01/04/11
Jingle Bell Blues: Dealing with the Holidays – An Interview with Psychiatrist Dr. Leon Hoffman

01/04/11
American Humane 2011 Differential Response Webinar Series

01/04/11
“Special Needs” Adoption: What Does it Mean?

01/04/11
Applications for the 2011 Foster Youth Internship (FYI)

01/31/2012
Foster Care Ministry - 25 Little Things That Make a Big Difference

It isn't always easy to know how best to encourage and aid young people in foster care. Here's your chance to hear honest reflections and advice from those who know intimately the challenges of life in foster care…and what a big difference small acts of love can make.
Join the Alliance in welcoming several Foster Youth Interns (FYIs) from the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute’s (CCAI). They'll share from personal experience as alumni of the U.S. foster care system their ideas about how churches and individuals can love, support and provide guidance for foster youth.
To Register Click Here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/225538265

01/26/2012
CT: UConn trustees approve new abuse reporting rules

Associated Press January 25, 2012
University of Connecticut coaches, staff members and others in its sports programs will be required to report any suspicions of sexual and child abuse under new rules approved by UConn's trustees.
http://www.courant.com/news/local/statewire/hc-ap-ct-uconn-abusepolicyjan25,0,2233292.story

01/26/2012
US: After Penn State, states reconsider sex abuse laws

Associated Press January 25, 2012
Thirty-eight legislatures are back in session this month, most for the first time since retired assistant Penn State football coach Jerry Sandusky was charged in November with child sex abuse and two school officials were charged with failing to properly report abuse allegations. At least 12 states are considering mandatory reporting legislation this year, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, and more are expected to craft bills as their sessions get into full swing.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g69UXJ3w2OdVAnKQVE_moZgqAl3Q?docId=11fe7abcfda54406bd65967e708390e1

01/26/2012
US: Orphan train riders, offspring seek answers about heritage

USA Today January 25, 2012
Lukas Weinstein, archive coordinator for the Children's Aid Society, says that about 200,000 children rode the trains. A growing number of their offspring want to know more about the orphan train riders. "I've seen a steady increase (in interest) in the past year," Weinstein says. He gets up to 20 requests a week for information.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-01-23/orphan-train/52779412/1

01/26/2012
Welcome Home Program (Formerly “The Homeownership for Permanency Program”)

Adopting or obtaining Kinship Legal Guardianship?
What do you need to know. To read more please click here.

01/26/2012
Center For Family Connections, Massachusetts agency working with adoptive parents and families is closing.

To read a closing statement from Dr. Dr. Joyce Maguire Pavao please click here .

01/25/2012
NYS Office of Children and Family Services awards $4.9 Million Dollars in TANF 2011/2012 Post Adoption Services Grants.

As of May 1, 2012, fifteen new or refunded post adoption services programs will be available for families in many areas of the state. The programs, funded for one year with federal TANF dollars to support services for families under 200% of the poverty level, will provide a wide range of services intended to stabilize adoption placements, prevent dissolutions and disruptions, and provide assistance to families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or homes of their relatives.

01/17/2012
NY: Child-on-child sex abuse poses complex challenges

Associated Press January 7, 2012
Recent high-profile cases of child sex abuse have roused national revulsion against the adults who perpetrated them. Rarely mentioned is the sobering statistic that more than one-third of the sexual abuse of America's children is committed by other minors.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5irXVS-xhCnXTd16SCRXveHQ_Fbjw?docId=c9e24bdefe354b05a51cdbe05e432827

01/17/2012
NY: St. Lawrence County DSS forms partnership with Children’s Home

Watertown Daily Times January 15, 2012
The St. Lawrence County Department of Social Services is working on a plan to have the Children’s Home of Jefferson County take over recruitment and training of all of its foster homes so it can focus on an increase in child abuse and neglect cases.
The expanded role for the Children’s Home means the opening of an office, most likely in Canton, and 20 to 25 jobs.
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20120115/NEWS03/701159889

01/17/2012
US: The Shaky Science of Shaken Baby Syndrome

Time Magazine January 17, 2012
Prosecuters have charged parents and caretakers with shaking infants to death. But how valid is that diagnosis, and how reliable is the evidence behind it?
http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/17/the-shaky-science-of-shaken-baby-syndrome/

01/17/2012
US: Why Gay Parents May Be the Best Parents

LiveScience January 15, 2012
Gay parents "tend to be more motivated, more committed than heterosexual parents on average, because they chose to be parents," said Abbie Goldberg, a psychologist at Clark University in Massachusetts who researches gay and lesbian parenting. Gays and lesbians rarely become parents by accident, compared with an almost 50 percent accidental pregnancy rate among heterosexuals, Goldberg said. "That translates to greater commitment on average and more involvement."
http://www.livescience.com/17913-advantages-gay-parents.html

01/17/2012
Norway: Indian couple in Norway lose kids to foster care

India Today January 17, 2012
Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya's children Avigyan (3) and Aishwarya (1) were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services) because the couple "were not bringing the children up properly".
How? By feeding the children with their hands and letting them sleep in their parents' bed.
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indian-couple-in-norway-lose-kids-to-foster-care/1/169186.html

01/17/2012
UK: UKBA Had 'Gentleman's Agreement' WIth France That Saw Vulnerable Children Returned In 24 Hours

Huffington Post January 17, 2012
The Landing in Dover report, by the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC), found the agreement allowed unaccompanied children to be sent back to France within 24 hours if they did not immediately ask for asylum.
The agreement was at odds with the UK Border Agency's (UKBA) duty to safeguard children and promote their welfare and has been ended after it was brought to the attention of UK Border Agency chief executive Rob Whiteman, Children's Commissioner Maggie Atkinson said.
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/01/17/ukba-ends-gentlemans-agreement-france_n_1209714.html

01/11/2012
PA: State College School Board revises child abuse reporting rule

Centre Daily January 09, 2012
STATE COLLEGE - In response to the Penn State child sex abuse scandal, administrators from the State College Area School District are recommending a revised and expanded mandatory reporting policy.
http://www.centredaily.com/2012/01/10/3047011/child-abuse-reporting-rule-revised.html

01/11/2012
PA: Members named to state task force to prevent child abuse

abc27 January 10, 2012
The four members appointed by the governor are Hon. David W. Heckler, Bucks County District Attorney; William Strickland, president and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation; Dr. Cindy W. Christian, M.D., director of Safe Place: The Center for Child Protection and Health, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; and Delilah Rumburg, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.
http://www.abc27.com/story/16491615/members-named-to-state-task-force-to-prevent-child-abuse

01/06/2012
Give Kids a Smile Day

Give Kids a Smile Day is Friday February 3. Dentists throughout New Jersey provide FREE dental care to children on February 3. While program is geared to low-income children, there is no income qualifier to obtain the care. However parents and caretakers need to call ahead and schedule an appointment. Here is the link for details and list of participating dentists. http://www.njda.org/gkas/

01/05/2012
The deadline for the 2012 Sharon Magruder Memorial Scholarship

The deadline for the 2012 Sharon Magruder Memorial Scholarship to attend the 33rd International AAC Conference, Mile High Expectations: Adoption in 2012, has been extended to January 15, 2012. You will find the application at: www.americanadoptioncongress.org.

Please print, scan and email the application to: AACScholarships@gmail.com.

You may also fax it to:

888-484-6085

or mail it to:

Susan Bennett

118 S. Park Grove Ct.

Gilbert, AZ 85296

01/04/2012
US: Virginia man asks U.S. Supreme Court to hear adoption case

The Salt Lake Tribune January 2, 2012
A Virginia father has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review his battle for custody of his daughter, arguing his case presents a “head-on collision” caused by conflicting rulings in different states and showcases how Utah’s adoption law is “effectively projecting its authority well beyond its borders.”
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/53200751-78/wyatt-adoption-utah-court.html.csp

01/04/2012
US: Child welfare agencies across country revamping foster parent role

Washington Post December 31, 2011
For decades, it was common for officials around the country to approve foster parents by room and board criteria: Did they pass a background check? Is their home clean? Are their dogs safe and vaccinated?
Now several states including Florida, California and Wisconsin are trying to find ones who they know upfront will help with homework, sew Halloween costumes and accompany kids to doctor appointments. Complicating the efforts is the longtime problem of finding enough adults to house children in need.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/child-welfare-agencies-across-country-revamping-foster-parent-role/2011/12/31/gIQAsuTkSP_story.html

01/04/2012
Macedonia: Labour Minister: Flawed adoption system to be amended

Macedonian International News Agency January 2, 2012
"The current system is seriously flawed. I wouldn't like to stir up speculation on intentional or criminal behavior by certain individuals involved in the process without official evidence. In fact, there is a handful of loopholes in the system which have been detected in our analyses. They must be corrected, because a system with irregularities or loopholes is bound to cause problems, regardless if it offers good solutions," Ristovski says in an interview with local media.
http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/20010/45/

01/04/2012
Child Welfare, Education and the Courts:

