Logo
Adoption Topics       Education        Health Care       Legislative Info       Services & Resources   
DONATE Today!
COCAF Logo


Donations are used to support Colorado's adoptive families.
In This Issue
Twitter COCAF!
SOAR Choir
Special Needs Parenting
Childhood Abuse and Neglect
Family Tree Gemini
COPARC Conference
Colorado Family Project
Training for Therapists
Scholarship Opportunity
Summer Jobs for Boulder Teens
Adoption Tax Credit
Events
Support Groups
Classroom Training
 

For the Love of My Special Child: Estate Planning for Parents of Children with Special Needs

Wednesday

February 5, 2014

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Smoky Hill Public Library

5430 S Biscay Circle

Centennial, CO 80015

Click here for more info.

 

 

The Language of Adoption:  

The Comfort of Chaos

Thursday

February 6, 2014

6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Koelbel Library

5955 S Holly St

Centennial, CO 80121

Click here for more info.

  

 

Take a Break: Rest & Respite for Caregivers & Families Training

Monday

 February 10, 2014 

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

Aurora, CO

Click here for more info.

  

    

Simply Healing 2014 for All Couples

Friday-Sunday

February 14-16, 2014

The Table Mountain Inn

Golden, CO

Click here for more info.

 

 

Animals Assisting in Family Attachment

Saturday

February 15, 2014

9:00 a.m. - noon

Christ Community Church

1301 15th St

Greeley, CO

Register by Feb 9

Contact Loni at 970-339-8545

 

 

Understanding & Fostering the Social, Emotional, and Self-Esteem Development of Students with Learning Differences

Tuesday

February 25, 2014

Bethany Lutheran Church

4500 E Hampden Ave

Englewood, CO  80110

Click here for more info

  

For the Love of My Special Child: Estate Planning for Parents of Children with Special Needs

Wednesday

February 26, 2014

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Southglenn Public Library

6972 S Vine St

Centennial, CO 80122

Click here for more info.

 

  

Trauma Informed Parenting

Thursday

February 27, 2014

5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Golden, CO

Click here for more info.
 

  

When Is My Skin Going to Turn Your Color

Tuesday

March 11, 2014

5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Denver, CO

Click here for more info.

 

 

Relationship Enhancement & Positive Discipline

Saturday

March 15, 2014

9:00 a.m. - noon

Christ Community Church

1301 15th St

Greeley, CO

Register by March 9

Contact Loni at 970-339-8545

 

 

Take a Break: Rest & Respite for Caregivers & Families

Friday

March 21, 2014

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

La Junta, CO

Click here for more info.

 

 

 

Take a Break: Rest & Respite for Caregivers & Families

Saturday

April 5, 2014

10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Colorado Springs, CO

Click here for more info.

 

 

Surviving & Thriving

Family Wellness Event

Saturday

April 5, 2014

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Timberline Church

East Auditorium

2908 S Timberline Rd

Fort Collins, CO

Click here for more info.

Click here to register.

 

 

Understanding Grief & Coping with Loss

Tuesday

May 13, 2014

Colorado Springs, CO

Click here for more info.

     
Webinars

 

Issues of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression in Child Welfare

Part 1: Youth, Parent, and Worker Perspectives

Tuesday

February 4, 2014

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

and

Part 2: Organizational Issues

Tuesday

February 11, 2014

1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Click here for more info.


 

Ethical Challenges in Adoption Practice

Thursday

February 13, 2014

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

Click here for more info.

 

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.

Click here for more info.

 


 Conferences
              

2014 Conference on Inclusive Education

Thursday & Friday

February 13-14, 2014

Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center

Denver, CO

Click here for more info.


           

Mental Health Colorado's 21st Annual Legislative Education and Advocacy Day (LEAD)

Friday

February 21, 2014

McNichols Civic Center Building

144 W Colfax

Denver, CO

Register by Feb 14

Click here for more info.



COPARC's Annual Spotlight Conference

Resources: Life Beyond Labels

Friday

April 18, 2014

Mile High Station

Denver, CO

More info to come.

 

 

NACAC Conference

Wednesday - Saturday

July 23-26, 2014

Kansas City, MO

Email [email protected] to request more information.


 

Webcasts

These webinars have been recorded and are available 24X7

 

Supporting Youth in Transition: The Importance of Case Worker Visits

Click here to for more info.

 

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.

 

Improving the Economic Security of Children in Foster Care & Young People Who Are Transitioning out of Care

 

Privatization of Child Welfare Services: A Guide for State Advocates

Click here to download.

 

Collaborating with Kinship Caregivers Curriculum and TA

Click here to download.

 

Finding What Works: Helping Young Adults Transition into Adulthood

Click here to download.

 

The Uninterrupted Scholars Act: How Do Recent Changes to FERPA Help Child Welfare Agencies Get Access to School Records?

Click here to download.

The 50 State Chartbook on Foster Care: A Web-Based Data Resource for Child Welfare Professionals

Click here to download.

 
  Improving the Economic Security of Children in Foster Care and Young People Who Are Transitioning from Foster Care
FREE Online Courses
FREE AFP Online Classes

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 

 


The Journey Of Attachment 

 

 Tough Starts: Brain Development Matters  

AMC Autism Logo  
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.

February 15
The Lego Movie 

 

Click here for more info.

 

 

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. 

