CAFCA
BRIEF UPDATECAFCA
BRIEF UPDATE
Happy Holidays from Peg & Mary
MARK Your Calendars NOW!
December 2004 General Membership Meeting:
Friday, December 17, 2004, 9:00-10:30 a.m., at Family Tree, Inc., 3805 Marshall St., Suite 100, in Wheat Ridge. The Membership/Communications Committee will conduct a planning discussion for an employee/volunteer recruiting fair to be held in spring 2005. The CTS committee meeting will follow. ERRATA: PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR GUEST SPEAKER BRUCE BERGER WAS FORMERLY WITH CDHS (NOT HCPF), WHERE HE DEVELOPED THE RTC PROGRAM. OUR APOLOGIES!
January 2005 General Membership meeting:
Friday January 21, 2005. 9:00-10:30 at American Human Association, 63 Inverness Dr. East, Englewood. Come find out about American Humane Association’s children’s services projects, including one in which CAFCA members could participate and receive some funding. Guest speakers: Leslie Wilmot, Director of the Front Porch Project, Sonia Velasquez, VP for Children’s Services, and Myles Edwards, Director of Research. American Humane Association's Front Porch Projectâ is a national initiative created to help community residents become more involved in the safety and well-being of children, recognizing that one person can make a significant difference in the life of a child. The Front Porch Project training sessions are the core of this project. They are designed to help participants examine and understand their role in the lives of children and families, as they acquire new skills and learn safe intervention methods to promote child safety and family well-being. Now, more than ever, parents, family members, friends, neighbors, community members, and service providers all need to share in the responsibility for the safety and well being of our nation's children. The implementation design of this project includes the identification of a sustainer organization (possible $$ for CAFCA members who fill this rile) and project team, as well as the delivery of a Train-the-Trainer session that supports continued reach and positive community outcomes.
CAFCA Committee News
Adoption
The Committee has decided to meet
every two months and therefore there will not be a meeting until January.
I still think it has been a positive year for the committee, many members have
worked very hard on various issues and for that I am very grateful.
Hopefully, the work on the regulations will be completed in the next few months.
We are excited about the new legislative session and having support for the
“tweaking” to the legislation.
Foster Care
The committee identified the following areas to be
addressed so agencies can move forward on the “outcomes based” model as best
practice: Understanding of the State PIP
(performance improvement plan) for foster care.
Joe Sprague volunteered to provide such training in January for all
CPAs including RTCs. This training
will also include information on what statistics the state keeps and how to
interpret such. By understanding the PIP the agency can then effectively
communicate with the state and county how their procedures are addressing the
PIP. CWLA
will be contacted to provide information on child welfare outcome measures.
Definition, current national statistics, etc. Dr.
Susan Manning at Duwill be contacted to see if a graduate student or students
would research outcomes, separating private CPAs from county foster homes.
Progress on revising the Foster Care White Paper continues. Statistical
data was received from Mary Griffin. New sections will include information on
Dedicated Family Homes, a short overview on Professional Parenting, and
Treatment Foster Care. Adoree Blair
gave a short description of why SB 04-137 was initially proposed and how it
changed prior to its passage. Upon
the receipt of written notice sent by a foster parent, employees of the
department of human services and of county departments, or other individuals
with a need to know, shall be prohibited from releasing personally identifiable
information about a foster parent, other than the foster parent’s first name,
to any adult member of the foster child’s family, unless the foster parent
subsequently provides his or her written consent for the release of the
information. Counties will also be
required to provide notice to the foster parent of a child’s court hearing. Progress on revising the Foster Care White Paper continues. Statistical
data was received from Mary Griffin. New sections will include information on
Dedicated Family Homes, a short overview on Professional Parenting, and
Treatment Foster Care.
CTS
Stephanie introduced the new CTS Committee Chair,
Patty Erjavec. The committee
identified the following Strategic Planning Session goals:
1) CAFCA will work collaboratively
to design and implement a system of care based on children’s’ and
families’ needs, outcomes and quality practices; 2) Increase public knowledge
of the child welfare system and the role providers play; 3) Balance
accountability requirements with costs of compliance and what really keeps
children safe. Peg met with Kathy Chase and Judy Rodriquez and
they are very interested in working with us to make the recovery process for
undocumented services less punitive than a full per diem. They asked that we go
to them instead of directly to HCPF representatives. HCPF reps stated they do
not like the recovery of 1/24th of the rate instead of a full day
recovery, however they are open to other options. Peg
proposed the recovery of 10% of the rate for an undocumented service.