A Collaboration to Strengthen Educational Successes of Children and Youth in Foster Care
On November 3-4, 2011, the Children’s Bureau, in partnership with the Department of Education, held this two-day meeting, setting forth a call to action that convened leaders in the child welfare, education, and juvenile court systems for every State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The Meeting website contains the following sections:
About the Meeting: The “homepage” for the Summit website, which includes the Purpose Statement, Agenda, and Program Booklet.
What’s New: This section contains the latest resources and information pertaining to educational well-being for children/youth in foster care. This section of the website will be updated regularly as new materials, information, resources, and federal policies become available.
State Team Pages: These password-protected State Team webpages contain State-specific shared materials (for State Team Members only).
Meeting Materials and Videos: This section contains videos of all of the Meeting plenaries and workshops, as well as descriptions of all workshops and links to downloadable versions of workshop materials.
Photo Gallery:This section contains photos from the Meeting.
Additional Resources:This section provides descriptions and links to the following National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections webpages, which are updated regularly: NRCPFC Fostering Connections and Education Webpage and NRCPFC Education and Child Welfare Webpage.
http://www.nrcpfc.org/education_summit/

01/04/2012
NRCPFC Webpage on Reinstatement of Parental Rights

The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections has developed a new Hot Topic webpage on Reinstatement of Parental Rights. This webpage offers resources on the topic, including links to articles, information on State statutes, and an NRCPFC teleconference. This webpage will be updated regularly as new information and resources become available.
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/info_services/reinstatement-of-parental-rights.html

01/04/2012
Secondary Traumatic Stress: A Fact Sheet for Child-Serving Professionals

This fact sheet from The National Child Traumatic Stress Network details a concise overview of secondary traumatic stress and its potential impact on child-serving professionals; outlines options for assessment, prevention, and intervention relevant to secondary stress; and describes the elements necessary for transforming child-serving organizations and agencies into systems that also support worker resiliency. (2011)
http://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/assets/pdfs/secondary_traumatic_tress.pdf

01/04/2012
Building Permanent Connections: FFTA’s 26th Annual Conference on Treatment Foster Care – Call for Presentations

Date/Location: July 22-25, 2012, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Atlanta, GA
Share your expertise with Treatment Foster Care professionals from around the world at the Foster Family-based Treatment Association (FFTA) 26th Annual Conference on Treatment Foster Care. Presentations should offer information on best practices, techniques, models, and training methods for experienced agency staff with clinical, administrative, supervisory, managerial, training, or research and evaluation responsibilities. The deadline to submit proposals is Monday, January 9, 2012. If you have any questions, please contact the FFTA office at (800) 414-3382, ext. 121, 113, or 112; or via e-mail at ffta@ffta.org. http://www.ffta.org/conference/2012_callforpresentations.pdf

12/22/2011
NRCPFC Concurrent Planning Toolkit – Updated Organizational Self-Study

This online toolkit makes promising practices, programs, and resources available to states and tribes. Our goal is to provide the field with information on the nine components necessary for successful concurrent planning practice. The toolkit provides a broad array of resources from research, peer reviewed articles, state policies, procedures and practices, tip sheets, curricula and an organizational self study guide. The organizational self study was recently revised; it now has additional questions which focus specifically on the legal and judicial issues in concurrent planning. (Updated December 2011)
http://www.nrcpfc.org/cpt/
Also, see the archived NRCPFC teleconference, “Introduction to the Concurrent Planning Toolkit” (March 2011):
http://www.nrcpfc.org/teleconferences/03-02-11.html

12/22/2011
NRCPFC State Child Abuse Registries Document – Updated

The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 requires states to perform child abuse registry checks on “any prospective foster or adoptive parent and on any other adult living in the home of such a prospective parent, and request any other State in which any such prospective parent or other adult has resided in the preceding 5 years, to enable the State to check any child abuse and neglect registry maintained by such other State for such information…”. This NRCPFC document provides contacts for some state registries, availability of information, and procedures for obtaining it. (Updated December 2011)
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/downloads/policy-issues/State_Child_Abuse_Registries.pdf
Also see the Child Welfare Information Gateway resource on “Establishment and Maintenance of Central Registries for Child Abuse Reports” (2011):
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/centreg.cfm

12/22/2011
ACYF-CB-PI-11-09 – Title IV-E Plan Amendments as a Result of the Child and Family Services Improvement Act

H.R. 2883, the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act, reauthorized title IV-B of the Social Security Act, effective October 1, 2011. Among other things, the new law amends case plan and case review system requirements and the Adoption Assistance Program reinvestment requirements in title IV-E of the Social Security Act. ACYF-CB-PI-11-09, which contains changes to the title IV-E plan requirements as a result of H.R. 2883, and a title IV-E plan amendment that incorporates the new statuatory requirements, are now posted on the Children’s Bureau website. Please note the update to the title of this Program Instruction.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/laws_policies/policy/pi/2011/pi1109.pdf

12/22/2011
National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center 2012 Webinar Series

Topics that will be addressed in this webinar series include: Program Strategies to Improve Housing Stability for Vulnerable Families (1/11/12); Five Steps for Engaging and Maintaining Strong Partnerships (2/7/12); Methods for Increasing Medication Adherence with HIV Positive Parents (3/7/12); and, Creating an Effective Peer Model (4/3/12). The fee for these 90-minute phone trainings with web option is $25 per session or $75 for the series.
Program Strategies to Improve Housing Stability for Vulnerable Families
Date/Time:Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 10:00 AM PST/1:00 PM EST
Presenter: Tanya Tull, ScD, President/CEO, Partnering for Change
The first presentation in the 2012 AIA Webinar Series will describe the evolution of the Housing First/Rapid Rehousing approach to ending and preventing family homelessness and the key components necessary to make it work. Challenges are identified and explored, as are options for overcoming barriers. The session will cover how to work with housing authorities, nonprofit affordable housing developers, private market landlords and management companies, and “screening and assessment” tools to help determine appropriate services, financial assistance, and housing types for families based on need.
http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1029735

12/22/2011
Celebrating the Past – Imagining the Future

Date/Location: April 16-20, 2012, Washington Hilton Hotel, Washington, DC
The Children’s Bureau’s Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families is pleased to invite you to the 18th National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect. Registration is now open for this event.
http://www.pal-tech.com/web/OCAN/index.cfm?p=4

12/22/2011
Effective Discovery and Engagement Practices through Family Finding

Since 2008, Child Trends has been evaluating family finding in multiple states and localities across the country. Child Trends has released two briefs describing child welfare professionals’ views of, and experiences with, the discovery and engagement processes of the family finding model.
“Piecing Together the Puzzle: Tips and Techniques for Effective Discovery in Family Finding”, describes how family finding staff start the process of discovery by interviewing the child’s case worker and “mining” the child’s case record in search of relatives’ names and contact information. Additonal sources of information include the child, family members, and internet and data system searches. The brief shares resources that can be used in discovery efforts. (December 2011)
http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2011_12_01_RB_FamilyFindingTips.pdf

12/22/2011
“Bringing Family to the Table.

Tips and Techniques for Effective Family Engagement” describes the process by which family members are engaged.
Initial contact with the family members consists of explaining the family finding model and attempting to gauge their potential commitment level to the child. The process of discovering and engaging family members often occurs simultaneously, as one relative might mention another relative in these initial conversations. The brief shares useful techniques that family finding workers and others can use to effectively engage family members. (December 2011)
http://www.childtrends.org/Files//Child_Trends-2011_12_2011_RB_FamilytoTable.pdf

12/22/2011
MD: Big changes seen for child support enforcement

Cumberland Times-News December 19, 2011
The Maryland Department of Human Resources announced Monday the appointment of Joseph J. DiPrimio as the new executive director of the Child Support Enforcement Administration as part of a comprehensive effort to make Maryland a national leader in child support collection.
http://times-news.com/local/x1243757624/Big-changes-seen-for-child-support-enforcement

12/22/2011
US: Study: Much child abuse is unreported

United Press International December 16, 2011
Laws that could punish adults who keep silent when they suspect a child has been abused go largely unenforced in the United States, research shows.
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2011/12/16/Study-Much-child-abuse-is-unreported/UPI-69421324056429/?spt=hs&or=tn

12/22/2011
US: Whites adopting blacks: Love not enough

UPI.com December 20, 2011
Racism and discrimination remain a reality for many black children adopted by white parents and this may affect their mental health, U.S. researchers say.
Darron T. Smith of Wichita State University and Cardell Jacobson of Brigham Young University, who wrote the book "White Parents, Black Children: Experiencing Transracial Adoption," said black children growing up in mostly white communities encounter racial marginalization.
http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/12/20/Whites-adopting-blacks-Love-not-enough/UPI-55321324365466/?spt=hs&or=hn

12/22/2011
US: Witnesses say no to universal forced child abuse reporting

Salon.com December 13, 2011
The idea of forcing every American to report any suspicion of child abuse or risk jail is so extreme that even the most extreme of the hand-picked witnesses who testified at a Senate subcommittee hearing today couldn’t stomach it.
http://open.salon.com/blog/nccpr/2011/12/13/witnesses_say_no_to_universal_forced_child_abuse_reporting

12/22/2011
Europe: Bulgaria among 26 countries in Europol operation against internet child abuse images

Sofia Echo December 17, 2011
Law enforcement agencies from 26 European countries – including Bulgaria – supported and co-ordinated by Europol, have carried out a major crackdown against online child sex abuse file-sharing networks.
So far "Operation Icarus" has helped to identify 269 suspects and arrest 112 suspects, spread across 22 involved countries, Europol, the law enforcement agency of the European Union, said on December 16 2011.
http://www.sofiaecho.com/2011/12/17/1714390_bulgaria-among-26-countries-in-europol-operation-against-internet-child-abuse-images

12/22/2011
UN envoy applauds new measure to stop violence against children

234next.com December 20, 2011
The new protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted on Monday by the General Assembly.
It would encourage State parties to develop national mechanisms that would enable children whose rights have been violated to access a system through which their voices and complaints could be heard.
http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/5749733-147/un_envoy_applauds_new_measure_to.csp

12/22/2011
What if Santa can’t afford Christmas?

http://www.njfamily.com/NJ-Family/December-2011/What-If-Santa-Cant-Afford-Christmas/

12/22/2011
Childhood Obesity is an Epidemic

http://www.njfamily.com/NJ-Family/December-2011/Childhood-Obesity-Is-an-Epidemic/

12/22/2011
Coming Out

http://www.njfamily.com/NJ-Family/October-2011/Coming-Out/

12/07/2011
Give the Gift of Family!

