July 2017 E-Newsletter from COCAF

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CLASSROOM

TRBI Caregiver Training: Intro & Overview

Friday

July 28, 2017

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

The Adoption Exchange

14232 E Evans Ave

Aurora, CO 80014

Click here for more info.

Webinars

Debunking the Myth: Getting an SSA Disability Application Approved on Your First Try

Thursdays

The SSA Adult Function Report

July 13, 2017

Childhood Disability: A Different Beast

Contact Byron Kish at 303-515-1653 or bkish@coloradodbs.org to get the registration paperwork.

Foster Care Adoption Orientation

Wednesday

July 12, 2017

6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

FREE

Click here to RSVP.

Trauma-Informed Care

In English

Wednesday

July 26, 2017

9:00 a.m. - noon

Click here for more info.

Trauma-Informed Care

In Spanish

Friday

July 28, 2017

9:00 a.m. - noon

Click here for more info.

Podcasts

Supporting Kinship Caregivers Part 1

Click here to go to the podcast.

CONFERENCES

49th Annual Autism Society National Conference

July 12-15, 2017

Milwaukee, WI

Click here for more info.

NACAC Annual Conference

July 19-22, 2017

Atlanta, GA

Click here for more info.

Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in Children (ATTACh)

Annual Conference

October 12-14, 2017

Denver Marriot Tech Center

Denver, CO 80237

Click here for more info.

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

Despicable Me 3

Saturday, July 8

The House

Tuesday, July 11

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Saturday, July 22

War for the Planet of Apes

Tuesday, July 25

The Emoji Movie

Tuesday, August 8

Click here for more info.

2017 Heritage Camp Schedule

Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families have been offering culturally rich summer camp experiences for adoptive families since 1991. Click here for more information.

Adult Adoptee Retreat:

Registration March 8 - July 1

Camp dates: July 20-30 in Denver, CO

Cambodian:

Registration March 1 - May 12

Camp dates: July 13-16, Fraser, CO

Chinese:

Registration Mar 15 - July 30

Camp dates: September 1-4 in Fraser, CO

Chinese II:

Registration Mar 1 - June 20

Camp Dates: July 20 -23 in Denver, CO

Domestic Adoption:

Registration March 8 - July 3

Camp dates: August 3 -6 in Denver, CO

Indian/Nepalese: Registration March 1 - May 5

Camp dates: July 6 - 9, Fraser, CO

Russian/Eastern European/Central Asians (REECA):

Registration March 1 - May 10

Camp dates: July 20-23, Fraser, CO

Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander (SEAPI):

Registration March 8 - May 12

Camp dates: July 13-16 in Estes Park, CO

FREE RESOURCES

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

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

SUMMER CAMP

ABLE to Sail is a 4-day summer day-camp youth empowerment experience at Union Reservoir

Monday-Thursday

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

June through August

Please Visit: www.abletosail.org

Email: diane@abletosail.org

Or call: 720-233-8969

For years, COCAF has used a Yahoo listserv group to help our adoptive families voice their concerns and share ideas. We've decided to move that group to Facebook, so if you're interested in joining this adoptive/foster care parent group, click on this link.

All members must be approved, so you will receive a response back from Deborah Cave, COCAF's executive director, asking about your connection(s) to adoption before you are added to the group.

May Your Summer Be Sparkly!

K. Colleen Tarket,

COCAF Board of Directors

colleen.tarket@cocaf.org

Top Ten Reasons to Attend Domestic Adoption Camp (DAC) 2017!

10. Where else can you get away with wearing the same T-shirt for 3 days?

9. Splash Waterpark all to ourselves Saturday night...enough said.

8. With a theme of "Family Tree -Mighty Strong," you'll be sure to

experience empowering workshops...& great tree-centric arts & crafts!

7. Witnessing your teen connect & try something new (like the Genesee Challenge Ropes Course).

6. Discovering your elementary camper sound asleep in the car 5 minutes after leaving a full day of playing, dancing, & creating.

5. Truly understanding the definition of community as you gather with people of all ages and backgrounds to share learning, food, & fun.

