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DONATE Today! |
Donations are used to support Colorado's adoptive families. |
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Classroom Training | |
Trauma-Informed Parenting: Parenting for Attachment
Tuesday
March 5, 2013
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Hope for Children
Family Strengthening Center
801 W. 4th Street
Pueblo, CO 81003
Click here for more info.
AdoptCare Network Training
Understanding & Meeting the Unique Needs of Foster and Adoptive Families
Friday
March 8, 2013
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Weld County Training Center
1004 H Street
Greeley, CO 80631
Click here for more info.
Grief Recovery Workshop
Friday - Sunday
March 8-10, 2013
Friday 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sat 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sun 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
3021 S University
Denver, CO 80210
Contact Suzanne Carter at 720-266-4444 x3 or by email at [email protected]
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): When Good Parenting Doesn't Work
Wednesday
March 13, 2013
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Philip S. Miller Library
Wells Fargo Bank Room
100 S Wilcox
Castle Rock, CO 80104
Click here for more info.
The Language of Adoption: When Is My Skin Going to Turn Your Color?
Saturday
March 23, 2013
9:00 a.m. - 12: p.m.
8 W Dry Creek Circle, Ste 120
Littleton, CO 80120
Click here for more info.
Adoption Competent Parenting Series:
Differences In Adopted Children's Development
March 29, 2013
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
8745 W 14th Ave., Ste 100
Lakewood, CO 80228
Click here for more info.
Trauma Informed Parenting
Tuesday
May 7, 2013
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Colorado Community Church
2220 S. Chambers Rd.
Aurora, CO 80014
Click here for more info.
Childhood Sexuality: From Normal to Problematic and Abusive
Monday
April 1, 2013
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Founder's Room
Mile High United Way
2505 18th St
Denver, CO 80211
Click here for more info.
Healing Ourselves to Heal our Children
Tuesday
May 7, 2013
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
County Commons Building
Mt Royal Room
0037 Peak One Dr
Frisco, CO 80443
Click here for more info.
Sensory Processing Disorder
Tuesday
May 14, 2013
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Adams County DHS
7401 Broadway
Denver, CO 80221
Click here for more info.
Bipolar Success Workshops
Thursdays
May 16, 23, & 30, 2013
Byers Branch Denver Public Library
675 Santa Fe Dr
Denver, CO
Click here for more info.
Bipolar Success!
Part 1
Wednesday
June 5, 2013
Part 2
Wednesday
June 12, 2013
Part 3
Wednesday
June 19, 2013
6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Highlands Ranch Public Library
9292 Ridgeline Blvd
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Click here for more info.
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CONFERENCES | |
Mental Health America of Colorado
20th Annual Legislative and Educations Advocacy Day (LEAD)
Friday
March 1, 2013
8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Sheraton Downtown Denver
1550 Court Place
Denver, CO
Click here for more info.
Diamonds in the Rough:
Mining Every Child's Potential Dyslexia Conference
Friday & Saturday
March 15 & 16, 2013
7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
The Sky Ute Casino Resort
14324 Colorado 172
Ignacio, CO 81137
Click here for more info.
COPARC's Spotlight on the Youth Perspective and Fostering Connection Conference
Friday
April 12, 2013
American Mountaineering Center
710 10th Street
Golden, CO 80401
Click here for more info.
Colorado Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference: Silver Anniversary, Bringing People Together and Breaking Down Barriers
Save the Date!
Monday & Tuesday
April 15 & 16, 2013
Families Supporting Adoption Annual Conference
Saturday
May 11, 2013
More info to come. |
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Webcasts | |
These webinars have been receorded and are available 24X7
Adoption Tax Credit: A Guide for State Advocates
Click here for more info.
Child Welfare and the Affordable Care Act
Click here for more info.
Successful Stepfamily Living
Click here for more info.
Improving the Economic Security of Children in Foster Care & Young People Who Are Transitioning out of Care
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AMETZ Adoption Training Institute |
To register for any of these webinars, click here.
For more info, call
212-558-9949.
Bio-Psychological Approach to Emotional and Behavioral Regulation in Children
Wednesday
May 8, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Ethical Challenges in Adoption Practice
Wednesday
June 6, 2013
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
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Sensory Friendly Films
AMC Theatres (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program.
March 30, 2013
10:00 a.m.
The Croods (2-D)
Click here for more info. | |
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2013
SUMMER CAMPS | |
Heritage Camps
Click here for more information on any Heritage Camp.