We Need Your Help to Raise $25,000 by December 31
CCAI works to positively impact the lives of millions of children in the U.S. and around the world who need families. While for many of us it is hard to imagine not having the sense of belonging and security that comes with being a part of a family, this reality exists for children today.
The good news is that by participating in this campaign you have an opportunity to make a forever difference in the life of a child.
To help please click here.

12/07/2011
Expressions of Foster Care Essay Entry Form

Topic: How do I Feel About Foster Care
All interested should submit their expression through poetry, song lyrics, artist expression or write an essay stating "How I feel about Foster Care".
For entry form please click here.

12/07/2011
Activity on Psychotropic Medications for Children in Foster Care

Commissioner Samuels testified recently at a Senate Subcommittee hearing on the use of psychotropic medications among children in foster care. ACYF staff have been working extensively with representatives across several HHS agencies over the past six months to develop a plan to help States address this issue within the context of improving social and emotional well-being for children who have experienced maltreatment. In the next 90 days and beyond, ACYF will be working to: Improve oversight and monitoring of psychotropic medication for children in foster care; build the knowledge base about best practices for treatment, both pharmaceutical and psychosocial, for children with social-emotional problems in child welfare; and, increase States’ access to and capacity to deliver evidence-based behavioral interventions to these children. The complete written testimony delivered by Commissioner Samuels and the video of the proceedings are available online.
http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_id=9fc194de-2a7c-4417-8f2b-6b90cadacede

A letter co-signed by ACF Acting Assistant Secretary George Sheldon, CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, and SAMHSA Administrator Pam Hyde outlining the issue and the Department’s plan to address it was recently delivered to directors of child welfare, Medicaid, and mental health authorities in all 50 States plus DC and Puerto Rico. The letter is posted on the Child Welfare Information Gateway website:
http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/mentalhealth/effectiveness/jointlettermeds.pdf

Additionally, a report released by the GAO on psychotropic use among children in foster care in five States is available at:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d12270t.pdf

12/07/2011
Stories of Successful Reunification: A Narrative Study of Family Resilience in Child Welfare

Family resilience literature discusses the strengths helpful to families when overcoming adversity. This study, by Cynthia A Lietz and Margaret Strength, looks at the resilience of 15 families whose children were removed due to child maltreatment, but who achieved reunification and maintained improved functioning over time. Qualitative methods guided by the narrative tradition were used to elicit stories of successful reunification. Findings uncovered 10 strengths evaluated by these families as highly influential in their ability to achieve reunification, remain intact, and maintain healthy functioning. Although extensive literature exists regarding barriers to reunification, this research provides understanding regarding successful outcomes from the perspectives of parents. The study also lends support to the applicability of the construct of resilience for families involved in child welfare.
http://www.familiesinsociety.org/ArticleArchive/2011/92-2_Lietz.pdf

12/07/2011
Hmong Cultural Guide: Building Capacity to Strengthen the Well-Being of Immigrant Families and Their Children: A Prevention Strategy

This resource, from the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, provides an overview of the culture of the Hmong to assist professionals in strengthening the well-being of Hmong families. It reviews Hmong parenting practices, parent and child nurturing and attachment styles, expectations of child development, parental attitudes in seeking health care for their children, and parental attitudes toward emotional behavior and mental health.
http://www.cehd.umn.edu/SSW/cascw/attributes/PDF/CulturalGuide-Hmong.pdf

11/30/2011
The US Department of Education reviewing Penn State’s campus security program

Athletes in Court November 29, 2011
According to Businessweek, the U.S. Department of Education has begun a review of Penn State’s campus security program to see whether university officials broke any federal laws by failing to report instances of child sexual abuse.
http://www.athletesincourt.com/2011/11/penn-state-under-review-by-department-of-education/

11/30/2011
Why Are So Many Foster Care Children Taking Antipsychotics?

Time Magazine November 29, 2011
More than 8% of children in foster care have received antipsychotic medication, and just over one quarter of those in foster care who also receive disability benefits take these drugs, according to a recent study in the journal Pediatrics.
http://healthland.time.com/2011/11/29/why-are-so-many-foster-care-children-taking-antipsychotics/

11/30/2011
Administration Concerned About Psych Meds and Foster Youths

Youth Today November 29, 2011
The Obama administration said in a letter to state officials last week that it was concerned about the “safe, appropriate and effective use” of the drugs, which are most often prescribed to adolescents in connection with a diagnosis for mood or conduct disorders, though many child advocates believe they are frequently used as chemical restraints because of their numbing effect on kids.
Letter: http://www.youthtoday.org/doc/State_Director_Letter_-_Joint_ACF_CMS_and_SAMHSA_November_23_2011%20%281%29.pdf
http://www.youthtoday.org/view_article.cfm?article_id=5131

11/30/2011
Hedge Funds Care Comments On The Senate's Hearing Into Child Abuse

HedgeCo.net November 29, 2011
Hedge Funds Care, a global charity dedicated to preventing and treating child abuse, published a press release commending the Senate HELP Committee’s planned hearing on December 13 that will “examine how well our nation is protecting children from child abuse and neglect.”
http://www.hedgeco.net/news/11/2011/hedge-funds-care-comments-on-the-senates-hearing-into-child-abuse.html

11/30/2011
A bright line not yet drawn

Philly.com November 29, 2011
That's in stark contrast to the rest of the world, which has increasingly prohibited the physical punishment of children. Americans like to see themselves as being at the forefront of historical change, leading humanity to ever more freedom and progress. But when it comes to corporal punishment of children, we're well behind the curve.
http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-29/news/30454875_1_corporal-punishment-puritans-punishment-in-public-schools

11/30/2011
More parents skip school shots for their kids

USA Today November 29, 2011
More parents are opting out of school shots for their kids. In eight states now, more than 1 in 20 public school kindergartners aren't getting all the vaccines required for attendance, an Associated Press analysis found. That growing trend among parents seeking vaccine exemptions has health officials worried about outbreaks of diseases that once were all but stamped out.
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/story/2011-11-28/More-kids-skip-school-shots-in-8-states/51434170/1

11/30/2011
Proposed NJ Medicaid Changes Would Change delivery of Mental Health Services

Significant changes surrounding accessing medication from Medicaid for mental health consumers have begun in New Jersey. These changes affect how and what medications will be prescribed for mental health consumers who are on Medicaid and Medicare and those who are dually eligible. The changes are confusing and may alter how consumers access their prescriptions and the type of medication they receive.
To read the entire newsletter please click here.

11/21/2011
The Foster Youth Internship Program of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI)

The Foster Youth Internship Program of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is an internship program for young adults who spent at least 24 consecutive months in foster care at any point in their life and who have completed at least 4 semesters of higher education by May 29, 2012. CCAI places these interns in Congressional offices in Washington, DC for a 9-week internship program. The goal of the program is to educate policymakers about the experiences of foster youth in an effort to inspire legislative improvements to the foster care system. Interns participating in this program benefit both personally and professionally, gaining experience and networking with professionals from various fields that will bolster their careers for years to come. In addition, interns are given the opportunity to share their recommendations for improving foster care by writing a policy report that is presented at a briefing and disseminated to policymakers and advocates across the country. Housing, travel, and a weekly stipend are provided by CCAI. Applications are accepted now until January 6, 2012. The program will run May 29-July 28, 2012. For more information and to apply, visit www.ccainstitute.org/fyiapply.

