Colorado Adoption Information Night

Wednesday

August 10, 2016

6:00 p.m.

The Adoption Exchange

14232 E Evans Avenue

Aurora, CO 80014

Parenting Teens from Trauma

Friday

August 19, 2016

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Colorado Community Church
The Upper Room - East Building
2220 South Chambers Road

Aurora, CO 80014

EXCLUSIVELY FOR TEENS:

Josh Ship! Live!

The Teen's Guide to World Domination!

Thursday

August 25, 2016

5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Bethany Lutheran Church

4500 E Hampton Ave

Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113

Event is FREE, but you must register.

Click here to register.

EXCLUSIVELY FOR PARENTS:

Josh Ship! Live!

The Grownup's Guide to Teen Humans!

Thursday

August 25, 2016

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

Bethany Lutheran Church

4500 E Hampton Ave

Cherry Hills Village, CO 80113

Event is FREE, but you must register.

Click here to register.

Mobilizing Families

Thursdays

October 6 to November 10, 2016

Webinars

The SSA Adult Function Report

Tuesday

August 9, 2016

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

To register call Chrissy DeShazer at 720-354-6120 or email c[email protected]

Modern Adoption: Understanding the Impact of Social Media on Adoption Today

Thursday

August 25, 2016

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

"I can't find my homework and the school bus left without me!" Executive Dysfunction and Helping Your Child Succeed in School

Thursday

September 22, 2016

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Is Medication Right for my Child?

Thursday

October 20, 2016

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Helping Children and Youth Transition from Foster Care to Adoption

Thursday, November 17, 2016

11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Conferences

Reading in the Rockies Fall Conference

October 7-8, 2016

Vail, CO

Colorado State Foster Parent Association

Camp Watwuzithinin', Part 2

Monday-Wednesday

October 24-26, 2016

Beaver Run Resort

Breckenridge, CO

For more info call 303-463-7989

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.

Participating theatres:

AMC Arapahoe Crossing 16

AMC Dine-in Theatres Southlands 16

AMC Flatiron Crossing 14

AMC Highlands Ranch 24

AMC Westminster Promenade 24

Pete's Dragon

Saturday August 13

Saturday August 27

Click here to try C.A.S.E.'s Free Resources and Links!

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.

FREE RESOURCES

Looking for books or movies about adoption? Or how to deal with school-related adoption issues?

COCAF's mission has always been to help adoptive families, but to do that, we sometimes need your help. Please read the letter below from COCAF's Executive Director, Deborah Cave, and then email her with your personal story. If you want to remain anonymous in any reports Deborah creates to move forward, please note that in your email, and we will make sure that your name or any identifying information is not included in any reports. But share your experience - good, bad, or indifferent - so we can work to make the adoption process (and then the ongoing support) the best it can be.

Have a great August!!!

K. Colleen Tarket, COCAF Board of Directors

[email protected]

COCAF Needs Your Input on Adoption Assistance (Subsidy) Negotiations

COCAF has been advocating for Colorado's pre- and post-adoptive, and kinship families since 2000. One of the primary reasons families contact us is to help with the adoption assistance (which includes subsidies) negotiation. Some counties are very supportive of their pre-adoptive families at this important and vulnerable stage in the process, and some are not. Unfortunately, despite years of advocating for families and interacting with counties on their behalf, some families are still being provided incorrect information about this critical assistance.

We have 64 counties in the state, and each of those 64 counties is responsible for negotiating the assistance agreements. COCAF believes that the variability in both: 1) how counties prepare and interact with their families, and 2) the assistance rates that are provided to the child, is inappropriate (the graph below shows average monthly subsidy rates for Colorado's 10 largest counties for state fiscal years 2008-2014). We further believe that the adoption assistance a child receives should not be based on the county of adoption.

It is COCAF's position that - in order to ensure transparency and consistency in negotiations with families and assistance rates for their child - the adoption assistance negotiation process must be moved from the county to the state level.

