In early February, COCAF Executive Director Deborah Cave and board member Colleen Tarket met with three members of CHDS Office of Children, Youth, and Families staff: Deputy Director Robert Werthwein; Permanency Manager, Gretchen Russo; and Adoption Program Administrator, Constance (Connie) Vigil.

COCAF and CDHS meet a few times a year to discuss ways to improve pre- and post-adoption support and services. During this meeting, Connie mentioned that some counties are offering post-adoption services in lieu of adoption assistance payments (subsidies) or to complement the adoption assistance payments. CDHS would like feedback on whether or not these services are benefiting the families and which services are providing the most benefit.

If you are receiving any post-adoption services through the County, please email COCAF and let us know what services you are receiving, how those services have affected your family (positively or negatively), and what county is providing the services.

COCAF will compile all the information ONLY and then forward it to CDHS (without any identifying information). CDHS will not be provided any information identifying you or your family unless you specifically ask us to provide that information to them. Your feedback could help other families in need of services.

Click here to email COCAF.

With funding from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, NACAC is offering two free webinars on adoption subsidy. Both are presented by Adoption Subsidy Resource Center project coordinator Josh Kroll. Adoption subsidies can be critical for adoptive families, so please take time to attend these webinars.

Adoption Assistance Eligibility and Benefits

Wednesday, March 12 - noon

In this session, you will learn the basics of adoption assistance for children adopted from foster care, including eligibility, benefits, taxes, and more. The workshop is designed for both prospective parents seeking to learn more about the support available for the children they adopt and parents who are seeking an adjustment due to a change in their child's need or circumstances. Click here to register. 

Advocating for Adoption Assistance 

Wednesday, March 26 - noon

During this free webinar, participants will learn how to advocate for adoption assistance programs in their state or province. In these tight financial times, legislators sometimes seek to cut adoption assistance programs and advocates need to be ready to respond. Even if your local adoption assistance program is not under threat, proactive advocacy can help maintain and even enhance these important benefits for children who have special needs. Click here to register.

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.

As tax season surrounds us, please keep in mind that we still need changes to the Adoption Tax Credit (ATC). Get educated on the ATC by going to The Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee website or by liking their Facebook page. Please join the fight to protect the adoption tax credit!

Children who have been abused or neglected need safe and nurturing relationships that address the effects of child maltreatment. The Parenting a Child Who Has Experienced Abuse or Neglect factsheet is intended to help parents (birth, foster, and adoptive) and other caregivers better understand the challenges of caring for a child who has experienced maltreatment and learn about the resources available for support.

Click here to go to the factsheet.

In February, the Colorado Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously voted to move SB 51 forward to the Finance Committee; SB 51 will allow adult adoptees to access their original birth certificates.  

Adoptees in Search - Colorado's Triad Connection has been instrumental in moving this legislation forward. COCAF is in support of this bill, and will provide more information as it goes through the approval process.

The Children's Bureau Express has launched a new website with great information for foster, kinship, and adoptive families. Each month a new topic is covered. The February spotlight is on LGBTQ Youth.

It is estimated that 5 to 10 percent of the children and youth in foster care identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ). It is likely that this population is much higher, and these youth face unique challenges and have specific needs. This month's CBX looks at an initiative by the Center for the Study of Social Policy on the challenges affecting LGBTQ youth in child welfare settings, a guide to help child welfare professionals better care for LGBTQ youth in foster care, and more.  

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

Colorado taxpayers that make a monetary contribution to promote child care may claim an income tax credit of 50% of the total contribution. In-kind contributions of property (non-monetary donations) do not qualify for the credit. [�39-22-121, and 39-22-121 (6.7)(c), C.R.S.]

Click here to see the Colorado tax information.

The Kempe Center for the Prevention & Treatment of Child Abuse & Neglect has announced the dates for their free upcoming webinar series on Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) and other family engagement approaches.  This series, for child and family serving professionals, advocates, foster parents, and other community stakeholders, will include a wide range of topics by presenters representing many areas in the field of family inclusion in decision making. All these webinars are free of charge.

"Nothing About Me Without Me": Including Children and Youth in FGDM

Tuesday, March 11, 2014, noon

Detained Immigrant Parents' Place at the Table; The Parental Interest Directive

Wednesday, April 16, 2014, noon

Preparing Parents for Family Meetings: A Path to Increased Family Engagement

Tuesday, May 6, 2014, noon

Competencies for Strengths-based Family Workers

Thursday, August 14, 2014, noon

Leading the Way: Supervisors Promoting Critical Thinking in FGDM Practice

Tuesday, September 16, 2014, noon

Family Group Decision Making: Engaging, Encouraging, and Empowering Families to Succeed

Wednesday, October 15, 2014, noon

Believe it or Not: The Interplay between Child Welfare Agency Staff Attitudes and Knowledge about FGDM and Implementation

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

Click here for more information.   

Fundango

Fort Collins, Saturday, March 1, 2014  

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.

Click here for more information.

IDA-RMB Dining for Dyslexia  

at the Wynkoop

Sunday, April 13, 2014, 4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

1634 18th St, Denver
   

Bring your family and join IDA-RMB for an evening of food, drink, festivities, and inspirational speakers. Proceeds benefit the YES! Youth Program and Professional Development Scholarship Fund.  Click here for more information. 

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 (Mar 9, Apr 13, May 11, & 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.

 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

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.

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]

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

Art Underground

 901 Front Street, Louisville, CO 80027

$25 per session; reservations required.

Call 720-352-1743.