11/16/2011
US: Obama: Kids Stuck in Foster Care Due to Deportation a “Real Problem”

Colorlines November 14, 2011
In a briefing with Latino journalists last week, President Obama directly acknowledged that his administration’s immigration enforcement practices break up families and exclude parents from decisions about the custody of their children. His comments affirmed the central findings of a year long investigation by the Applied Research Center, which publishes Colorlines.com, released earlier this month. The investigation concludes that there are at least 5,100 children currently in foster care who are stuck there because their parents were detained or deported by immigration officials.
http://colorlines.com/archives/2011/11/obama_responds_kids_stuck_in_foster_care_due_to_deportation_a_real_problem.html

11/16/2011
US: In Loco Parentis: The Foster Care and Education Systems Must Coordinate

Huffington Post November 14, 2011
As our federal lawmakers debate sweeping education reform, I would like to take a moment to highlight the importance of educational continuity for students in foster care. I would especially drive home the point that this continuity is a direct function of the level of coordination between public school officials and child protective services.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alex-chivescu/in-loco-parentis-the-fost_b_1093137.html

11/16/2011
US: Child abuse at 'institutions of trust' common

Ft. Myers News News Press November 14, 2011
"I call them 'institutions of trust,' " says Portland, Ore., attorney Kelly Clark, who has represented more than 300 sex abuse victims. Some predators are so tacitly trusted "that when something like this happens, the instinctive reaction is, 'That can't happen here. We can't allow the mission to be compromised,' " he says.
http://www.news-press.com/article/20111114/SPORTS/111114016/Child-abuse-institutions-trust-common

11/16/2011
US: Child abuse: We’re making the problem worse

Salon.com November 13, 2011
Experts say America's approach to sex offenders only increases the likelihood that they will re-offend
http://www.salon.com/2011/11/13/child_abuse_were_making_the_problem_worse/singleton/

11/16/2011
India: Many orphanage kids have parents: Study

The Times of India November 15, 2011
Aizawl-based NGO, Human Rights and Law Network, which conducted the study on problems of children in 27 orphanages and children homes found that 47.2 per cent of the inmates were having both the parents. "While 42.6 per cent of the inmates of such homes had lost either their father or mother, only 10.1 per cent lost both the parents," said social workers who conducted the study.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Many-orphanage-kids-have-parents-Study/articleshow/10738647.cms

11/16/2011
Russia: Russian Baltic exclave to set up schools for foster parents

RIA Novosti November 15, 2011
Seven facilities, helping and teaching families who want to adopt a child, will be established in Russia's Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad, the regional government said in a statement.
Under the government's new program for 2012-2016, designed to assist adoptions, adoptive parents would be able to receive support from psychologists, teachers, lawyers and social workers.
http://en.rian.ru/society/20111115/168704736.html

11/12/2011
NRCPFC Teleconference/Webinar: Trauma Informed Child Welfare

Date/Time: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 3:00-4:30 PM EST
In this free National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections teleconference/webinar, Erika Tullberg, Administrative Director, ACS-NYU Children’s Trauma Institute, will address the issue of trauma as it relates to the child welfare system. The presentation will provide a definition of a trauma-informed child welfare system; discuss the impact of traumatic stress on children, parents, staff, and the system; provide information about resources available through the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, and share ways in which trauma-informed practice is currently being implemented. The teleconference/webinar will close with a question and answer/discussion period. Space is limited – register today!
http://www.nrcpfc.org/teleconferences/11-16-11.html

11/12/2011
Children’s Bureau Express (CBX): November 2011 Edition Alert

This issue of CBX spotlights the 2011 National Adoption Month initiative, announces the winners of the Adoption Excellence Awards, and links to a number of reports on the benefits of adoption, including adoption of young adults. An article about a Denver program describes how the program has increased adoptions from foster care. This issue includes the fifth article in the Centennial Series, which takes a brief look at the impact of the Progressive Movement in the early 20th century. Additionally, the issue includes reports from the second Evaluation Summit and first Network for Action meeting, as well as Training and Technical Assistance Network Updates; Children’s Bureau Grantee News; Child Welfare News; Strategies and Tools for Practice; Resources; and information on Trainings and Conferences.
http://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/

11/12/2011
Child Trends and Information Gateway State Statutes Data Collaboration

Child Welfare Information Gateway is pleased to announce that select content from their State Statutes Series will now be available on the State Child Welfare Policy Database. The Database is managed by Child Trends with support from Casey Family Programs. The State Child Welfare Policy Database provides policy information on a range of child welfare topics, allowing visitors to access up-to-date information on individual State policies as well as compare their own State's policies to other States.
Visit the State Child Welfare Policy Database:
www.childwelfarepolicy.org
Visit Information Gateway's State Statutes Search:
www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state

11/12/2011
New Search Tool Helps Users Find Federal Grants to Fund Youth Programs

The Interagency Working Group on Youth Programs has created an online web tool that allows users to search for federal grant opportunities by youth topic or federal agency on Grants.gov. The tool uses a filter to search for grants that are likely to fund youth programs. Grants.gov is a website that allows users to search and apply for thousands of federal grants.
http://www.findyouthinfo.gov/GrantsSearch.aspx

11/12/11
Citizenship for All US-Intercountry Adoptees

If you're part of any adoption-related group or group that includes people who live adoption, share this quickly to raise awareness and multiply the number of signatures. Parents involved with domestic adoption can be strong advocates for adoptees born outside U.S. borders, as well as domestic adoptees ourselves adding our voices.
To view the petition and information click here:
http://www.change.org/petitions/citizenship-for-all-us-intercountry-adoptees

11/09/2011
US: 5,000 S-Comm Foster Kids -- 'Intolerable and Outrageous'

New America Media November 5, 2011
Five thousand minors are in foster homes because they were separated from their families when their parents were detained and deported through the Secure Communities (S-Comm) program, according to a recent study by the Applied Research Center.
"This situation is intolerable and outrageous," an editorial in La Opinión contends. "From its start until today, Secure Communities has set an example of incompetence and irresponsibility in meeting its objective of arresting undocumented immigrants who pose a danger to American society."
http://newamericamedia.org/2011/11/5000-s-comm-foster-kids----intolerable-and-outrageous.php

11/09/2011
US: Safety nets for mentally ill children are full of holes

Washington Post November 7, 2011
An abandoned child is a sign of utter desperation and, often, systemic dysfunction. It’s not just about one broken family or a single, troubled child; it’s about crippling bureaucracy, impotent policy, lack of education and money, money, money.
“It’s a nationwide problem,” said Paramjit Joshi, director of psychiatry at Children’s National Medical Center…
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/safety-nets-for-mentally-ill-children-are-full-of-holes/2011/11/07/gIQA4PhExM_story.html

11/09/2011
US: Amazon selling child abuse how-to guide: Amazon customers call for the removal of a book advocating abusive parenting "techniques"

Vator News November 7, 2011
An unorthodox parenting book is getting a lot of attention following a spotlight in the New York Times today. “To Train Up a Child” by Michael and Debi Pearl is, by all appearances, something of a child abuse training manual that advocates the use of “switches” on babies as young as six months old. The first question you’re probably asking yourself is, Good God—who would publish a book like this? That one’s easy. It’s self-published. The second question you’re probably asking yourself is, Good God—who would sell this book? That one is also easy: Amazon.
http://vator.tv/news/2011-11-07-amazon-selling-child-abuse-how-to-guide

11/09/2011
US: Researchers, Policymakers Call on U.S. Government to Take Immediate Action to Address National Epidemic of Child Abuse and Violence Against Children

US Politics Daily November 7, 2011
Leading policymakers, researchers, scholars, jurists, and child advocates from across the country have issued a public statement calling for the development of robust plans of action at federal, state and local levels to address all violence against children. The joint statement cites epidemic levels of violence against children in the U.S., which has the worst record of fatalities due to child abuse among industrialized nations.
http://uspolitics.einnews.com/pr_news/65620574/researchers-policymakers-call-on-u-s-government-to-take-immediate-action-to-address-national-epidemic-of-child-abuse-and-violence-against-children

11/09/2011
US: Religion and Child Abuse

Huffington Post November 7, 2011
The convergence of two news stories should be a wakeup call to alert us to the fact that there is a brutal movement in America that legitimizes child abuse in the name of God. One story involves a judge whipping his daughter with a belt on a YouTube clip that has gone viral. The other involves books by Evangelical leaders on child rearing that advocate spanking, even beating.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/frank-schaeffer/religion-and-abuse-judge-_b_1077778.html

11/09/2011
US: Adoption tax credit should be extended

The Journal News (Westchester County, New York) November 7, 2011
Repeal of the adoption tax credit, scheduled to occur at the end of 2012, will have a devastating effect on all adoptions, but especially adoptions from state foster care systems.
http://www.lohud.com/article/20111107/OPINION/111070307/Adoption-tax-credit-should-extended

11/09/2011
China: Millersville professor focuses his lens on issues of Chinese adoption

Philly.com November 8, 2011
His films revolve around the repercussions of China's one-child policy, which has resulted in the wide abandonment of baby girls - and transformed the way many Americans build their families.
The Chinese government has made it illegal to have "extra" children, but also to place children for adoption. Because sons are prized culturally, newborn girls are often secretly left on street corners and in bus stations, then swept into orphanages.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/133411788.html

11/09/2011
Japan: In abuse cases, family takes priority over the child

Japan Times November 6, 2011
A representative of the Nagoya child welfare office told the Asahi Shimbun that it is their job to "form a relationship of trust" with parents, so the tendency is "to want to believe them." In principle, children's welfare is based on their remaining in the home, since once children are taken out of the home "it is difficult for them to adjust." The authorities' main task in cases of abuse is to change the behavior of the parents or guardians.
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fd20111106pb.html

11/09/2011
Uganda: Child Abuse Must Be Eliminated Now

AllAfrica.com November 8, 2011
According to child-protection agency, the African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN)'s 2009 situational report, as many as 16,000 cases of child abuse were reported. Child neglect ranked high on the list of injustices.
http://allafrica.com/stories/201111080118.html

10/20/2011
Social Security Announces 3.6 Percent Benefit Increase for 2012

To learn more please click here.