Public Policy
Peg provided an update on proposed rules:
Institutional Abuse Allegation Appeals Process for employees of providers-Peg
has only a hard copy of these materials and will contact CDHS to obtain an
electronic copy and the anticipated date the rule is to go before the Human
Services Board; HB 1271, Dedicated Family Homes-Peg has been attending the
workgroup sessions to develop draft rules to implement this pilot project. A
first draft should be completed by the end of November. Rules should be
presented at the January DHS board with implementation in April 2005; HCPF
Position Brief re: Volume VIII RTC Audit Rules & Per Diem Recovery- Peg
and Fofi have been working on this issue brief but have not distributed it yet
due to uncertainty about the date the rules are to go before the Medical
Services Board. It now appears that
they will be scheduled for the January or February 2005 MSB meeting.
2005 Session Legislation:
Putative Father
Registry – due to the fiscal note the Dept. of Public Health would place on a
parentage registry, it appears that this concept cannot move forward at the
present time. The workgroup has discussed possible statutory change to allow
notice by publication to a putative father prior to the child’s birth and
prior to the filing of a juvenile court case. This appears to be contrary to the
Court of Appeals opinion issued in May 2003. Fofi will contact Beth Kane, the
legislative bill drafter, to see if there could be a way to issue such notice
from the mother’s perspective. Foster
Care Payments Pending Adoption –
the CPA Network may bring legislation requiring counties to continue paying
foster care payments pending the finalization of a foster child’s adoption.
CAFCA would support this. Fofi pointed out that leadership positions in the House and Senate should be identified by next Monday.
The Governor’s proposed budgets for Child Welfare, DYC and Mental
Health should be presented in briefings over the next 4 weeks. Status
of Foster Care White Paper Revisions
– updated statistics and new sections are being collected for a second edition
of this white paper, first published in November 2002. Anticipated publication
date is January or February 2005. Committee members discussed two public policy
issues for potential inclusion in the Long Range Strategic Plan to be developed
in December: 1) Support for the development of a System of Care in Colorado; 2)
Development of plan to address the projected growth in children’s treatment
and care needs as the population grows over the next 5-10 years, especially in
light of the reduction in providers and services that has been occurring during
the past 3 years and continues.
Membership/Communications
The
Annual Meeting was a GREAT success. Only
positive comments about the food, location and speaker were heard. The change in
bylaws and election of new officers were passed unanimously by members present.
Committee goals identified for the Public Policy strategic Planning
session are: 1) Increase CAFCA membership so we truly represent all aspects of
child care / child welfare; 2) develop the theme “Unity in the Community. The
increase in membership could also mean that committees have both a Northern,
Southern and Western branch and only come together periodically; 3) Increase
grass roots involvement in Child Welfare. The
board has given Peg permission to approach previous members of CAFCA, inviting
them to rejoin by December 31st at a reduced dues level. This was
done to increase CAFCA’s reach within the child welfare community and help
increase resources for promoting child welfare. If this method is successful the
committee will consider using a similar approach for new members. The committee
will review the revised bylaws to identify any barriers to membership and/or
participation in CAFCA. The committee will present to the membership in December
the concept of a spring employee-volunteer recruitment fair. This could help
members reduce their recruitment cost even if they don’t have current
openings. Focus would be on
psychological, social work, teacher and nursing programs.
Juvenile
Justice and Mental Health Committee
It has been a
long time since there has been a joint meeting of all the people working on
issues related to youth in the juvenile justice system with mental health
issues. A lot of progress has been made in several arenas. Judge
Ashby thought it was time for everyone to meet and get updates on what has
happened and develop a plan for 2005. Please attend this meeting if interested.
Friday, January 14, 2005, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00
p.m., Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, 700 Kipling Street (Middle building
at the Kipling Complex), 1st Floor Conference Room.
So they know how many people to expect please RSVP by clicking here:
Anna.Lopez@cdps.state.co.us DO
NOT HIT THE REPLY BUTTON!! Or call Anna Lopez at (303)
239-5705.