4. Hoping that someday your own child will follow in the footsteps of the incredible DAC counselors and give back all the love, laughter, and

understanding that has been given to them.

3. Getting teary eyed the moment you hear the words from "Happy Adoption Day" and have the person next to you understand why.

2. Letting your guard down because you are with people who "get it."

1. Being surrounded by and being part of "the family."

*REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO July 9th!

Click here for more information or to register.

Advocates Concerned About Medicaid Cuts

Advocates from a number of groups are deeply concerned about the proposed American Health Care Act and how it will affect Medicaid for foster, adopted, and kinship children as well as children with special needs or chronic illnesses.

Click the links below to see statements from some national advocacy groups:

DisabilityScoop

Voice for Adoption

Autism Society

IDEA Funding Legislation
from disabilityscoop

With a new legislative proposal, bipartisan members of Congress are reviving a plan to boost federal spending on special education.

Current federal funding provides less than 16% of the cost of services under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The new proposal will gradually increase the federal potion to 40%.

To read about this legislation, click here.

Grandparent Adoption
from the Child Welfare Information Gateway

According to U.S. Census data, in 2012, 2.7 million grandparents in the United States were raising their grandchildren.

The resources below examine grandparent adoption from various perspectives, with a special focus on the availability of financial supports, relevant policy and practice, and approaches that promote successful family transitions and adjustment.

Review Adoption Assistance by State via Child Welfare Information Gateway and the Association of Administrators of the Interstate Compact on Adoption and Medical Assistance.
Visit the Grandfamilies website section on adoption for an overview of applicable laws, advocacy, trends, and personal stories from grandfamilies.
View Kinship Adoption: Meeting the Unique Needs of a Growing Population (PDF - 523 KB), by ChildFocus and the North American Council on Adoptable Children, which draws attention to a range of issues that may affect family relationships, the importance of preparation and training, and strategies to achieve successful adoptions.

Child Welfare Outcomes
from the Children's Bureau

Child Welfare Outcomes, an annual report to Congress published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides information on state performance in seven categories of outcomes that are widely accepted performance objectives for child welfare practice.

The report also includes findings of analyses conducted on performance across states and over time.

Parts of this data site are under construction, and some data and functionality are not available while the redesign is in process. Currently users have access to past reports and 2010-14 state data pages only. With the pending release of the 2011-15 data, users of this data site will be able to explore the outcomes, demographic, and context data contained in the report and generate customized reports by state and year. Click here to go to the Colorado statistics.

Suspension/Expulsion in Early Childhood Programs Survey

Participate in research regarding suspensions and expulsions in early childhood programs.

The purpose of this study is to determine if and how parents of children in early childhood programs experience exclusionary discipline practices, including early childhood suspension and expulsion. As a participant in this study, you will provide information related to your experiences with your child's school/child care program. The survey will take about 20 minutes. It is completely anonymous.

Click here to participate in the survey.

Dr. Rosemarie Allen, who is conducting the research project, is hoping to reach families nationwide. If you have any comments or concerns resulting from your participation in this study, please contact: Dr. Rosemarie Allen, telephone: (303) 881-3220 or email: rallen49@msudenver.edu.

NACAC Conference Registration Open

Join the NACAC conference in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 20 to 22 (preconference session July 19). Registration is now open and early-bird registration rates are available until June 12.

The NACAC conference is the most comprehensive adoption conference in North America and if you have been touched by adoption or foster care, you will want to attend!

Keynote speakers are:

Heather Forbes, LCSW, Helping Children Love Themselves: Overcoming Their Negative Belief Systems
Young Adult Panel moderated by Michael Sanders, Unpacking the "No" to Adoption
Barry Chaffkin, Families Matter

The conference includes more than 80 workshops on topics such as adoption support and preservation, recruitment and pre-adoption services, advanced issues in adoption and therapeutic techniques, and more.

Click here to learn more and register.

Click here to download the complete registration booklet .

The conference will be held at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in downtown Atlanta (210 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303).

Discounted guest rooms are $169 per night (plus tax and a $5/night state hotel fee).

