenth Street, Denver, 80211-3939.

Breakfast II: Tuesday, October 11, 2005 7:30-8:30 a.m., Featured Speakers: State Representatives Betty Boyd and Debbie Stafford, Location: Daniel’s Fund, 101 Monroe Street, Denver, 80206.

Breakfast III: Friday, October 14, 2005, 7:30-8:30 a.m., Featured Speaker: David Erwin, CEO, The Resource Exchange, Location: The Resource Exchange, Downtown Colorado Springs, 418 S. Weber, Colorado Springs, 80903.

For more information or to register to attend, call or e-mail Becky Updike, (720) 560-3810 or becky@policysolve.com.

HIFA Waiver Update

Last month the CAFCA newsletter alerted members and advocates regarding concerns about the proposed HIFA waiver. Patty Erjavec spoke on behalf of CAFCA in opposition to the waiver at the August 26^th public hearing conducted in Pueblo. CAFCA was joined by numerous other groups that had concerns about the impact of the waiver as it was drafted. Ultimately, the joint Health and Human Services committed failed to approve the waiver. New Medicaid reform efforts may be presented to the legislature during the 2006 session, some of which may contain pieces of the failed HIFA waiver. It was a good idea that had some serious flaws, so we are hoping any proposed legislation will remedy those.

Committee Notes

Adoption, Carol Lawson, Chair

The Adoption Committee is considering three potential pieces of legislation for the 2006 session: dual licensing, cradle families and potential adoptive parents with a conviction. Committee members who are using the new administrative notice provision for voluntary relinquishment of infants report that the process is working and has been well received by most judges. The issue of whether ICWA applies to voluntary relinquishments has been posed to the CU law school juvenile clinic with an answer expected soon.  The group needs to elect a new chair to replace Carol Lawson who has accepted the position of Vice President of CAFCA.  Next meeting: November 10th, 9:30-11:00 a.m., Adoption Dreams Come True, 405 Canyon Avenue in Ft. Collins. Cindy Sarai will chair this meeting in Carol’s absence.

Foster Care Committee, Keith Hughes, Chair

Catholic Charities continues to move forward with its partner, Jefferson County, to develop professional foster parent homes. CAFCA is looking into proposing legislation in the upcoming session regarding professional parenting and therefore foster parents being employees of CPAs with Representative Coleman interested in carrying such a bill. CPAs are following the RTC Medicaid changes as the reduction in RTC placements may mean more need for foster care placements. Issues still remain regarding CPAs sharing their home studies with counties. The CDHS Board heard final rules on September 9^th and amended the proposed rule to require CPAs to share their home studies at no cost. DDHS completed a survey with some of their caseworkers regarding their satisfaction working with CPAs.  Margaret O’Rourke has this information if you are interested in the results related to your CPA.  Reminder: Nominate your foster parents for Foster Parent of the Month through CSFPA!!!  It’s a great way to recognize and honor your families. Next meeting: Thursday, September 29^th at the Starbucks in REI, I -25 and 20^th.

Children’s Treatment Services (CTS), Patty Erjavec, Chair

Members of the CTS Committee will meet with county representatives the morning of October 12^th to initiate discussion regarding what array of services the counties want in order to meet the needs of children in their custody. That afternoon committee members will meet with DYC representatives to discuss similar needs.  The goal is to develop a spectrum of care for children and then determine where Medicaid might fit in. The RTC Services and Financing Redesign Group has established two subcommittees: the PRTF subcommittee will be analyzing the requirements to become PRTFs (Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities) under Medicaid statute; 2) the fee-for-service subcommittee will be analyzing the billing structure, requirements and fees eligible for Medicaid reimbursement. The committee has also initiated a dialogue with SOMB member Keri Fitzpatrick to discuss concerns regarding implementation of the Juvenile Standards for Sex Offenders. Next meeting: Friday, October 21^st, 10:30-noon at Savio House, Denver.

Public Policy, Cyndi Dodds, Chair

The Public Policy Committee organized the CAFCA September regional meetings with legislators (see above) and is working on implementation of the Public Policy Strategic Plan. Members will discuss the efforts to apprise Colorado’s Congressional delegation of the impact of proposed recent changes to the Medicaid reimbursement process for residential care. The committee will begin developing the 2006 legislative agenda in October. Next meeting, Tuesday, October 4^th, noon-2:00 at 1120 Lincoln St.

