Being and Doing our Best When Helping Children Who Have Experienced the Worst

Thursday

May 12, 2016

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

St. Vrain Community Hub

515 Coffman

Longmont, CO 80501

Childcare available with RSVP

RSVP to Margaret Davidson 303-441-1120 or [email protected]

Intro to Executive Functioning:

Navigating Your Child's Path to Success

Tuesday

May 17, 2016

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Dreamcatcher Instruction Center

2300 Central Ste 1A

Boulder, CO

Sexually Abused Children:

Parenting Game Plan

Friday & Saturday

May 20, 2016 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

and

May 21, 2016 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Garfield County DHS

195 W 14th St

Rifle, CO 81650

Parenting Children with Challenging Behaviors

Friday & Saturday

May 20, 2016 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

and

May 21, 2016 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Fremont County DHS

172 Justice Center Rd, Door C

Room 3

Canon City CO 81212

Sexually Abused Children:

Parenting Game Plan

Friday & Saturday

June 24, 2016 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

and

June 25, 2016 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Denver Police Dept

District 1 Station

Community Room

1311 W 46th Ave

Denver, CO 80211

Webinars

Debunking the Myth: Getting an SSI/SSDI Application Approved the First Time

Five 1-hour sessions

April 18 & 25, May 2, 9, & 16

Through the Years: What an Adoptee, Adoptive Parent, and Psychologist Has Learned & Wants to Teach You

Tuesday

May 10, 2016

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

Free

Growing Up as a Transracial Adoptee:

What Parents Need to Know

Thursday

May 19, 2016

11:00 a.m.

Free

Improving Relationships Between Police & the Mental Health Community

Wednesday

May 25, 2016

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Free

Click here for more information or to register for any of these webinars.

C.A.S.E. Webinars

Ready by 21: A Realistic Approach to Helping Foster Youth Transition to Adulthood

Thursday, May 19, 2016

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Extended Access: May 20 - 25, 2016

Adoptive Fathers: Empowering the Male Voice

Thursday, June 16, 2016

5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Extended Access: June 17 - 22, 2016

Conferences

GLOW Conference for TEENS

For adopted teens or teens in foster care ages 13-18

Saturday

June 11, 2016

9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

The Miller Activity Complex

1375 W Plum Creek Pkwy

Castle Rock, CO 80109

CSFPA Conference:

Camp Watwuzithink'n Part 2

Thursday - Friday

June 16-17, 2016

Embassy Suites Denver Southeast

7525 E Hampden Ave

Denver, CO 80231

Click here fore more info.

NACAC Conference

Wednesday - Saturday

August 3-6, 2016

Nashville, TN

Reading in the Rockies Fall Conference

October 7-8, 2016

Vail, CO

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

Child Welfare and the Affordable Care Act

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

Collaborating with Kinship Caregivers Curriculum and TA

Finding What Works: Helping Young Adults Transition into Adulthood

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

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

Improving the Economic Security of Children in Foster Care and Young People Who Are Transitioning from Foster Care

The Amazing Human Brain and Human Development

FREE Online Courses

Surviving Childhood: An Introduction to the Impact of Trauma

The Cost of Caring: Secondary Traumatic Stress and the Impact of Working with High-Risk Children and Families

Bonding and Attachment in Maltreated Children

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.

Captain America: Civil War

Tuesday May 10 7:00 p.m.

Saturday May 14 10:00 a.m.

Neighbors 2:

Sorority Rising

Tuesday May 24 7:00 p.m.

Alice Through the Looking Glass

Saturday May 28 10:00 a.m.

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.

As I watch the snow falling (again!), I find it hard to get motivated. So I'm just going to wish you all a wonderful May, and I hope that we all get to see the sun again soon!

April Showers Bring May Flowers!

K. Colleen Tarket, COCAF Board of Directors

[email protected]

Teen Conference

Saturday June 11, 2016, 9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Miller Athletic Complex, Castle Rock, CO

GLOW is a conference just for teens who are currently in foster care or have been adopted.

Experience an adventure course in the morning, lunch together, and then hearing from a panel of adult adoptees and adults who aged out of foster care. The conference will include three different breakout sessions. It will be a day filled with fun, adventure, and learning, all while surrounded by people who understand your story.

Click here to register. The cost is $25 and includes lunch. For questions, contact Amanda Purvis, COPARC Project Director at The Adoption Exchange. [email protected]

CHRP

The Children's Habilitation Residential Program Waiver (CHRP) provides services for children and youth who have a developmental disability and very high needs.

The CHRP waiver has an enrollment capacity of 200. There is currently no waiting list.

Click here to learn more about ESY services.

Social Media: Keep Your Kids Safe

Social media has taken over the world, and, like it or not, your children will be using it. Take the time to read these informative articles on how to keep your loved ones safe as they maneuver through the different social media sites.

Security Tips from the US Computer Emergency Readiness Team
Cyberbullying & Cyber Stalking from the National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Reporting of Cyber Incidents from the Cybersecurity Unit of the US Department of Justice
Social Media & Your Foster or Adopted Teens: Four Risks & What You Can Do from AdoptUSKids
Social Media: Tips for Youth in Foster Care from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

Extended School Year Services

Some children with disabilities require Special Education and Related Services like motor, speech, mental health, and nursing, longer than the standard school year in order to receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) under Federal law. Extended School Year (ESY) services are Special Education and/or Related Services provided beyond the standard school year, at times when school is not usually in session - typically during the summer.