January In Orlando! An
unmatched opportunity to learn, share, and respond collectively to the challenge
of “Meeting the Changing Mental Health Needs of Children in Residential
Care,” awaits you at the Alliance for Children and Families 2005 National
Leadership Conference on Child Welfare Issues. This conference will take
place January 27-29, 2005 in Orlando, FL. It offers great peer networking
opportunities, sessions full of useful and timely information, takeaway
solutions, and practical tools and templates. For more information please visit http://www.alliance1.org/Conferences/NLCCWI_brochure_WEB.pdf
or to register visit http://www.alliance1.org/Conferences/NLCCWII_reg_form2005.pdf.
If you have any questions, contact Maggie Skarich at mskarich@alliance1.org
or 800-221-3726 ext. 3664.
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Post Institute for Family-Centered Therapy
"Getting to the Heart of Healing…Saving Families Time, Heartache, and Money!"
Presents:
Dr. Post's Intensive Attachment Parenting Boot Camp
(**Attendance to a parent boot camp is a prerequisite to participation in a future multi-family intensive attachment therapy retreat.)
December 2-4, 2004 January 27-29, 2005 February 10-12, 2005 March 17-19, 2005
Orlando, FL Los Angeles, CA Denver, CO Williamsburg, VA
By the end of the boot camp, Dr. Post guarantees that participants will:
· Understand exactly what attachment disorder is and how to deal with it.
· Know exactly how to deal with defiance and aggression.
· Understand the impact of stress and trauma in your family.
· Be more empowered to relate to your child in a positive way.
· Have step-by-step techniques for dealing with problem behaviors.
· Feel closer and more connected to your spouse.
· Feel empowered to change deeply the patterns in your family.
· See things in your behavior that can completely revolutionize your family relationships.
· Have deeper insight into exactly what your child needs.
· Feel more even more loving and loved!
Register today; by calling 866-848-POST (7678) or by e-mailing postinstitute@msn.com,
or for more info about the Post Institute visit: http://www.postinstitute.com/services/parentbootcamp.htm. 1-866-848-POST (7678)
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Challenge Grants for Building Projects The Kresge Foundation offers challenge grants to support the construction or renovation of facilities, purchase of real estate, or purchase of major equipment or an integrated system. These "bricks and mortar" grants are made to tax-exempt, charitable organizations in a wide variety of fields such as human services, health care, higher education, and public affairs. Governmental agencies also are eligible to apply. In reviewing proposals, the foundation emphasizes:
Competitive proposals typically request grants ranging from one-fifth to one-third of the balance to be raised to complete the capital campaign. In dollars, this often ranges from $150,000 to $600,000. Applications are accepted year-round, with grants approved four times each year in March, June, September, and December. Visit www.kresge.org for more information.
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Register for Online Training from Foster Parent College
& Benefit COCAF!
Please Visit the Cocaf Web Site For More Information: www.cocaf.org
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Adopted Teen Support Group!
This support group is for ALL adopted teens (private, international, foster care adoptions, and all counties) -- the teens plan the topics for each meeting. Dinner is provided! The group meets the 4th Wednesday of each month, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Catholic Charities in Denver 2525 W. Alameda Ave., Denver, CO 80219. Located: 1/2 mile West of I-25 between Alcott and Bryant(One block past Wendy’s on the right ) For more information, please contact Kate Trujillo at 720.944.3020, or Catholic Charities at 303.742.0823. This free service is funded by Promoting Safe and Stable Families, in collaboration with the Denver Department of Human Services.
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Colorado Benefits Management System--CBMS
If you, family, or friends rely on the CBMS computer system for food stamps, Medicaid, Colorado Works (TANF), Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+), or other public benefits, the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, 1490 Lafayette St., #206, Denver, now has a toll free number to call regarding CBMS-related problems:
· In the Denver Metro area call: 303.573.5669 x 308
· Outside of Denver: Call Toll free: 1.866.480.CBMS (2267)
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The Wild Child, a one-hour radio documentary produced by New England radio station WFCR, is about three separate children/adolescents with Bipolar Disorder, and focuses on their interactions with friends, family, doctors, teachers, and advocates as they navigate puberty and adolescence with a serious mood disorder. The link http://www.wfcr.org/features/wild_child.php will take you to a website that will allow you to play the show through your computer. If you do not have capabilities to listen on your computer, you may order the show on CD sorry--no transcripts
Available) from: Cara Kaife Foster, WFCR-FM, Hampshire House, 3rd Floor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003.
ckfoster@wfcr.org, 413.545.3176
CD copies of The Wild Child are available for $15.
Please make checks or money orders payable to WFCR and allow three weeks for delivery.