Training Committee, Renee Johnson, Chair

The committee members met to review the evaluations of CAFCA’s largest conference ever, held in July. Members are working on a 4th quarter training, several 2006 trainings and plans for next year’s conference. Next Meeting: Tuesday, October 11^th, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., at Peaberry Coffee, Colorado Boulevard & Leetsdale.

The Bulletin Board: Information, Trainings and Other Opportunities

Colorado CASA invites child welfare providers to exhibit at its 10^th Annual Training Conference on Saturday, October 29^th, 7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel in Lakewood. More than 250 participants are expected. Displays must be up by 7 a.m. A 6’ table costs only $50. For further information, contact Constance Wise, 303 623-5380, or constance.wise@coloradocasa.org.

Teen Survival Workshops

Catholic Charities in Denver is offering free workshops to support adopted teens struggling with relationship issues and life skills. The fall Workshop I series focuses on relationships (self-esteem, personality styles, depression/suicide, anger management and body image) and meets the first and third Wednesdays, September-November, from 6-8 p.m., with dinner included. Workshop II focuses on Life Skills (nutrition, drugs/alcohol/tobacco, peer pressure and finances) and also meets the first and third Wednesdays, 6-8 p.m., with dinner provided. Teens 13-18 who have been adopted, are in foster-adopt homes, long-term foster care or emancipation programs are welcome. Any parent, guardian or professional working with a teen may refer a youth to the program. All workshops are held at Catholic Charities of Denver, 2525 W. Alameda Avenue, Denver. While there is no cost, space is limited, so register early! To register, call: 303 742-0823, x 640 or email cgarcia@catholiccharitiesden.com

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“Partnering with Birthparents toward Addiction Recovery and Family Reunification”

October 27 and 28, 2005 Double Tree Hotel 3203 Quebec St., Denver 80207 (I-70 & Quebec) (Registration Form below)

Target Audience: Foster parents serving children and families under Expedited Permanency Planning requirements, Child Welfare Staff including child protection, foster care certification workers, caseworkers and casework supervisors working with foster families that serve EPP children and families; Judicial Officers and staff, county attorneys, GALs, respondent attorneys, CASAs, family support staff, substance abuse treatment providers and any other professionals involved with concurrent planning activities. 

Back by popular demand, Dr. Kim Sumner-Mayer and Ms. Joan Hajaar will conduct a two-day seminar in the Denver metro area on Family reunification is a major triumph and a potential relapse trigger for many parents in addiction recovery.  This two-day training, led by Dr. Kim Sumner-Mayer of the Children of Alcoholics Foundation in New York City and Ms. Joan Hajaar of Phoenix House Foundation of Brooklyn, New York, will address challenges and opportunities faced by birthparents in recovery, their children, and the foster families who care for them while the parents work toward reunification or other permanency options.  A family therapist and a parent in recovery will lead lessons, experiential exercises, and discussions highlighting family dynamics associated with parent—child separation, visitation, and reunification in the context of parental addiction and recovery; evaluating child safety in light of a birthparent’s relapse potential; relapse prevention and response planning; facilitating positive foster family—birth family relationships; and other practices supportive of family reunification with families in recovery.  Special attention will be paid to grief and loss issues (children’s, birth families’, and foster families’), and how to work with birth families for the benefit of the child—whether the family will reunify or not. 

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Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA) is sponsoring “Treating Adult Survivors of Sexual Assault: Understanding the Issue and Three-Stage Model in Clinical Practice,” a training on Saturday November 12, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The workshop is aimed at therapists, counselors, victim service providers, clinical interns, mental health professionals and clinicians in private practice. Presenters are Janine D’Anniballe, Ph.D. Marti Hopper, Ph.D., and Julie Washnock, M.A., LPC. Location: Norton Room, Mental Health Center serving Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 1333 Iris Ave., Boulder. For more information, contact: robbin@movingtoendsexualassault.org or 303 443-0400, x101.