Korean
June 13-16
African Caribbean
June 20-23
Latin American
June 27-30
Indian Nepalese
July 11-14
Cambodian
July 18-21
Vietnamese
July 18-21
Domestic Adoption
July 25-28
Russian/Eastern European/Central Asian (REECA)
July 25-28
Chinese II
August 1-4
Filipino
August 1-4
Chinese
August 30-Sept 2 |
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Greetings!
Yes, it is already March. Spring break is just around the corner...and some of us probably still have a Christmas decoration or two still waiting to be boxed up. With kids and busy lives, we really need to remember to not sweat the small stuff (like that stupid elf you forgot to put up) and focus on what's really important. And what's really important is a personal decision - you and you alone should figure out what's most important to you and your family. So take a couple of minutes and decide what is important to you, and then focus on that. And if you have too many things to focus on, then prioritize and delegate and don't forget to breathe!
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Deborah Cave, COCAF Executive Director and Board President
[email protected]
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28: NACAC Webinar on the Adoption Tax Credit
TODAY at 6:00 p.m., NACAC will offer a webinar on the U.S. federal adoption tax credit. During the webinar, participants will learn the steps they need to take to file for the U.S. federal adoption tax credit. The focus will be on filing for 2012, but will also cover applying for the credit for adoptions as far back as 2005.
Presenter Josh Kroll will explain what parents need to do to take advantage of the credit. Key points include that the credit is not a refundable credit for 2012 and that parents who adopt children who receive adoption subsidy benefits do not need to have expenses to claim the credit. The session will focus on families who adopted children with special needs from foster care but will be applicable to all adoptive families as well. During the session, participants will be able to type in questions that they would like answered.
Fees for the webinar are $15 for NACAC members and $20 for non-members.
To register, click here.
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Hearts on the Mountain
Hearts on the Mountain is the first collaborated event between the Snowriders Club and the Kids at Heart to provide 25 foster, adoptive, and kinship teens ages 10 - 18, with an opportunity to experience Eldora Mountain Resort on Saturday, April 6, 2013. Biological teens are welcomed as long as they are accompanying a foster, adoptive or kinship sibling. Registration fee is $30 per teen and the fee includes the cost of transportation to and from Eldora Mountain Resort, rental equipment (boots, skis & poles, or snowboard), a lift ticket, lessons and lunch.
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NFPA Youth Scholarship
The National Foster Parent Association
 The National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) Youth Scholarship Fund was established to benefit foster, adoptive, and birth children of NFPA members. Up to five scholarships are awarded annually based on available funds. Scholarships may be awarded to current foster children and biological or adopted children of an NFPA member.
Each scholarship may be for college/university or vocational training. 2013 scholarship applications are due no later than March 15, 2013. Click here to see the application requirements and process. |
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Advocating for Your Child in the School System
Tuesday, March 26, 2013, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Barrymore Hotel, 110 Latigo Lane, Canon City, CO 81212
COCAF is pleased to be co-sponsoring this class with the Colorado Post-Adoption Resource Center (COPARC), graciously funded by the Community Champions Network (CNN).
This training will teach participants about:
* The Response to Intervention model (RTI)
* Special Education Due Process and the associated Parent Procedural Safeguards
* Behavior Intervention Support Plans, Safety Plans and Threat Assessment Plans
* The roles of school professionals who may be included on service teams
* 504 Plans
Instructor Patricia Fiske Ridley, Ph.D., has a doctorate in Educational Psychology and is licensed as a Psychologist and Special Education Teacher. She has worked as a service provider for children with special needs in public education settings for twenty years. She works in close conjunction with parents, guardians, foster parents, case managers and advocates of these children, many of whom have been adopted from the child welfare system. She and her husband are adoptive parents of a child with special needs.
Due to the sensitive nature of the material being discussed, we ask that you make other arrangements for childcare. Funding is available for respite care; contact Casi Preheim at [email protected] for details. Snacks and beverages will be provided. This class is free. For more information or to register, email [email protected]. |
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Social Skills Camp
Intensive Social Skills Spring Break Camp For Autistic Children
Monday, March 25th to Friday, March 29th 8:30am - 4:30pm
Firefly offers an intensive 5-day week of social skills instruction embedded within a fun, group format. With the structure of a school day, and the fun activities of a camp, Firefly strives to provide a naturalistic setting for a high rate of social learning opportunities for kids on the autism spectrum, or for children with social deficits. Social learning opportunities will be embedded within activities that occur typically within a camp setting, such as music, arts and crafts, cooperative projects, outdoor games, and technology driven activities. Camp will meet on a daily basis for 5 consecutive days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Firefly Autism House. Camps consist of approximately 3-4 children with 2 staff members, and campers are expected to attend for the whole 5-day week.
