NACHSA members meet next Friday, July 11 as part of the National Association of Counties' Annual Conference in Kansas City, Missouri. The NACHSA materials for the conference may be downloaded and printed by clicking here. The information packet includes the draft agenda and March minutes for the NACHSA business meeting (all NACHSA members are welcome!); the NACo/NACHSA Youth Aging Out of Foster Care Task Force agenda; NACo's Human Services and Education Steering Committee agenda and Policy Resolutions; and a NACo workshop grid.  

NACo's general session speakers include Ashley Rhodes-Courter, who has written a best-selling memoir, Three Little Words, which chronicles her life in the foster care system. Ms. Rhodes-Courter was placed in 14 foster homes before being adopted at the age of 12.  World renowned historian Doris Kearns Goodwin will also address the conference delegates. Her most recent work, a history of Abraham Lincoln entitled Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, joined the best-seller lists on its first week in publication and soon reached the No. 1 spot on the New York Times Best-Seller List.

Please send us your articles for the upcoming Summer 2008 edition of the Networker as soon as possible! We are very interested in hearing about innovations for delivering collaborative, meaningful services to your community, strategies for dealing with budget crises, and any other information that may be informative for Human Services agencies.  For example, in advocating against cuts to human services in California, several legislators have commented that client stories are particularly effective in helping the public understand the importance of the work we do. So send us your stories! Another area that is receiving some attention is that of workplace safety for human services workers.  In light of budget reductions and having less staff to serve more clients, how do you ensure that your workers are safe in the office and out in the field? 

We welcome articles of 500 to 1,000 words. Please e-mail them to Jo Weber at jweber@schsd.org by July 30.  Don't forget to add pictures to make your stories even more interesting!