Youth In Transition Workshop

Wednesday, October 10, 2012, 5:00 p.m.

Community Reach Center

11285 Highline Dr., Northglenn, CO 80233
 

Preparing our children to enter the adult world can be a daunting task.  This workshop will give you the information you need to help your child make that transition successfully.

Workshop presenter Adam Robe, MSW, a former foster child and adoptee, is the CEO for Foster Care Alumni of America and  author of the Robbie the Rabbit™ books a series of children's stories designed specifically for children in foster care.   Click here for more information or to register for the workshop.

Many adoptive families live in rural areas or areas with few adoption-competent therapists.  COCAF has been trying to find a way to help these families, and we'd like to suggest the therapists that they offer their services "remotely" by using Skype� (or a similar product).  If you are a therapist and would be willing to use Skype� to provide therapeutic services, please email COCAF at [email protected].  We will build a database and maintain it on our website for families in need of this type of service.  [Please note that inclusion on this list will in no way constitute endorsement of a specific therapist's services by COCAF. ]

CSFPA Annual Education Conference 

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 through

Friday, October 19, 2012

Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center, Breckenridge, Colorado

 The Colorado State Foster Parent Association (CSFPA) is pleased to announce the 2012 Annual Education Conference, "We are the Ones... We Make the Difference."   "We" means everyone in the system, including  foster, adoptive, and kinship parents; case workers; GALs; case aids; CASAs; respite providers; and group home providers. "We" make the difference in a child's life.

The conference will be held at the Beaver Run Resort; special conference room rates start at $97 per night if you reserve by October 5.  To reserve a room, click here.   Enter 50CFPE as the group password.  Conference registration closes October 10. Payment can be made by credit card online or by mailing a check. Discount rates, workshop availability, respite reimbursement, and other benefits are limited and accepted on a first come first served basis.  Click here to register.  Contact CSFPA for information on respite care reimbursement.

For Youth 13 Years & Up

Saturday, October 27, 2012

9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Beyond Graduation is a project of Family Link along with the Association for Community Living(ACL)  and Boulder Valley School District (BVSD). It includes a set of youth-centered tools designed to help young people who are neuro-diverse and supported through IEPs, plan more effectively as they face these important decision and changes.  Ideally planning should start in middle school to make sure choices in high school align to your student's goals.

Youth 13 and up and their parents/family members and friends are welcome to attend.  Lunch is provided with pre-registration. This workshop is free and held at BVSD Education Center at 6500 Arapahoe in Boulder.

To register for the October workshop (deadline is Oct. 22) or more information, contact Anna Stewart, BVSD Parent Liaison, at 720-561-5918 or by email at [email protected].

Other upcoming events include:

Thursday, December 6, 2012, 6:00 p.m. -8:00 p.m.:  

 Gathering Data/Assessments

Thursday, January 17, 2013, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.:

Creating an Action Plan

March 2013:  Job Fair

Thursday, October 18, 2012, 5:30 p.m.

MetroPoint One Building, 4600 S. Ulster St., Denver, CO, 80237

From NACAC 

Research clearly shows that adoption assistance plays a critical role in enabling parents to adopt foster children who have special needs, are older, or might otherwise age out of care without finding permanent, loving families. Without adoption, these youth will be at high risk of dropping out of school or getting pregnant, becoming homeless or incarcerated, and facing other challenges. Yet some states-perhaps not realizing the long-term personal, societal, and financial benefits of adoption assistance benefits-are cutting back on them or considering doing so.

The Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute has partnered with NACAC on a nationwide campaign to counter this trend by raising public awareness, educating policy makers, and providing advocacy materials for parents, professionals, and other activists to use at the state level. Today, we released The Vital Role of Adoption Subsidies: Increasing Permanency and Improving Children's Lives (While Saving States Money) to help individuals understand this issue and advocate to maintain these crucial benefits.  Click here to access this valuable document. 

PEAK Parent Center would like input regarding your child with a disability and the educational planning and services he or she is receiving in their school setting.  The information you provide will inform PEAK Parent Center about how they can help improve the quality of services delivered to children with disabilities and their families. The survey should only take a few minutes to complete and your responses will remain strictly confidential.  All the information gathered will be used in aggregate and no individual responses will be identifiable.  Click here to access the survey. 

If you would like to receive the survey in Spanish, email [email protected].

Wednesday, October 3, 2012, 6:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m.

The Adoption Exchange, 14232 E Evans Ave., Aurora, CO  80014

A panel of adult international adoptees and their parents will discuss the experiences, struggles, and triumphs that they encountered along their journeys.  This discussion panel will offer attendees valuable insight into the experiences of international adoptees and their adoptive families, from placement to adulthood.

This free class is open to all adoptive families, and pizza and beverage will be provided.  For more information, contact Michelle Betsch at 303-755-4756 ext 204 or by email at [email protected].  Click here to register. 

Aging Out of Foster Care: 

Important Information for Teens 

Walk on the Wild Side to Benefit DCAC

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Exdo Event Center, 1399 35^th St, Denver, CO  80205

Check us out at http://www.twitter.com/Adopt_Colorado  and follow us!  You'll get up to the minute news on classes, resources, and adoption issues.