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

Kempe Center Webinars

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 webinar are free of charge.

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

Thursday, November 13, 2014, noon

Click here for more information.

Click here to register for one of the webinars.

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.

October 25
Book of Life

November 29
Home

December 13
Paddington

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.

Help COCAF

While You Shop!

Use AmazonSmile when you shop Amazon, and support COCAF at the same time! Shop at AmazonSmile and 0.5% of your eligible Amazon purchases can be donated to the nonprofit of your choice - including COCAF. Your donations help adoptive families in Colorado find the services they need to keep their families safe, healthy, and thriving. Click here to start shopping.

In case you haven't noticed, it's almost election time. Like there's any way you couldn't know. Front yards and open space are littered with signs, and there are so many political ads on TV that I am in EXTREME overload. (Extreme seems to be the political buzz word this year, in case you didn't catch that reference.)

COCAF is not a political group; we are a support group. We support pre and post adoptive, kinship, and foster families. We think these families are woefully underserved, and mostly unrepresented by those in power. So we are asking you to take the time to research the candidates you'll be voting for, and make sure that those people will represent and fight for adoptive, kinship, and foster families.

Click here for a complete list of all official candidates running for office. Do your own research, and make sure you're supporting candidates who will support you and the other pre and post adoptive, kinship, and foster families of Colorado.

Hoping for a Better Future for ALL Families!

K. Colleen Tarket, COCAF Board of Directors

[email protected]

Educating Traumatized Children Summit

From the Attachment & Trauma Network, Inc.

September 30 - October 10, 2014

FREE

Participate in this important summit. Two interviews are available per day, and you can listen to them anytime you want while they are available. You must register first, then respond to the confirmation email. After you're registered, each night you'll receive an email with the link to the next day's interviews. You have a full 24 hours to access those two recordings for FREE. Pick the best time for you, listen, and learn.

Click here for more information and to register.

Open Letter from CDHS Executive Director

It's not too late to participate in the CDHS Strategic Planning process! As you may know, our team has been thrilled by the insightful suggestions, comments, and ideas that were shared with us throughout the state but we would still like to hear from you.

Please take this opportunity to review the first DRAFT of the CDHS Strategic Plan, which is available on our website.

We are interested in hearing your feedback and comments on this draft, and encourage you to share this link with other providers, partners, staff, clients, neighbors, and families in your community.

We truly appreciate your insight as we work to build the most effective 21st Century Human Service system in the country.

Thank you,
Reggie Bicha
Executive Director
Colorado Department of Human Services

Preventing Sex Trafficking Law Passes
From the North American Council on Adoptable Children

On September 29, President Obama signed the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. Among other things, this bipartisan legislation will:

Require states to better track children at risk of being victims of sex trafficking (including children who run away from foster care) and report any children who are victims of trafficking
Require states to develop a process by which foster parents and other caregivers have permission to grant children and youth in care the opportunity to participate in the normal activities of childhood
Limit the use of Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement (APPLA) for children under 16
Provide children 14 and up the opportunity to participate in their case planning process
Fund Family Connections Grants for one more year
Renew and enhance the Adoption Incentive program, creating a guardianship incentive and, over time, transitioning to an incentive system based on the rate of adoptions, rather than a baseline number

Require states to spend 30 percent of the funds they save as a result of the Fostering Connections Act's expansion of federal adoption assistance eligibility on post-adoption, post-guardianship, and other family support services.

Adoptive Families Mentoring Program

The Colorado Post-Adoption Resource Center (COPARC) is looking for some mentees for their pilot mentor program. They have some wonderful adult and youth mentors just waiting to be matched and need your help to find some adoptive parents and youth who are interested in being mentored! COPARC is looking for the following:

Adult Mentee Qualifications:
- Has a genuine interest in accepting an additional support system and companionship from another parent
- Has been an adoptive parent for a minimum of one year
- Has adopted through the child welfare/foster care system

Youth Mentees Needed:
- A girl ages 7-10 who was adopted from child welfare and lives near Fort Collins
- A boy ages 7-13 who was adopted from child welfare and lives near Loveland

Contact Michelle Betsch at [email protected] for more information.

National Adoption Month

November is National Adoption Month. Click here to go to the national website for resources.

C.A.S.E. Webinar Series

These webinars are being offered by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E). Click here to read more information about any of these webinars.

Identity Matters: Becoming a Multi-racial Family

Thursday

October 16, 2014

11:00 a.m.

Same Family, Different Stories: Siblings in Complex Blended Families

Thursday

November 20, 2014

11:00 a.m.

Beneath the Mask Part 2: Effective Communication with Adopted Teens

Thursday

January 22, 2015

11:00 a.m.

What Prospective & Adoptive Families Should Know about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder (FASD)

Thursday

February 19, 2015

11:00 a.m.

Desperately Seeking Attachment: Parenting Traumatized Children & Teens - Part 1

Thursday

March 19, 2015

11:00 a.m.

Desperately Seeking Attachment: Parenting Traumatized Children & Teens - Part 2

Thursday

April 16, 2015

11:00 a.m.

Search & Reunion in Domestic & International Adoption

Thursday

May 14, 2015

11:00 a.m.

Relating to Relatives: Adoption & Extended Family

Thursday

June 18, 2015

11:00 a.m.

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.

Young Adult Mental Illness Support Group

For ages 18-28

1st & 3rd Thursday of every month

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

1st week Classroom F-G

3rd week Classroom E

St Anthony Hospital

11600 W 2nd Dr

Lakewood, CO 80228

Contact Courtney at 720-369-2629 for more information.

Welcome Child Adoption/Foster Care Support Group

Second Sunday of the month (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.

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.

Adult Adoptee Group

Thursdays starting November 6, 2014

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

7950 S Lincoln St, Ste 111-E, Littleton, CO 80122

Call 303-522-3184 to register. $20 per session.

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