10/19/2011
NRCPFC Toolkit: Kinship Care and the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008

This new NRCPFC web-based toolkit discusses the critical kinship care practices addressed in the Fostering Connections Act: notice to relatives, foster care licensing standards, placement with siblings, and family connections grants. The toolkit provides information and links to resources on each of these topics. The toolkit is accompanied by an organizational self study on kinship care, which can be used to review kinship care policies and practices through the lens of the Fostering Connections Act.
http://www.nrcpfc.org/toolkit/kinship/

10/19/2011
New Questions and Answers for the Child Welfare Policy Manual

This document from the Children’s Bureau provides information on two new questions and answers that have been added to the Child Welfare Policy Manual. The new questions and answers are in the following sections of the Child Welfare Policy Manual:
8.1B TITLE IV-E, Administrative Functions/Costs, Allowable Costs - Foster Care Maintenance Payments Program
Question: What are examples of allowable administrative costs for the title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program?
8.5 Guardianship Assistance Program
Question: Is a title IV-E agency obligated to reimburse the non-recurring expenses (NREs) (e.g., legal fees) if the legal guardianship is never finalized?
Both are related to implementation of the Guardianship Assistance Program. (10/14/11)
http://www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/download/QAs%20GAP.pdf

10/19/2011
Resources for Supervisory Training

Date/Time: October 25, 2011, 2:30 PM EST
This National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI) webinar will present information about state approaches to child welfare agency supervisory training and support, and highlight one national resource – the Leadership Academy for Supervisors (LAS). First, presenters will discuss what was learned from semi-structured interviews with child welfare training directors conducted by the NRCOI, and show the information about state child welfare supervisory training now available on the NRCOI website. Presenters will then highlight one example of a training resource for experienced supervisors focused on leadership – the LAS. Participants will be able to see this national online curricula developed by the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute, and hear about how it is being adapted and used by states around the country. Access additional information about this session and register by clicking on the link below.
http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/tele_detail.htm#102511

10/19/2011
NRCOI Supervisor Training Project Website

Earlier this year, the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI) began collecting information on how States train and support Child Welfare Supervisors. They reached out to all States asking that a representative from their child welfare training staff participate in a one-hour phone interview, and 34 States participated in this process. Information on the current approaches these States are taking has been compiled on this website, along with any available curricula and materials. NRCOI hopes that both State agencies and the Children’s Bureau T/TA Network will use this information to generate training ideas and to understand how other States approach supervision training and support. NRCOI encourages States to reach out for guidance on using this resource. If States have a specific supervision need, NRCOI can create a customized summary of information obtained through this project. If you would like more information, please contact Laura Dyer at ldyer@usm.maine.edu or (207) 228-8343.
http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/supervisionproject.htm

10/19/2011
A National Conversation on Educational Opportunity for Students in Foster Care

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 3:00-4:30 PM EST – TODAY!
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) and Fostering Media Connections (FMC) will produce a National Conversation, intended to build on a broad, existing movement to improve educational outcomes for students experiencing foster care. Using videoconferencing technology, teachers, students and researchers in California and Illinois will share the solutions and challenges they have found with Members of Congress assembled in Washington DC. All of the proceedings will be transmitted live, over the Internet. In addition, CCAI and FMC will release a report, which frames the issue of foster care and education and gives concrete examples of how anyone can step up and help. Learn more and register by clicking on the link below.
http://fosteringmediaconnections.org/ccai-fmc-national-education-town-hall/

10/19/2011
The Power of Voice: Family Group Conferencing and Family Violence

Date/Time: Wednesday, October 26, 2011, 2:00 PM EDT
Participants in this American Humane webinar will have an opportunity to hear from a family member who has survived domestic violence and can speak to the benefits and challenges of using Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) in family violence cases. Participants will be able to engage in dialogue with a survivor, as well as increase their understanding of how to effectively coordinate the FGDM meeting, attend to the needs and concerns of children participating in the meeting, consider the influence of culture in FGDM, and safely include abusers in the process. Participants will also learn the importance of understanding the perspectives of the victim, the children/youth, the family, and the abuser, so that all needs and safety concerns are addressed. Finally, the presenters of this webinar will cover potential situations that may or may not support an FGDM process, and will stress the importance of careful consideration of the use of FGDM when domestic violence is a concern.
http://www.americanhumane.org/children/professional-resources/conferences-webinars/fgdm-webinar-series.html

10/17/2011
NY: Report: Shift in Child Welfare Policy Undermined by Budget Moves

CityLimits.org October 14, 2011
A fiscal brief released this week by the city's Independent Budget Office analyzes a decade of direction and spending at the Administration for Children's Services, highlighting a philosophical evolution in the provision of care—and budgetary sinkholes that have unwittingly swallowed potential savings.
http://www.citylimits.org/blog/168/report-shift-in-child-welfare-policy-undermined-by-budget-moves

10/17/2011
China: Orphanages 'Buy Babies' For Adoption

Sky.com October 14, 2011
The revelations come after China's foreign adoption programme was linked to baby trafficking and the illegal confiscation of children. Since international adoptions began in China in the early 1990s, more than 100,000 children have been adopted by foreign nationals.
http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16087076

10/17/2011
South Africa: Tightens rules for adoption

The Nation, Pakistan October 15, 2011
JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - In the wake of Madonna’s adoptions in nearby Malawi, and a commercial surrogacy boom in India, South Africa is laying out stricter rules for foreigners looking to make families here.
http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Entertainment/15-Oct-2011/South-Africa-tightens-rules-for-adoption

10/17/2011
NY: Cuomo vows reforms at residential care agencies

New York Times October 12, 2011
Speaking to the media as he met with his cabinet, Mr. Cuomo and his staff said a review of the agencies had found myriad clashing procedures — differing definitions of abuse, varying directives about when to call law enforcement, inconsistent standards of proof and sometimes no standard of proof at all.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/cuomo-administration-focuses-on-abuse-standards/

10/17/2011
Information Memorandum: Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act

The purpose of this Information Memorandum (ACYF-CB-IM-11-06) from the Administration for Children and Families is to inform State, Tribal and Territorial Titles IV-B and IV-E agencies of the enactment of the Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Pub. L. 112-34), which reauthorizes programs funded under title IV-B and to provide basic information about the provisions of this law. (Issuance Date: 10-6-2011)
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/info_services/download/ACYF-CB-IM-11-06_Child_and_Family_Services_Improvement_and_Innovation_Act_(Public_Law_112-34).pdf

10/17/2011
Child Maltreatment Prevention: Past, Present, and Future

This issue brief discusses the importance of prevention as a critical component of the nation’s child protection system. It outlines programs and strategies that are proving beneficial in reducing the likelihood of child maltreatment, such as public awareness efforts, parent education, home visitation, and community prevention efforts. Key challenges and opportunities for the future of child maltreatment prevention are addressed. This issue brief was developed by Child Welfare Information Gateway, in partnership with Deborah Daro, Ph.D. This document is made possible by the Children’s Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2011)
http://chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/publications/cm_prevention.pdf

10/17/2011
Building Infrastructure to Support Home Visiting to Prevent Maltreatment: Two-Year Findings from the Cross-Site Evaluation of the Supporting Evidence-Based Home Visiting Initiative

The Children’s Bureau is pleased to release a study of early implementation of a grant program designed to support states and communities selecting, implementing, and sustaining evidence-based home visiting programs. The study, prepared for the Children’s Bureau by Mathematica Policy Research and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, shows that states are enthusiastic about home visiting and most already had programs operating in their states when the five-year grant began in 2008. Collaborations already existed in many of these states to lay groundwork for bringing or expanding evidence-based approaches to home visiting. Grantees built on these existing collaborations or began new partnerships to implement the grant program, “The Supporting Evidence-Based Home Visiting to Prevent Child Maltreatment Grantee Cluster” (EBHV) which funded 17 grantees in 15 states. During the first two years of the grant, grantees and their partner organizations began building 8 capacities to support and sustain grantee-selected home visiting models: (1) planning, (2) collaboration, (3) operations, (4) workforce development, (5) fiscal support, (6) community and political support, (7) communications, and (8) evaluation. As grantees entered the third year of the grant program, they were beginning evaluations of their EBHV grant implementation efforts and of outcomes for children and families that participated in home visiting. They were also becoming involved with the federally-funded Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) programs being implemented in their states. Information from the evaluation provides useful insights to states implementing MIECHV. The report also contains information on the six home visiting program models selected by the EBHV grantees, such as their target populations, program characteristics, and staffing and training requirements.
http://supportingebhv.org/crossite

10/17/2011
Building Child Welfare Response to Child Trafficking

This handbook, from the Center for the Human Rights for Children and the International Organization for Adolescents, explains the gaps within the child welfare system in accurately identifying and treating child victims of trauma. Chapters address the following topics: Identification & Investigation; Screening Tools for Child Trafficking; Case Management Tools and Resources; Legal Protections and Advocacy; Human Trafficking Resource Guide; Integrating Trafficking Response Protocols and Services within the Child Welfare System – The Illinois Case Study. It also includes a glossary of child trafficking terms. (2011)
http://luc.edu/chrc/pdfs/BCWR_Handbook_Final1_for_posting_1.pdf

10/17/2011
Futures Without Violence – Resources for Working with Abusive Men & Fathers