If you are interested in enrolling your child in one of the Intensive Social Skills Spring Break Camps, contact Emily Roche at 303-759-1192 ext 12 or [email protected] to discuss this process. If you would like additional information about the Intensive Social Skills Spring Break Camp, contact the Social Skills Program Coordinator & Outreach Director, Jenny Blankenship at 303-759-1192 ext 12 with questions, or email her at [email protected]. |
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Domestic Adopton Camp
Join Heritage Camps for the third annual Domestic Adoption Camp to be held Thursday, July 25 through Sunday, July 28, 2013, at Colorado Heights University in Denver. All families built by domestic adoption, whether through foster care, kinship, or domestic infant or older child adoption are welcome. The theme for this year is The Family Circle. Children's programming will be circle themed, with crafts, adoption workshops, and plenty of time for outdoor games and friendship building. The children's counselors will be young adult adoptees. There will also be great workshops for parents on topics such as trauma-informed parenting, birth parent search and reunion, and play therapy for adults. Parents will also have time to network with other parents.
Registration opens March 11, 2013. Scholarships are available for those who need financial assistance to attend camp. Heritage Camps is also instituting the "Plus One" program this year. Any family (new or previous attendee) who informs another family about the camp and gets them to register and attend this summer will receive a gift certificate to the Heritage Camp market. Click here to learn more about this camp. |
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Camp Fundango
Camp Fundango, Friday, August 9- Sunday, August 11, 2013, is an annual, three-day weekend of camping for the entire family at Covenant Heights Camp & Retreat Center in Estes Park for foster, adoptive, and kinship families in Colorado. It was started in 2009 for the purpose of providing these families with an unforgettable camping experience. Registration fee is $30 per camper. Registration starts May 7, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. For more information, click here. |
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Partnering with Animals to Teach Social Skills (PATSS)
The P.A.T.S.S. group is a Social skills group for children who are struggling with getting along with friends and family, have a difficult time understanding and handling emotions, have aggressive or angry behaviors and who simply need a little help interacting with others. This group is appropriate for children on the Autism Spectrum, and ADHD as well as other children with social challenges. - Small groups for children ages 10-12(3-6 children per group)
- All groups work with a trained and certified therapy dog as well as our ranch animals
- Concurrent Parent Support Group available
Contact Ellen Winston by email at [email protected] for more information. |
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Facing Violence At Home
From the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections
Witnessing violence harms children, and children often enter foster care because of violence at home; however, facing and ending violence can be complicated. In this issue of Rise magazine, parents explore partner violence - the controlling patterns of batterers, the fights that flare up under stress, and the aggression driven by mental illness or substance abuse - and describe the steps they took to get violence out of their lives. Rise magazine is written by and for parents involved in the child welfare system. (Winter 2013) Click here to go to the Rise magazine.
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| NACAC Conference
North American Council on Adoptable Children
39th Annual Conference Thinking Differently:
New Hope for Our Children
From August 7-10, 2013, NACAC presents its 39th annual conference in Toronto, Ontario. The conference is perfect for adoptive, foster, and birth parents, child welfare professionals, adoptees, foster care alumni, kinship providers, and other child advocates.
Click here for more info.
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Toll-Free Crisis Hotline Numbers
From The Child Welfare Information Gateway
Click here for a list of toll-free phone numbers maintained by crisis organizations that offer emergency help with situations ranging from child abuse to youth runaways. Spanish version is also available. |
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Successful Transitions for Adolescents
Promoting Successful Transitions for Adolescents "Aging Out" of Foster Care, a brief from the National Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC) explains six broad foundations identified by the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative that youth aging out of foster care need to make a successful transition to adulthood. The foundations include: a permanent family that provides an ensuring source of emotional support; a stable education that includes postsecondary opportunities; opportunities to achieve economic success; a place to live that is safe, stable, and affordable; access to comprehensive, coordinated health and mental health care; and opportunities to be listened to, to be informed, to be respected, and to exert control over one's life. For each foundation, information is provided on current policies and practices in Connecticut and recommendations for reform.