We are considering approaching the Child Ombudsman's Office with our concerns and need your input. It is important for COCAF to hear firsthand from families who have adopted from foster care and who have concerns about their experience with the adoption assistance negotiation process. For example, if you were ever told something similar to the following:

Your child would probably not qualify for a monthly subsidy (e.g., Medicaid only) prior to the negotiation taking place;
The subsidy is only based on the special needs of the child, not the child's ordinary/daily needs, or the circumstances of the family;
Adoption assistance cannot include daycare costs or specialized therapists (or other Case Services);
You may not be the appropriate placement for your child if you do not agree with the county's subsidy offer (any intimidation or insinuation that the child may be removed);
The "presentation of the child" and the adoption assistance negotiation must be conducted on the same day;
The subsidy is renewed vs. reviewed, every three years.

If you were told any of these false statements or anything similar from your county worker, we would appreciate hearing from you. In addition, if your county caps their subsidies at rates less than the foster care rate your child was receiving prior to adoption, and you are concerned that this resulted in a subsidy less than what was appropriate for your child, please let us know.

If you feel that your negotiation was conducted in good faith - that the process was transparent and supportive - we would love to hear about that experience as well.

This is just the information collection stage, but it is critical that we get this information in writing if we are to move forward to the State with our concerns. Please email your comments to: [email protected]. Thank you so much for your time on this, and please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Deborah Cave, Executive Director

Colorado Coalition of Adoptive Families (COCAF)

720.299.1210 (c)

Mobilizing Families Training

Save the date for The Arc's next session of Mobilizing Families which begins Thursday, October 6. Mobilizing Families is an award-winning 6-week training series designed to equip young families with the necessary skills and resources to advocate for their children in all aspects of life, including school and healthcare. The training covers a range of topics to help parents get started on their journey.

The upcoming series will take place every Thursday evening for six weeks, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., beginning on October 6. The entire Mobilizing Families series is FREE for participants and includes both dinner and child care for the entire family.

For information and how to register, click here, or email Genni Williams at [email protected].

Free Kinship Adoptions
From the Denver Post

Kinship caregivers making less than 200% of the federal poverty level may qualify for free adoption. Click here to read more in the Denver Post.

CWT Summer Open Houses

The Colorado Child Welfare Training System is hosting summer open houses.

Families, community members, foster parents, and youth are invited to a number of upcoming Regional Training Center open houses throughout the summer. No RSVP required, just drop in.

Metro Regional Training Center

5670 Greenwood Plaza Blvd, Ste 115, Greenwood Village

Monday, August 22, 9:00 - noon

Northeast Regional Training Center

2573 Midpoint Dr, Suite 108, Fort Collins

Monday, August 29, 11:00 - 2:00

West Regional Training Center

195 W 14th St, Building D, Suite 208, Rifle

Friday, August 19, 9:00 - noon

Southeast Regional Training Center

172 Justice Center Rd, South Entrance, Door C, Canon City

Friday, August 26, 10:00 - 1:00

Looking for Single Adoptive Parents

A metro area single mom to an adoptive 6-year old girl is looking to form a social group for other adoptive children of single parents. Frequently adoptive children feel like "they're the only one." Socializing with other adoptive children with similar circumstances (in this case, only one parent) helps the children feel more normal.

If you're a single (non-relative) adoptive parent interested in having your child be part of this group, please email us at [email protected].

Adoption Process in Colorado

Join The Adoption Exchange on Wednesday, August 10, and learn about the adoption process in Colorado.

This class is designed to provide an overview of two basic types of adoption: Adopting from the foster care system and domestic infant adoption. It is led by a professional staff member from The Adoption Exchange, and provides an opportunity for families interested in adopting to learn more about these processes and to hear from a guest speaker who is an adoptive parent. Participants will also receive a brief, written guide regarding international adoption, however, this process will not be discussed in detail.

Child care will not be provided, and children cannot be included in the class. Click here to learn more.

FREE Haircuts!
Roots-of-Change Hair-A-Thon 2016

Free haircuts or hairstyle for foster and adoptive children ages 7-17.

Appointments are for August 9-14.

Contact Donna Parrish at 303-864-5135 or by email at [email protected] for appointment instructions.

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

Click here for more information.

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

Click here for more information.

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

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