Fatherhood can be a strong motivator for ion Fund, believes that it is critical to develop new strategies to motivate abusive men to renounce their violence and help heal their families. To that effect, they have developed several projects to support practitioners from different fields that engage abusive men and fathers. Visit the Futursome abusive fathers to renounce their violence. Some men choose to change their violent behavior when they realize the damage they are doing to their children. As a national leader in engaging men to end violence against women, Futures Without Violence, formerly Family Violence Preventes Without Violence website for a variety of resources, including: Fathering After Violence: Curriculum Guidelines and Bi-Lingual tools for Batterer’s Intervention Programs; Batterer Intervention: Doing the Work and Measuring the Progress; Something my Father Would Do/Lo Que Hizo mi Padre (DVD); Fathering After Violence: Working with Abusive Fathers in Supervised Visitation; and, Fathering After Violence Posters.
http://www.futureswithoutviolence.org/content/features/detail/803/

10/17/2011
Archived NWCD/Youth Webinar on Assessment and Individualized Planning for Youth

On September 13th, the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth convened a webinar entitled, “Assessment and Individualized Planning for Youth: Charting the Course for Effective Transition.” To be successful in work and careers, youth must have experiences and opportunities that allow them to discover their strengths, skills, aptitudes, and interests in supported, structured environments. A large part of this process includes ongoing informal and formal assessment activities that give shape to self-discovery and an understanding of the world of work. This section will give participants an appreciation of the role of assessment and tools with which to provide direction for individuals being served through the workforce development system. A free recording is available online.
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/webinars#2011-09-Assessment
Also see the NWCD/Youth Innovative Strategies Practice Brief on “Using Career Interest Inventories to Inform Career Planning.”
http://www.ncwd-youth.info/innovative-strategies/practice-briefs/using-career-interest-inventories-to-inform-career-planning

10/13/2011
Mixed America’s Family Trees

The United States is in the midst of a demographic shift. Driven by immigration and intermarriage, multiracial and multiethnic Americans — usually grouped together as “mixed-race” — are one of the country’s fastest growing demographic groups. Examine the mixed-race family trees submitted by readers and listen to them describe their families, then submit your own. Link to the interactive feature to create your own family tree: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/us/family-trees.html?ref=us#family/196011296835361

10/13/2011
In strangers' Glances at Family, Tensions Linger

The question tore through Heather Greenwood as she was about to check out at a store here one afternoon this summer. Her brown hands were pushing the shopping cart that held her babbling toddler, Noelle, all platinum curls, fair skin and ice-blue eyes.
The woman behind Mrs. Greenwood, who was white, asked once she realized, by the way they were talking, that they were mother and child. “It’s just not possible,” she charged indignantly. “You’re so...dark!”
It was not the first time someone had demanded an explanation from Mrs. Greenwood about her biological daughter, but it was among the more aggressive. Shaken almost to tears, she wanted to flee, to shield her little one from this kind of talk. But after quickly paying the cashier, she managed a reply. “How come?” she said. “Because that’s the way God made us.”
To read the entire article please click here.

10/12/2011
NY: Staying With Children, and Out of Prison

New York Times September 21, 2011
Drew House is the first program of its kind in New York State, and, according to researchers at Columbia University, the only one in the nation where women charged with felonies, some battling substance abuse and some who are victims of domestic violence, can live with their school-age children in a nonsecured facility.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/22/nyregion/for-mothers-facing-prison-drew-house-in-brooklyn-offers-alternative.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion

10/12/2011
NY: Court Reform for Teenage Offenders

New York Times October 11, 2011
A proposal by New York’s chief judge to transfer teenagers who commit minor crimes into the family court, instead of prosecuting them as adults, is long overdue.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/opinion/court-reform-for-teenage-offenders.html

10/12/2011
US: Supreme Court will not review whether state must put both adoptive dads on birth certificate

Washington Post October 11, 2011
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a gay couple who want both of their names to appear on the Louisiana birth certificate of the child they adopted.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts-law/supreme-court-will-not-review-whether-state-must-put-both-adoptive-dads-on-birth-certificate/2011/10/11/gIQAA9iRcL_story.html

10/12/2011
US: Supreme Court won't hear appeal from Tony Alamo followers who had children taken away

Washington Post October 11, 2011
The high court on Tuesday refused to hear an appeal from several Alamo followers, who sued the Arkansas Department of Human Services after their children were taken away in 2008. Prosecutors won sexual abuse convictions against Alamo in 2009.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts-law/supreme-court-wont-hear-appeal-from-tony-alamo-followers-who-had-children-taken-away/2011/10/11/gIQAMxoTcL_story.html

10/12/2011
US: Theft of foster children's identity addressed with new law

KSL Salt Lake City October 11, 2011
The new law ensures that foster children 16 and older receive free credit checks before leaving state foster care systems and that they are given assistance in clearing any inaccuracies that come to light.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=960&sid=17613290&s_cid=rss-960

10/06/2011
Steve Jobs 2005 Commencement Speech to Stanford University Students: His views on his own adoption,
finding one’s life’s passion and death.

This is a prepared text of the Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005.
To read the entire address please click here.

10/05/2011
NRCPFC Webcast: Parenting Older Adolescents

Date/Time: Monday, September 26, 2011, 1:00-2:00 PM EST
In this free NRCPFC webcast, Dr. Gerald Mallon, Executive Director of the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, will speak with Mary Keane, a foster and adoptive parent in New York State, and Alex, a youth who is one of Mary’s foster children. Mary will share her experiences as a lesbian resource parent, focusing on how she has engaged older adolescents, including how she has effectively supported youth in pursuing their educational goals. Mary will also discuss how she has met the needs of LGBT youth in her care. Alex will share her experiences in care, focusing on the type of support that has been important to her and what has helped her to form a positive relationship with her foster mother and siblings. The webcast will close with a question and answer session. Learn more and register by clicking on the link below.
http://www.nrcpfc.org/webcasts/registration.htm

10/05/2011
Older Adolescent Permanency and APPLA (2005-2011)

NRCPFC compiled this annotated list of resources on the topics of 1) older adolescent permanency and 2) Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement. Website links are included for resources that are available for free online. (September 2011)
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/info_services/download/APPLA%20and%20Permanency%20for%20Older%20Adolescents.pdf

10/05/2011
NRCOI Newsletter - Implementing Practice Models

The National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI) has released the Summer/Fall 2011 issue of their newsletter, Child Welfare Matters, on Implementing Practice Models. This issue highlights ten key factors to consider in implementation, organized under three implementation drivers – leadership, competency, and organization. It shares lessons learned from four states further along in implementation, and provides links to resources, state documents, and opportunities to connect with others offered through the NRCOI’s practice model peer network. Requests for hard copies can be sent to helpkids@usm.maine.edu, and questions can be directed to the NRCOI Clearinghouse at 1-800-435-7543.
www.nrcoi.org/rcpdfs/cwmatters11.pdf

10/05/2011
Rise Summer 2011: Making the Most of Visits

When children go into foster care, visits are a chance for families to maintain and strengthen the bonds they share. But visits can also bring out all the stress, sadness, and anger that families feel. In this issue of Rise Magazine, parents show how they’ve made visits a special time despite the stress of supervision and the pain of saying good-bye. Parents and parent advocates also discuss how the system can further improve visiting conditions and supports so that more families can successfully reunify. Rise Magazine is written by and for parents involved in the child welfare system.
http://www.risemagazine.org/PDF/Rise_issue_19.pdf
Rise also has developed a workbook, “A Time to Bond”, which is a parent-to-parent guide to making the most of visits with children in foster care. Click on the link below to order the guide and/or to access the two free sample stories and lessons.
http://www.risemagazine.org/a_time_to_bond.html

10/04/2011
PA: Suburban Catholics drive effort to let victims of long-ago abuse sue

Philadelphia Inquirer October 3, 2011
Last week, couriers delivered Chesley's story and accounts from other alleged abuse victims to the office of every Pennsylvania state representative. The testimonials launched a campaign to reopen or eliminate the statute of limitations so older victims can sue or bring charges against their abusers.
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/130951428.html

10/04/2011
CHINA: Govt claims no officials seized or sold babies

China Daily September 30, 2011
Authorities in a city in Hunan province, where family planning officials had been accused of infant trafficking, said an investigation had found no evidence of such allegations.
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2011-09/30/content_13826531.htm

10/04/2011
NY: NYU's benefits for adoptive parents ranked number one

Washington Square News October 4, 2011
NYU and Cornell University tied for the No. 1 most adoption-friendly workplace in the education industry and No. 71 in all workplaces across the country, according to a study released by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
http://www.nyunews.com/news/2011/10/04/04adoption/

10/04/2011
US: Passage of Federal Foster Care Law Will Help Improve The Lives of More Vulnerable Children and Their Families Across The Nation

The Business Journals September 30, 2011
Casey Family Programs, the nation's largest operating foundation dedicated to improving the foster care system, today applauded Congress for passing and President Obama for signing into law a foster care funding reform measure that will help keep more children safe from abuse and neglect and improve the lives of vulnerable children and their families across the United States.
http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/2011/09/30/DC78720

10/04/2011
China: China’s One-Child Policy Leads To Racket Of Fines, Kidnapping, Foreign Adoptions

WorldCrunch October 4, 2011
Outrage follows an investigation into the confiscation of a dozen infants from a poor rural area of Hunan province. There, local officials offered dozens of children up for adoption to foreigners after the biological parents failed to pay fines for violating China's one-child policy.
http://www.worldcrunch.com/china-s-one-child-policy-leads-racket-fines-kidnapping-foreign-adoptions/3864

10/04/2011
NZ: Tragedy of forgotten, orphaned children

The New Age Online October 4, 2011
The Department of Social Development revealed at the end of 2008 that there was a backlog of 157000 applications for child grants and a chronic shortage of social workers to process applications, monitor foster care and respond to a range of other child care needs.
http://www.thenewage.co.za/30918-1009-53-Tragedy_of_forgotten,_orphaned_children

10/03/2011
AMC Theaters are scheduling movie times specifically for families with autistic children and others with hypersensitivities.

