These classes are available free to families who have adopted internationally or privately. To get your online training code and instructions for accessing your free training class, contact Michelle Betsch at [email protected] or

303-829-4296.

Conspicuous Families

Discipline and the Adopted Child: Ain't Misbehavin'

Finding the Missing Pieces

Let's Talk Adoption

The Journey Of Attachment

Tough Starts: Brain Development Matters

Tough Starts: Family Matters

Tough Starts: Parenting Matters

Tough Starts: Treatment Matters

Conferences

National Empowerment Center

Alternatives 2013

Wednesday - Saturday

December 4-7, 2013

Austin, TX

Click here for more info.

Ametz Adoption Program/JCCA for Adoption Professionals

Click here for more information on any of these online courses.

Drug And Alcohol Exposure: Children Form The Us And Abroad

Thursday

January 16, 2014

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Ethical Challenges In Adoption Practice

Thursday

February 13, 2014

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Untangling The Web: The Internet's Transformative Impact On Domestic And International Adoption

Wednesday

April 30, 2014

10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

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.

December 7, 2013

10:00 a.m.

Frozen 2-D

Click here for more info.

Events

Christmas

Kids Night Out

Ages 6 mon. - 12 years

Saturday

December 14, 2013

WaterStone Community Church

5890 S Alkire Street, Littleton, CO 80127

Click here for more info.

Denver Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC) Benefit

Saturday

December 7, 2013

7:00 p.m.

The Chick Sings Frank:

A Tribute to Sinatra

Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret

Join DCAC for one last toast to 2013 together with one amazing show! Tickets are on sale now for the Frank Sinatra show at Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret.

Each $75 ticket includes an incredible show with the divine Lannie Garrett plus a $40 tax deductible contribution to Denver Children's Advocacy Center.

Get yours now by clicking here or call 303-996-8588 to reserve tickets.

Adoption Tax Credit Updates

Curious about the status of the Adoption Tax Credit legislation? Click here to see the most current information.

Twitter @Adopt_Colorado

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.

Seems no matter how much I plan ahead, I always seem to be behind this time of year. I know I bring it on myself, but I can't seem to figure out what to "not do." If you're like me, then at least try to take advantage of some respite for your kids while you try to get "everything" done. See our articles below on Kids Night Out and Break Time Respite - hopefully one option will help you.

And remember that as overwhelmed as you may be, your adopted children may be even more overwhelmed. There's so much pressure to be good this time of year, no one can possibly live up to the expectations (even if the expectations are self-imposed). Take time to talk to your kids about your expectations...everything from what kind of gift you're expecting to how many family activities you will require them to participate in. Giving kids a "map" to the hectic holiday season will help them navigate it with a little more confidence.

Happy holidays!

Colleen Tarket, Board Member

[email protected]

COCAF Needs Your Help!

Has COCAF ever helped you? If they have, whether it was by going to a fair hearing with you or helping you negotiate a fair subsidy or just by providing you with great info in the newsletter, we would appreciate you helping us now by donating to COCAF. We provide all these services for FREE, but we have bills to pay, too. Your donation, even if it is just $10, allows us to continue to provide these services free to the adoptive/kinship families in Colorado.

The pre-scheduled Colorado Give Day donation feature is available! Donors can schedule just one day -- Colorado Gives Day on December 10 -- for a single donation payment to occur. Pre-scheduled, one-time donations for December 10, 2013, will qualify for a boost from the FirstBank Incentive Fund, which will increase the amount that COCAF earns. The minimum donation through the Colorado Gives Day fundraiser is $10.

To pre-schedule your donation to COCAF, simply click HERE. Enter your donation amount and the then click on the radio button right below the donation amount (it says "schedule a donation for Colorado Gives Day 12/10/2013").

Your donations are greatly appreciated. COCAF supports all adoptive/kinship/pre-adoptive families in Colorado (as well as those in other states who adopted from Colorado), and this is our only fundraiser for 2013.

Should One Slap End a Foster Parent's Career?
COCAF has been asked by a former foster youth to publish this plea for help:

I emancipated from foster care, am currently in my 30s, and consider my foster parents to be my family. My foster mom had a minor abuse finding from the county for slapping my adopted 14-year old sister. This was the first finding in her 25+ years foster/adoption career. There was no criminal conviction. All of my 26 foster/adopt/bio siblings believe this met the criteria for a safety plan rather than a founded finding of abuse, revocation of her foster certification, and being placed on CO Trails. My parents' foster certificate was revoked for my two teen foster siblings, one who is a DD youth and both of whom have lived with my parents for 5+ years. The county removed my two foster siblings, but the court mandated their return. My parents have applied for a child specific foster certification to finish raising them, but can't because of the "finding" (they are receiving no foster care support/services for them).

We are reaching out to other families who have experienced similar situations for support in revising current policies to better take into consideration the best interest of children and families. Please contact me with your stories at 303-304-1224 or by email at [email protected].
Thank you, Wonder Moon

Break Time Respite
From Break Time Respite for Families Dealing with Special Needs

Break Time Respite provides respite to all the children in a family as long as there is at least one disabled child in a household. Families qualify if they have at least one child with a "special health-care need": medical, behavioral, social, emotional, or developmental in nature. They can provide for any child or young adult in those categories and their typically developing siblings from age 3 months through 21 years. Break Time Respite typically schedules one Friday evening (5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) and one Saturday afternoon (noon to 5:00 p.m.) during college semesters and at least one session per month between semesters. The total fee for a family is $10.

Every volunteer is background checked and receives eyes-on supervision from the RN, the Behavior Specialist, the Break Time Respite Coordinator and other professional staff from The Resource Exchange. Every session includes a meal, snacks, and professional entertainment from Miss Kiddee and Friends. Balloon artists and face-painters are the most common.

