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DONATE Today!
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Donations are used to support Colorado's adoptive families. |
Classroom Training
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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.
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Webinars
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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.
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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
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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?
Improving the Economic Security of Children in Foster Care and Young People Who Are Transitioning from Foster Care
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FREE AFP Online Classes
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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 |
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.
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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.
Happy February!
Colleen Tarket, Board Member
[email protected]
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SOAR Youth & Adult Choir Looking for Recruits! 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. |
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Special Needs Parenting From the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
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: |
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Adoption Tax Credit Updates
Curious about the status of the Adoption Tax Credit legislation? Click here to see the most current information. |
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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/.
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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 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
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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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