Because ESY programming happens outside of the typical school year, there can be a lot of confusion about what the program offers and who is eligible for these services. Most importantly, parents need to understand that ESY services are different from summer school, summer remedial classes, and summer enrichment programs. They are not intended to provide additional learning, meet newly developed goals and objectives, or to replicate full-day services received during the school year.

Autism Study

A landmark study plans to collect genetic information from 50,000 people with autism in an effort to determine the cause of autism.

Click here to read the article from disabilityscoop.

NACAC Annual Conference

NACAC Logo

NACAC Conference is scheduled for August 4-6, 2016, in Nashville, Tennessee, with a preconference session on August 3.

For more information on this incredible conference for all those involved with adoption, click here.

COPARC Support Group Survey

The Colorado Post-Adoption Resource Center (COPARC) would like your input on web-based support groups.

Click here to complete their survey.

Religious Schools Can Discriminate Against Children with Learning Disabilities

In a recent ruling, a federal judge ruled that a religious school does not have to accommodate the needs of a child with learning disabilities. This ruling could have a disastrous effect on education of children with disabilities attending religious schools.

To read the article from disabilityscoop, click here.

ADA Information

ADA Live! (WADA) is a free monthly show broadcast nationally on the Internet. Ask questions and learn about your rights and responsibilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

When: First Wednesday of each month (30 minutes) from 11:00 -11:30 am (Mountain Time)
Where: Listen online to BlogTalkRadio - ADA Live! (WADA) or view Captioning (real-time) in Blackboard Collaborate
Note: On the day of the broadcast, links to the audio and captioning are available under On the Air Today - ADA Live!.
Archives: Past episodes are available with a recording, transcript & resources.
Have a Question: Submit a Question or call 404-541-9001.

Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families

Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families has published their 2016 schedule. If you're interested in any of these camps, click here for more information.

June 9-12 African/Caribbean

June 16-19 Korean

June 23-26 Chinese II

June 23-26 Latin American

July 7-10 Indian/Nepalese

July 14-17 Cambodian

July 14-17 Vietnamese/Thai

July 21-24 Russian/Eastern European/Central Asian

July 29-21 Adult Adoptee Retreat

August 4-7 Domestic Adoption Camp

August 4-7 Filipino/Indonesian/Pacific Islander

Sept 2-5 Chinese in Fraser, CO

SUMMER CAMPS

Foster & Kinship Children's Camps

Royal Family KIDS currently has eight summer camps in Colorado serving foster and kinship children.

Current camp locations include Arvada, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Englewood, Fort Collins, Littleton, Parker, and Windsor.

For more information, click here.

SOAR!!!

Events

DENVER DAY OF ROCK

May 28, 2016, 2:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Downtown Denver

For the seventh year in a row, the 16th Street pedestrian mall will be transformed into a massive block party with more than 24 free rock concerts throughout the day. The performance areas will be along the 16th Street Mall, making it easy to roam from act to act on five stages.
For full concert information and updates, visit www.DenverDayofRock.com

DENVER CHALK FESTIVAL

June 4-5, 2016

Larimer Square

Denver Chalk Art Festival is a FREE, 2-day street-closing-pavement-painting event when Larimer Square turns into a museum of chalk art!

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.

Adult Adoptee Support Group

Every 1st & 3rd Thursday, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Sondermind, Suite 12, 100 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO 80302

Cost $25-$35

Jefferson County Kids Group

Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian, 11500 W. 20th Ave, Lakewood

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m..

RSVP to Mindy Beckler at 303-432-5205

North Adams Grandfamily Support Group

Third Thursday of the month

Brighton Police Department, 3401 E Bromley Ln, Brighton, 80601. RSVP to Janet at 303-637-8113.

Fathers Forever

2nd & 4th Thursdays

5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Resilience Center, 1298 Peoria St, Aurora, CO 80011

For more information, contact Don Reynolds (720-353-6103) or Aaron Lockwood (303-901-4486).

Grandparent Group

2nd & 4th Wednesdays

9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Aurora Mental Health Center in the Early Childhood & Family Dept.

11059 E Bethany Dr., Suite 101, Aurora, CO 80014

For more information, contact Aline Ratliff (303-885-5163).

Adoptive Parents Support Group

Last Sunday of every month from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Discovery Church, 2605 W 144th Ave, Broomfield, CO 80023

Meets the last Sunday of every month from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected].

Online Support Group for Adoptive, Foster, & Kinship Parents

Second Tuesday of the Month

Morning session 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Evening session 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Session includes a short presentation followed by a discussion.

Email Deb Felio at

[email protected]

for the toll-free number and access code.

Adoptive Parents Support Group

1st Tuesday of the month

February 3 - May 5, 2015

5:30pm-7:00pm

Supervised activities and group therapy for children

Lakewood Nazarene Church

Lakewood, CO

RSVP to Family Support Specialist, Mindi Bekler, 720-251-5876

Teen & Tween Adoption Support for Parents

Potluck

2nd & 4th Monday of each month

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

Resilience Center

1298 Peoria St

Aurora, CO 80011

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

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

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

Aurora Mental Health

Adoption Support Group

2nd & 4th Mondays of the month

Aurora Mental Health

11059 E Bethany Drive, Aurora, CO 80014

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