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. For more information log onto: http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/events/sensory-friendly-films/

09/272011
NY: 8 NYC kids taken from foster care found OK in PA

Associated Press September 27, 2011
New York City police say eight children taken from a child welfare agency by their mother last week have been found in Pennsylvania, and their parents are in custody
http://yhoo.it/rg8XUE

09/272011
NY: Thoughts of Kidnapping Common Among Parents of Kids in Foster Care

WNYC September 23, 2011
Mike Arsham, director of the Child Welfare Organizing Project, said the impulse to break the law is common and many parents whose children wind up in state custody have thought about kidnapping them.
http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/wnyc-news-blog/2011/sep/23/foster-care-agency-still-missing/

09/272011
US: One Answer to Adoption’s Difficult Questions

New York Times September 26, 2011
After I wrote about child trafficking and international adoption from China, an adoptive mother contacted me with a story she said she had to share: how she went back to China to seek the truth about her daughter.
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/26/one-answer-to-adoptions-difficult-questions/

09/272011
US: Hepatitis A Vaccine Recommended for contacts of international adoptees

Cypress Times September 26, 2011
he American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends household family members and close contacts of children adopted from countries with high rates of hepatitis A virus (HAV) be vaccinated.
http://www.thecypresstimes.com/article/MedicalHealth/Medical/HEPATITIS_A_VACCINE_RECOMMENDED_FOR_CONTACTS_OF_INTERNATIONAL_ADOPTEES/51076

09/26/2011
NY: FBI joins search for eight children kidnapped by parents from NYC foster-care facility

New York Daily News September 22, 2011
The FBI joined the NYPD in the hunt for Shanel Nadal and Nephra Payne and the children they spirited away during a supervised visit on Monday.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/ny_crime/2011/09/22/2011-09-22_fbi_joins_search_for_eight_children_kidnapped_by_parents_from_nyc_fostercare_fac.html

09/26/2011
US: Foster care waiver bill passes House, up Friday in Senate

Youth Today September 22, 2011
The Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act would allow up to 10 states to receive a waiver to deviate from the structure set for Title IV-E entitlement funds from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Children and Families.
http://www.youthtoday.org/view_article.cfm?article_id=5038

09/26/2011
CHINA: Adoptions from China: Seeking the truth

New York Times September 22, 2011
Letters from the founder of Research-China.org and executive directors of the Center for Adoption Policy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/23/opinion/adoptions-from-china-seeking-the-truth.html

09/26/2011
INDIA: ‘Adopt child, get 6 months paid leave’

Hindustan Times September 23, 2011
The civic body has given all its women employees a tempting offer to encourage them to adopt children.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/chunk-ht-ui-indiasectionpage-west/Adopt-child-get-6-months-paid-leave/Article1-749117.aspx

09/26/2011
NEW ZEALAND: Under-twos can stay with jailed mums

Stuff September 22, 2011
It comes three years after the Corrections (Mothers with Babies) Amendment Bill was passed to extend the age at which children are allowed to stay with their mothers from nine months to two years.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/5664340/Under-twos-can-stay-with-jailed-mums

09/26/2011
For Adoptive Parents, Questions Without Answers

IN almost any adoption, the new parents accept that their good fortune arises out of the hardship of the child’s first parents. The equation is usually tempered by the thought that the birth parents either are no longer alive or chose to give the child a better life than they could provide.
On Aug. 5, this newspaper published a front-page article from China that contained chilling news for many adoptive parents: government officials in Hunan Province, in southern China, had seized babies from their parents and sold them into what the article called “a lucrative black market in children.”
to read the entire article please click here.

09/26/2011
The Trouble With International Adoption Is not Trafficking: It's the Global Orphan Crisis

A September 18 NY Times article by John Leland sensitively highlights recent trafficking of babies in China. The article includes interviews with American parents of adopted children from China, focusing on how it feels for a parent to think that their child might have been bought and sold. The complex issues about how to speak to one's child about such matters in the future are excruciating, but not impossible to handle. That said, most parents who adopt from abroad rarely know the real facts of that desperate moment when their child was abandoned or relinquished. We have hopefully learned not to glorify birth parents and to respect what we do know and what we don't know in an honest and loving way when we speak with our children. Those conversations change and become more sophisticated as children grow and develop.
to read the entire article please click here.

09/25/2011
US: The "Aging Out" Dilemma Plaguing the Foster Care System

Huffingtonpost.com September 25, 2011
Because of their life experiences some kids need more support than others - and they may need it for longer. A 21-year-old who has lived most of his life in either the child welfare system or a dysfunctional family setting is not at the same level emotionally or cognitively as other 21-year-olds. And as every parent knows, you can't set an arbitrary schedule for maturity.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-baccaglini/the-aging-out-dilemma-foster-care_b_978363.html

09/21/2011
NRCPFC Webcast: Parenting Older Adolescents

Date/Time: Monday, September 26, 2011, 1:00-2:00 PM EST
In this free NRCPFC webcast, Dr. Gerald Mallon, Executive Director of the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, will speak with Mary Keane, a foster and adoptive parent in New York State, and Aileen Rosario, one of Mary’s foster children, who now works with youth in out-of-home care. Mary will share her experiences as a lesbian resource parent, focusing on how she has engaged older adolescents, including how she has effectively supported youth in pursuing their educational goals. Mary will also discuss how she has met the needs of LGBT youth in her care. Aileen will share her experiences in care, focusing on the type of support that was important to her and helped her to form a positive relationship with her foster mother and siblings. The webcast will close with a question and answer session. Learn more and register by clicking on the link below.
http://www.nrcpfc.org/webcasts/registration.htm

09/21/2011
Federal Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Program State Policies and Laws

The Children’s Bureau and National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections have compiled information from States that have been approved to operate the Title IV-E GAP program. Based on the information provided in States’ IV-E plans, this new webpage provides links to States’ Guardianship laws, policies, and other additional forms, such as Guardianship Agreements. State contact information is also provided here when available. (September 2011)
http://www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/state_gap.html
The Children’s Bureau website also now has a brief description of the Guardianship Assistance Program, which lists all 22 states that have been approved for GAP.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/programs_fund/state_tribal/guardianship_assist.pdf

09/21/2011
Performance Based Contracting and Quality Assurance: Building Systems to Support Success

Date/Time: Thursday, September 29, 2011, 2:30 EDT
This National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI) webinar will highlight lessons learned by the Quality Improvement Center on the Privatization of Child Welfare Services (QIC-PCW) about performance-based contracting in public-private partnerships. Presenters from the QIC-PCW will discuss the evaluation of the work of three demonstration sites, including the outcomes they achieved and common elements of success. Public and private agency presenters from one of the sites – Missouri – will present their experience with working collaboratively to develop performance based contracts and quality assurance systems to monitor progress. A representative from the Children’s Bureau Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Network will also discuss the ongoing T/TA resources available to help public child welfare agencies develop systems to effectively manage performance based contracts.
http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/tele_detail.htm#092911

09/21/2011
Partnerships and Collaboration in Home Visiting: Critical Issues in Serving Families with Substance Use Disorders

Date/Time: Thursday, September 22, 2011 3:00-4:00 PM EDT
The Children’s Bureau, Administration on Children, Youth & Families has announced this webinar for Home Visiting Program Lead Agencies and Key Partners. The purpose of this webinar is to address critical issues regarding the important linkages between substance abuse treatment and home visiting programs and key partners to support positive outcomes for families. Strategies for developing and strengthening collaboration between home visiting programs and substance abuse treatment programs will be discussed. Resources to increase the skills and competencies of home visiting staff in working with families affected by substance use disorders will be provided.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/805919320

09/21/2011
Solutions Desk Helping Youth Transition – Community of Practice September Webinar: Psychotropic Medication

Date/Time: Wednesday, September 21, 2:30-4:00 PM EDT
In this webinar, The Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) Commissioner’s Office will give a policy update to address HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius’s cross-agency initiative on psychotropic drug issues, ACYF Commissioner’s priority on child well-being, and pending legislation. A member of the Excellence in Government work group will give a presentation on their youth focused project addressing psychotropic medications. Susan Keys, Special Advisor on Mental Health and Director of Research for Inspire USA Foundation, will share an overview of Inspire USA’s mental health information and support website for teens and young adults.
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/290875595

09/21/2011
Fostering Connections: Guardianship Assistance Program (Archived Teleconference)

This teleconference was available to State Foster Care Managers through the National Association of State Foster Care Managers and the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC). Liliana Hernandez, Children’s Bureau, Child Welfare Program Specialist, presented on Title IV-E Guardianship Assistance Programs. Michelle Rafael, Director, Policy Analysis, New York State Office of Children and Families, and Jackie Stoeckel, Foster Care Program Manager, Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Child and Family Services Division, also presented. They described their State experiences with GAP implementation and shared resources. You can now listen to the audio and access the PowerPoint presentations from the teleconference by visiting the NRCPFC website at the link below. (September 2011)
http://www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/kinship_guardianship.html#gap