  

 

Ah..February...the month of love! Did you know that Valentine's Day is the second largest card-sending holiday of the year? Making your own Valentine cards is a good family activity.  

 

While you're making the cards, take the opportunity to talk to your children about love. You can talk about why you love them, how there are many different kinds of love, why it's okay for them to love their birth family, and other love-related topics. Don't push them to tell you who they love; they'll tell you if they're comfortable discussing it. But opening the discussion lets them know that you do love them and that it's an okay topic to bring up.

 

hearts-icon.jpg  

Happy February!

Colleen Tarket, Board Member 

[email protected]  

SOAR Youth & Adult Choir Looking for Recruits!

g-clef-bg.jpg

The SOAR Youth & Adult Choir offers a unique opportunity for at-risk children and adolescents to become involved in a safe community of mentoring adult performers focusing on appreciation of the arts with an emphasis on developing skills necessary for success in life.

 

SOAR is open to those aged 8 to 18. Rehearsals are held Mondays from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Dinner is provided at 6:00 p.m. (before rehearsals). Rehearsals are held at Unity Church of Denver, 3021 S. University Boulevard, Denver, CO 80201.

 

For more information, contact Cindee at 720-291-3056 or by email at [email protected] or contact Roxanne at 720-218-1437 or by email at [email protected].
Special Needs Parenting
From the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)

canada_day.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 The Adoption Council of Canada recently released three monographs, completing the series Special Needs Parenting: Working Together for Success. These short booklets for parents, professionals and service providers offer practical information on issues and strategies, as well as a resource list.  


Each monograph examines a theme from a Canadian study of parenting adopted children (aged 1-12) with disabilities, disorders, medical conditions or prenatal substance exposure.  Click each topic to download the monographs:

 

 

Childhood Abuse and Neglect
From NACAC

The University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center released findings from LONGSCAN, a 20-year research effort into the effects of childhood abuse and neglect. The report (Ensuring Safety, Well-Being and Permanency for Our Children-Findings, Practice and Policy Implications from LONGSCAN: The 20-year Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect) highlights important research findings from decades of research.

 

Family Tree Gemini Closes

Family Tree Gemini, a program that provided youth emergency residential services, closed in mid-January. Citing lack of participation, and therefore funding, by county child welfare departments, Gemini had to close its doors, giving homeless and at-risk youth one less resource.

 

Other Family Tree programs have not been affected by this closure.


 

Exhibit Table Opportunity
From the Colorado Post Adoption Resource Center (COPARC)

COPARC's Annual Spotlight Conference, Resources: Life Beyond Labels, will be held Friday, April 18, 2014, at Mile High Station in Denver.

 

This day-long conference offers the opportunity to meet and share information about your services with adoptive and foster families as well as the professionals who work with these families.

Exhibit table reservations will be $35.00, which includes admission to the training, conference handouts, and lunch.

 

Tables are 3' X 3'. Please bring your own table clothes; you may choose to display a table cover with your business name on it. The exhibit area will be open from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. with the first and last half hours designated for set-up and break-down.

 

Click here to download the registration form.


Colorado Family Project

The Colorado Family Project comprises clinicians and researchers who specialize in working with children with or at risk for bipolar disorder (extreme high and low moods).

 

The Colorado Family Project works with children ages 9 to 17 years old, along with their family members. For families who participate in their research study, the Colorado Family Project provides a thorough diagnostic evaluation, family-based therapy, and when relevant, medication management from a psychiatrist. There is no cost for participating families.

 

University of Colorado Depression Center and the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience The Colorado Family Project, based at the University of Colorado Boulder, is a joint project of the Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center in Denver and the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder.  

 

Click here for more information.


 

Training for Therapists

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, in partnership with its Colorado members and the University of Southern California Adolescent Trauma Training Center is offering a FREE 2-day training in Integrative Treatment for Complex Trauma for Adolescents.  

 

The training will be held February 18 and 19 at the Ft. Logan auditorium and is intended for therapists. CEUs are available. Because the training is free, lunch and refreshments will not be included. Click here for more information.


Scholarship Opportunity

Helen M. McLoraine Scholarship Program for Foster Care and Emancipating Youth is now accepting applications. 

 

Recipients will be selected based on academic achievement/potential, motivation, potential for success in their chosen program and field, and financial need. Scholarship awards can be up to $10,000 per year (with typical awards ranging from $2,000 to $7,000) and are based on financial need, the strength of the student application, and the student's educational plan.

 

Deadline to apply is March 28, 2014.
Summer Jobs for Boulder Teens

Boulder teens aged 14-17 looking for a summer job should check out the Youth Corps website.  

 

Click here for more information.  

 

Deadline to apply is Friday, March 28, 2014.

 

Adoption Tax Credit Updates 

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

 

Events


Fundango

  

Fundango is a respite program for all children of foster and adoptive parents in northern Colorado. Screened and trained volunteers lead groups through stations like crafts, snack, and games. We also provide a dinner. While we are playing, parents have an opportunity to take a break from parenting.

 

Upcoming dates:

Loveland, Saturday, February 15, 2014

Fort Collins, Saturday, March 1, 2014

 

Click here for more information.




Flavors of the World Gala

Benefitting Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families

Friday, April 5, 2014, 5:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

More information will be available soon at http://www.heritagecamps.org/.

 

 

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 (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.

Zoe's, 715 10th 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.

 
Join Our Mailing List
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