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On the 18th of September, the Juvenile Bipolar Research Foundation sponsored a conference at which Janice Papolos (co-author of The Bipolar Child) was a keynote speaker. Her lecture, entitled Educating and Nurturing the Bipolar Child, was videotaped, and the first DVD about this subject is now available. Parents who first viewed the DVD said they felt validated and eager to discuss the information and ideas with their children’s’ educators; and educators said they felt re-energized and eager to help the children. To order a copy of the DVD, click the link below. Each is priced at $20, and all proceeds of Educating and Nurturing the Bipolar Child, go toward supporting JBRF research projects. http://www.jbrf.org/pdf/dvd_order.pdf
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Families Needed for Research Study
Sponsored by the Collaboration to AdoptUSKids
The study will be conducted at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work (Ruth G. McRoy, Principal Investigator).
Investigators are looking for the following three types of families:
Families Applying to Adopt
Families who meet the following criteria:
v are currently in the process of adopting a child from the foster care system,
v first time adopters,
v are early in the application process,
v not trying to adopt a foster child who is in your home, and
v do not currently have a child placed in your home for adoption.
Adoptive Families
Families who meet the following criteria:
v who have adopted a non-relative child from the foster care system 18 months to 5 years ago,
v whose adopted child was age 6 or older at the time of adoptive placement,
v in which the child’s adoption remains intact,
v in which you remain committed to parenting the adopted child, and
v whose adopted child is under the age of 18 at the time of participation in the study.
Families Who Applied to Adopt but Discontinued Process
Families who meet the following criteria:
v applied to adopt a child from the foster care system,
v have chosen to discontinue the adoption process at any point from application to completed home study and awaiting placement
v were trying to adopt for the first time, and
v applied and discontinued within the past 12 -18 months.
Those interested in participating or learning more about the study, please contact
Project office: 866.471.7372
Susan Ayers-Lopez, Project Manager: 512.471.0550, email: susanal@mail.utexas.edu
Ruth G. McRoy, Principal Investigator: 512.471.0551, e-mail: r.mcroy@mail.utexas.edu
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The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Wendy’s & CBS Present
A Home for the Holidays
Celebrating Families Who Adopt and the Children Who Still Wait
Wednesday, December 22, 2004
8:00 pm EST/PST, 7:00 pm MST/CST
Jamie Foxx will host this one-hour special on the joys of adoption.
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Blue Sky Bridge Presents
Psychological Trauma and Traumatic Brain Injury in Children: Neuropsychological Complications and Challenges for Care Providers
Kristen Powell, PhD
Friday, January 14, 2005, 8:45am – 11:00am
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 3700 Baseline Rd., Boulder
Recent research has demonstrated that early abuse can cause patho-physiological changes to the developing nervous system. Thus, abused children who also suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) at the hands of an abuser appear to suffer a double dose of neurological insult. The present talk will seek to explicate the central features of these two pathways to neuropsychological dysfunction and will discuss the implications for care and interventions. Particular attention will be directed toward recognizing and working with executive function deficits common to TBI. Dr. Powell is a clinical neuropsychologist practicing in Boulder where she provides psychological and neuropsychological services to children, adolescents and adults. COST: $15; Groups of 3 or more-- $12; Students-- $1 Register by January 12, 2005. Include address, agency (if applicable) phone, and e-mail. 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. Continuing education credits available.
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The Institute for Families at the University of Denver Presents
Working with Sexually Abused Children in Foster Care
Best Western Regency, 701 8th Street, Greeley
January 28-29, 2005
(From 4:30 pm to 9:00pm on Friday, and 8:30 am to 4:30pm on Saturday)
· Identify physical and behavioral indicators of sexual abuse
· Identify specific needs of children in care who have been victims of sexual abuse
· Identify foster parents’ role as part of the treatment team for children who have been sexually abused
This training is FREE for all county foster parents, $25.00 for foster parents with private agencies.
Register online: www.cocwtraining.com, create a student account, and use Class Code WSAC012805NE.
For those without Internet access, contact: The Family Center, Metropolitan State College of Denver.
Telephone: 303.556.5205 or Toll Free: 1.888.569.1830. For questions or comments,
please visit the Institute for Families at the University of Denver web site at: www.ifduonline.org,
or contact Melissa Thompson at mmcwhirt@du.edu, or 303.871.3796.
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Save the Date!
17th Annual Colorado Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference
April 10 - 12, 2005
Colorado Springs Sheraton, Colorado Springs, CO
More information available soon at http://ccamhc.org