Break Time Respite uses the UCCS Family Development Center and the Goodwill Possibilities Building. Possibilities is the most modern, safe, and secure building in Colorado Springs and includes a state-of-the-art sensory room.

Click on this link to download enrollment forms and put in requests for respite care in Colorado Springs and Woodland Park. Email or call Glenn Azare at [email protected] or 719-785-3703 for referrals to other respite programs in El Paso, Teller, and Park Counties. Break Time requires no signatures or documentation from a doctor, therapist, or any other source but the parents/guardians.

Search Tool for Adoptive Families

Adoption Parenting Pathways is a search tool for adoptive families. Available resources include articles and information about camp/retreats, homeland tours, information/referral, service providers, support groups, and workshops, or webinars. Resources cover 31 topics that include emotional difficulties children might have, attachment disorders, developmental concerns, financial issues, identity concerns, nutrition, racial identity, respite, academic concerns, birth searches, sensory integration, siblings, sleep, social skills, special needs, substance abuse, discussing adoption, transitions, and trauma. Parents are able to filter their search for resources based on their role and their location.

Click here to go to the tool.

Foster & Adopted Youth Connections
From NACAC

Foster and Adopted Youth Connections on Facebook is a private, moderated group by and for youth and young adults to connect; share ideas, inspiration and successes; find out what is happening in the foster/adopt advocacy world; and hear about opportunities.

If you are, or know, a young person who has been in care, is adopted, or being raised by relatives, email to be added to the group.

Life Skills Training Tips for Caregivers

From the National Resource Center for Youth Development

The National Resource Center for Youth Development (NRCYD) offers some great tips on how to teach your children life skills. Click here to read more.

Self Care for Families
From the Foster Care & Resource Center

The Foster Care & Resource Center offers tips for Self Care for Families. Click here to read the article.

The Science of Happiness

From Huffington Post

Sometimes the happiness times of the year are the most stressful and the least happy. Take control of your own happiness with scientifically-proven ideas. Click here to read more!

Housing for People with Disabilities

The Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council (CDDC) will be hosting the Affordable Housing: Options and Resources for People with Disabilities education session on Wednesday, December 11 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Having a safe and affordable place to live is critical to everyone, but all too often can seem out of reach for many people. Lori Rosendahl and Chris Roe will lead a discussion about housing options and resources available to people in Colorado. Time will also be available to ask questions about this complex topic that affects all Coloradans, especially our developmentally disabled constituents.

Lori is the chief operating officer of the Grand Junction Housing Authority and a director of the Colorado chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), one of Colorado's leading housing advocacy groups. Chris is with the Colorado Division of Housing and oversees homelessness prevention, with a focus on services for people with disabilities.

The session will be held at The Arc of Arapahoe/Douglas, 6538 S. Racine Circle, Centennial, Colorado 80111. Click here to RSVP.

Adopting as a Single Parent
From the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC)

Developed by the Child Welfare Information Gateway, the Adopting as a Single Parent factsheet focuses on the adoption of children by single people. This resource explores considerations in the decision to adopt, discusses the path to adoption, provides suggestions for parenting children, and lists additional helpful resources. Click here to go to the factsheet.

Leaving Your Child Home Alone
From the Child Welfare Information Gateway

This article from the Child Welfare Information Gateway provides questions for parents to consider before leaving children home alone, as well as tips to help make the experience safe and successful for all. Click here to read the article.

Helpful Newsletters

Fall newsletter from the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, Between the Lines, may be found on the Council's website. Click here to go to the website.

Kinship families should check out Catholic Charities Kinship Program newsletter. Click here to go to the newsletter.

Trauma-Informed Practices

From State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center (SPARC)

The latest SPARC brief, Implementing Trauma-Informed Practices in Child Welfare, authored by Eva J. Klain and Amanda R. White, ABA Center on Children and the Law, highlights the effects of trauma on child wellbeing and provides practice recommendations and examples of specific initiatives to guide transformation of the system.

Click here to download the full brief.

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 some support groups that might be helpful.

Welcome Child Adoption/Foster Care Support Group

Second Sunday of the month (December 15, January 12, February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11, and June 8)

6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Timberline Church, Room 214

2908 S. Timberline Road

Fort Collins, CO 80525

For more information contact Michele Sanner by email at mlsanner@gmail.com or by phone at (970) 481-5749.

Click here to register for childcare.

Xpress Yourself Art & Play Therapy

Support groups for internationally adopted children & adolescents

CCAI

6920 S. Holly Circle

Centennial, CO 80112

Call 303-850-9998, ext 22

Called to Adopt Support Group

4th Saturday of the month, 6:00 p.m.,
Christ Community Church, Greeley, CO

Click here for more info.

The Men's Group for Adoptive Dads

Thursdays, 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.

Christ Community Church (south door)

1301 15th St, Greeley, CO 80631

For more information, contact Tim Paxton at 970-691-5737 or by email at [email protected].

Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support Group

Facilitators: Sarah Ahn and Jenny Burnsed, LPC

Last Monday of every month 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Bixby School, 3750 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder

There is no fee associated with this group, though donations are gratefully accepted. Please contact Sarah at [email protected] for questions.

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

3rd Thursday of each month, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

2140 E 88th Ave, Thornton, CO 80229

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

Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m.

ADMHN Building, 3rd floor

5500 S. Sycamore St, Littleton, CO 80120

Contact: Carol

303-790-1055

NAMI Family Support Group Teleconference

2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month

Contact: [email protected]

Louisville Parent Support Group

Second Tuesday of the month 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

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.

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