To make your hotel reservation, visit www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/NACAC2017AnnualConference or call 1-800-937-8461. Space is limited so make your hotel reservations early.

Private Domestic Adoption Costs

If you are considering a private domestic adoption, this article will provide you with information on the expenses that you can be legally charged. Click here to go to the article.

AdoptUSKids Website Resources

For those who have adopted from the foster care system, AdoptUSKids has a website with information on resources ranging from financial assistance to meeting mental health needs and finding respite. To go to the website, click here.

2017 Adoptive Family Portrait Project

Voice for Adoption (VFA) is again providing an opportunity for families across the country to celebrate the special ways that families are formed through domestic foster care adoption. Their annual Capitol Hill project seeks to inform policymakers and their staff about how adoption has touched many lives of their constituents. If you would like to participate in the 2017 Adoptive Family Portrait Project, take the first step and fill out this survey . Please respond to the survey by September 30, 2017.

EVENTS

Kids at Heart The Mostlies Show

Thursday, July 20, 2017, 7:00 p.m.

The Lincoln Center, Fort Collins, CO

Who needs a good laugh? The Mostlies have chosen Kids at Heart to receive ALL proceeds from seats sold for their Thursday, July 20th, show! This is The Mostlies' 25th Anniversary show. They have been providing this hilarious, off-center, musical parody, comedy entertainment for 25 years. The Mostlies will cover local, national, and international political and lifestyle issues, as well as bringing back some of their best material from the past 25 years. With what's been going on this past year you really don't want to miss this.

Advisory: PG-13 for some mature content

Running Time: 2 hours, includes two 10-minute intermissions

Tickets: $15 a person

Groups of 10 or more: $12 a person

All proceeds for this show go to Kids at Heart. Click here to purchase tickets.

The Denver Children's Advocacy Center's (DCAC) Art from the Heart

September 14, 2017

Space Gallery

By featuring the artwork created by many of DCAC's clients, Art from the Heart will draw attention to the transformative power of art and the art therapy utilized by DCAC's therapists. Art from the Heart will help support DCAC's many programs that positively impact Denver's most vulnerable children and families. The event will include a live auction, food and drinks, wine raffle, interactive art activities and live music.

Click here to buy tickets.

Summer Camps

Salvation Army Aurora Summer Camp
The fee is $35 per child per week. This day camp runs from 7:30am to 6pm. Ages 6-12 are welcome. Summer Camp starts on June 5th and ends on August 11th. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Call 303-364-1965 or 720-285-2027 to register.

DU's Engineering Summer Day Camp

Students entering 9th-11th grade will learn the fundamentals of design, math, and engineering through fun activities like building robots that play soccer and constructing towers out of marshmallows. There is a co-ed and female only option, scholarships are available at http://ritchieschool.du.edu/engineering-summer-day-camp/ or contact Yvonne Petitt at 303-871-2107 for more information. July 10th-14th (Women's and Men's Camp) / July 24th-28th (Women's Camp)

Click here for more information on the Engineering camps.

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.

Boulder Valley Christian Church

Support group for foster and adoptive moms

Tuesdays, 10:00 am to noon, beginning Feb. 7, 2017

Facilitated by Lisa Firle, MA., LPCC

Boulder Valley Christian Church, 7100 S. Boulder Road, Boulder.

For more info or to register: cathy@bvchristian.org

Parents of Children with PTSD or Dissociative Disorder

Starts November 4, 2016

First Friday of the month

Denver Therapy & Consultation Group

2133 S Bellaire, Ste 11

$25 per person or $40 couple

Some scholarships are available.

For more information, contact Jan Tomski at jantomski@msn.com or by phone at 303-881-7630.

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).

Foster Care & 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

For more information, email bonnie.robertson02@yahoo.com .

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

deb@attachmentcenteroftherockies.com

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, C O 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 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 timpaxton33@gmail.com.

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 SarahA@bipr.org 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.

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 Littleton@empowercolorado.com

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: eleslie15@gmail.com

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.

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 colleen.tarket@cocaf.org. 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