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Mental Health Professionals
If you provide mental health services to children up to age 8, you may be interested in a new group coordinated by the Early Childhood Council. Monday, March 25, 2013 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Harmony Presbyterian Church 400 E Boardwalk Dr, Fort Collins, CO 80525 |
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Events
Party on La Playa Tuesday, April 9, 2013 Las Brisas Restaurant 6787 S Clinton St, Greenwood Village, CO 80112 A Benefit for Children's Help and Assistance for Residential Treatment (CHART) Enjoy a casual Mexican buffet, South American wines, and a silent auction. All proceeds benefit mentally ill children. Click here for more information. Heritage Camp Annual Gala
Saturday, April 27, 2013
Enjoy international food, exciting cultural entertainment, a silent auction, and a raffle you can participate in from anywhere in the country! Details coming soon. |
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Camp Teen Fundango 2013
The weekend of June 28 - June 30, 2013, Kids at Heart will have its first Camp Teen Fundango. This camp is a 3-day weekend of camping for adoptive, foster, and kinship teens ages 10-16. The weekend will be held at a primitive camp 45 minutes from Fort Collins; an off-the grid, pristine playground where kids discover both the natural world and their own innate skills and confidences. It's packed full of adventures and activities that engage the kids in skill-building, learning, reflection, and growth. Kids at Heart has partnered with EDUCO Leadership Adventures for this adventure weekend. Teens will be challenged to step outside their comfort zone, connect with new and unexpected friends, and discover their sense of self and leadership. Details are being finalized, and will be available at the Kids at Heart website. Click here to go to their website. |
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Support Groups
Sometimes our children provide us with challenges that we're just not quite ready to handle. And sometimes support groups can help us find the answers we need, or at least make us feel okay about the unique challenges we're facing. Here are a couple of support groups that might be helpful.
Therapeutic Post-Adoption Support Group
2nd Thursday of the month
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Windsor Timberline Church
360 E Crossroads Blvd
Windsor, CO
Click here for more information.
Aurora Mental Health
Adoption Support Group
2nd & 4th Mondays of the month
Aurora Mental Health
11059 E Bethany Drive
Aurora, CO 80014
Click here for more information.
The Be The Change Challenge
(For parents of challenging children)
2nd Tuesday of each month
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
ACL Boulder, 5744 North 71st Street, Longmont, Colorado 80503
Call 630-841-0458
Click here for more info.
EMPOWER Colorado Adams County Rainbow Center
2140 E 88th Ave,
Thornton, CO 80229
3rd Thursday of each month
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Contact: KimNichelle Rivera 303-226-5536
EMPOWER Littleton/Aurora/Englewood
1st & 3rd Thursday
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network
155 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO 80112
Contact Carol Villa at 303-790-1055 for more information or email [email protected]
NAMI Connections Recovery Support Group for Adults
ADMHN Building, 3rd floor
5500 S. Sycamore St, Littleton, CO 80120
Wednesdays
7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m.
Contact: Carol
303-790-1055
NAMI Family Support Group Teleconference
2nd & 4th Tuesdays
of each month
Contact: [email protected]
Positive Outcomes Comprehensive Post-Adoption Services
Parent Support Group
7853 E Arapahoe Ct #1400, Centennial, CO 80112
Call 303-721-6966 for more information.
www.postadoptservices.org
Louisville Parent Support Group
Second Tuesday of the month
(10/9, 11/13, 12/11)
7:00 - 8:30
Art Underground,
901 Front Street,
Louisville, CO 80027
$25 per session; reservations required.
Call 720-352-1743 or mail your payment to
Parent Support Group,
608 Main St, Louisville, CO 80027
Adoptive Parent Support Group
Wednesdays
March 6 - April 24, 2013
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. OR 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
8 W Dry Creek Circle, Suite 120, Littleton, CO 80120
Cost $40 per session or $295 for 8 weeks
Contact Dr. Wirta at 303-522-3184 to enroll.
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COCAF strives to provide Colorado's adoptive families with the information and resources they need to keep their families healthy and happy. If you have ideas for topics you think we should cover, please let us know. And if you find a good resource -- definitely let us know. Please forward your ideas or information to me at [email protected]. Materials received by the 20th of a month will be considered for inclusion in the next month's newsletter.
Wishing all families peace, serenity, and a good sense of humor,
Colleen Tarket, COCAF Board Member (and newsletter put-ter-together-er)
COCAF does not recommend or endorse any specific book, website, survey, study, or provider of services. The purpose of the COCAF e-newsletter is to provide families with potential resources. All information contained in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only and as is without warranty expressed or implied, and shall not constitute legal, medical, psychiatric, educational, or parenting advice. COCAF is not be liable for any damages arising from using the information in this newsletter, including direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and/or consequential damages.
No information on this site should be considered legal advice. Laws vary by state, so you are urged to research the specific laws, and your rights, within your state. If you have specific questions regarding your rights, or the laws in your state, please contact an attorney. |
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Use this area to provide your subscribers information about your organization.
We believe that all children have the right to a permanent loving family. We are dedicated to improving services for every pre- and post-adoptive family and to increasing the knowledge and accountability of public systems. We are committed to advocacy in state and local service planning and delivery, in support of all pre and post adoptive families.
Sincerely,
Deborah Cave, Executive Director
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