09/20/2011
Adoption triad

Welcome to the September 2011 edition of Adoption Triad, a monthly e-brief for adoption professionals. This edition focuses on diligent recruitment. Diligent recruitment means seeking out foster and adoptive parents who reflect the race and ethnicity of children and youth in foster care. The Children's Bureau provides guidance on satisfying the diligent recruitment requirements of the Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA) at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/cwpm/programs/cb/laws_policies/laws/cwpm/policy_dsp.jsp?citID=120. The resources below are meant to assist adoption professionals, agencies, States, and Tribes in their efforts to recruit families for the 107,000 children and youth who wait for families in the U.S. foster care system.
The newly launched National Adoption Month website provides resources on diligent recruitment.
The article Engaging African American Communities and Organizations to Support Foster Care and Adoption for Children in the Child Welfare System discusses diligent recruitment in African American communities. It's in The Roundtable, the newsletter of the National Resource Center for Adoption.
In 2008 and 2011, the Children's Bureau funded eight grantees to provide diligent recruitment of families for children in the foster care system. One grantee, the Cuyahoga County Department of Children and Family Services–Partners for Forever Families, is a public-private partnership that uses a neighborhood approach to increase permanency outcomes for youth about to age-out of care and works to align policy with practice to drive system change. Read more about Cuyahoga County's efforts and see examples of resources they developed. Information about all of the grantees can be found on the AdoptUSKids website

09/14/2011
NJ: Christie administration nixes plan that would have cut Medicaid coverage for thousands of N.J. residents

NJ.com September 12, 2011

Thousands of New Jersey's working poor will keep their health insurance under a new administration proposal to restructure Medicaid, abandoning a controversial plan that would have drastically reduced the number of eligible recipients.

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/09/christie_nixes_plan_that_would.html

09/14/2011
PA: Church oversight lax on sex abuse

The Morning Call September 11,
2011 800 pages of newly released grand jury testimony give rare glimpse of Catholic church's handling of scandal. http://articles.mcall.com/2011-09-11/news/mc-allentown-catholic-bishop-cullen-abuse-20110910_1_monsignor-william-lynn-bishop-edward-cullen-church-oversight

09/12/2011
Sages pages to Host Noted Novelist Ann Hood

MADISON, NJ — Madison’s premier bookseller, Sages Pages, in the Staples shopping center, 300 Madison Avenue, will present a reading October 4 at 7 p.m. by Ann Hood, author of The Red Thread, a novel about adopting baby girls from China. Released by W. W. Norton & Company, New York, the book, already a hard cover success, now is available in paperback and Ms. Hood will sign copies after the reading. “This book is appealing on so many levels,” says Lillian Trujillo, Sages Pages owner. “We are truly honored that Ann Hood has agreed to read and discuss her work with the local community.” Trujillo notes that the event is free and open to the general public.
To read the entire release please click here,
To see the flyer please click here.

08/28/2011
Fostering Connections: Extending Foster Care to 21 (Archived Teleconference)

In this teleconference, available to State Foster Care Mangers through the National Association of State Foster Care Managers and the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, the National Resource Center for Youth Development presented on the topic of extending foster care to 21; California’s implementation of this aspect of Fostering Connections was described; and, a youth presented on experiences related to extended foster care. (August 2011)
http://www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/emancipating_older_youth.html

08/28/2011
Love and Belonging for a Lifetime: Youth Permanency in Child Welfare

Protecting Children, Volume 26, Number 1, 2011
This special issue of Protecting Children, a professional publication of American Humane Association, highlights many of the nuanced practice and policy issues that support effective permanency planning and decision making with adolescents in foster care. Articles include:
• Love and Belonging for a Lifetime, by Stacie Hanson and Sarah Greenblatt;
• What Finding Permanency Means from a Youth Perspective, by Dianna Walters;
• Independent Living Program Transformation in California: Lessons Learned about Working with Older Youth and Implications for Permanency, by Karen Lofts Jarboe and Jen Agosti;
• Integrating Child Welfare and Mental Health Practices: Actualizing Youth Permanency Using the 3-5-7 Model, by Darla L. Henry and Gregory Manning
• Permanency for LGBTQ Youth, by Gerald P. Mallon, D.S.W.;
• Reinstating Parental Rights: Another Path to Permanency?, by Susan Getman and Steve Christian;
• Adopt Cuyahoga’s Kids: Securing Adoptive Placements for Older Youth in Cuyahoga County’s Public Child Welfare System, by Sue Pearlmutter, Victor Groza, Teresa Garafolo, and Betsie Norris
http://www.americanhumane.org/assets/pdfs/children/protecting-children-journal/pc-26-1.pdf

08/28/2011
Understanding Child Welfare and the Courts

Families involved with the child welfare system may have some involvement with the court – in most States, this occurs in a family or juvenile court. This factsheet from Child Welfare Information Gateway is designed to serve as a quick guide to the general types of court hearings that a family may experience, and it traces the steps of a child welfare case through the court system. (2011)
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/cwandcourts.cfm

08/28/2011
Bullying Intervention: What Works

Wednesday, August 24, 2011, 2:00-3:30 PM EDT
This webinar is designed to teach participants how to: Define bullying and understand its similarities and differences with other forms of aggression; Understand the various roles that children and youth may play in instances of bullying; and, Describe best practices to communicate and intervene with youth who bully, youth who are bullied, and youth who witness bullying. This webinar is hosted by the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention. You must register to participate. Panelists: Stan Davis, BA, Certified Social Worker and Guidance Counselor, Co-researcher, Youth Voice Project; Joel D. Haber, PhD, “The Anti-Bully Coach” Founder, RespectU, LLC; Susan P. Limber, PhD, Professor, Institute on Family & Neighborhood Life, Clemson University. Moderator: Melodee Hanes, OJJDP Acting Deputy Administrator for Policy.
https://www.nttac.org/views/docs/webinar_AUG2011_bullying/Bullying+Webinar+II+Flyer+Final+8.4.11.pdf

08/28/2011
Are Your Judges and Legal Stakeholders Ready for Differential Response?

Thursday, August 25, 2011, 3:00-4:30 PM EDT
In this webinar, explore the science, strategies and scars from the presenters’ experiences in engaging judges, attorneys, court-appointed special advocates and guardians ad litem in differential response implementation. This event is a part of the American Humane Differential Response Webinar Series. It costs $30 to participate in the single session. Presenters: Debra Gilmore, Manager, Child Protection Reform, American Humane Association; and, Erin Sullivan Sutton, Assistant Commissioner, Minnesota Department of Human Services.
http://www.americanhumane.org/children/professional-resources/conferences-webinars/differential-response-webinar.html

08/29/2011
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08/17/2011
US: Study: 20% of U.S. kids are poor

Philly.com August 17, 2011
A national study on child well-being has found that child poverty increased in 38 states from 2000 to 2009. As a result, 14.7 million children, or 20 percent, were poor in 2009. That represents a 2.5 million increase from 2000, when 17 percent of the nation's youth lived in low-income homes.
According to the study by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, to be published today, Nevada had the worst rate in the nation in children living with at least one parent without full-time employment. The state is also home to the most children affected by foreclosures - 13 percent of all Silver State babies, toddlers and teenagers have been kicked out of their homes because of an unpaid mortgage, the study found.
Also: http://townhall.com/news/us/2011/08/17/national_child_welfare_survey_examines_recession
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/nation_world/20110817_Study__20__of_U_S__kids_are_poor.html

08/17/2011
US: Langevin says too many foster children are victims of identity theft

The Republic August 16, 2011
U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin is pushing legislation in Congress that would require states to run credit checks on foster children and help those who are the victims of identity theft. His bill also would prohibit states from putting Social Security numbers in foster care records to identify children.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/56c2acf9f59745e08df0a1862ed65a7e/RI--Foster-Care/

08/17/2011
China: Adoption measures to be tightened

China Daily August 16, 2011
Enhancing the role of orphanages in the adoption process will better protect the rights of children and curb trafficking, Ji Gang, director of the domestic adoption department of the China Center for Children's Welfare and Adoption (CCCWA), told China Daily.
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-08/16/content_13120252.htm

08/17/2011
New Jersey Needs YOU to Stuff the Bus!

Children need the right tools to begin the school year ready to learn. For struggling parents, providing the necessary school supplies can be a financial hardship. When their children receive school supplies through a local Stuff the Bus program, parents are better able to utilize their limited financial resources to pay for basic needs such as food, utilities, rent, etc. In addition, children have greater self-esteem when they have the school supplies they need, and the same school supplies as their peers.
New Jersey's agencies know how important it is for students to have all the supplies they need at the beginning of the school year to help ensure academic success. Through NJ 2-1-1 and local agencies throughout the State, YOU can help make a difference by donating supplies, gift cards or your time.
If you know a child in need of school supplies this August, please dial 2-1-1 or contact one of the local Stuff the Bus organizers to get additional information on distribution dates and times.
Dial 2-1-1 for additional contact information for organizations with Stuff the Bus events or check out our most up to date listing online.
If you are a professional at an organization in NJ that is running a Stuff the Bus event, please contact info@nj211.org to get your information added to our database.

08/16/2011
PA: Teachers and nurses responsible for reporting child abuse

WHP TV August 15, 2011
School teachers and nurses are the targets of a new initiative to help prevent child sex abuse.
A recent grant gave money to the PA Coalition Against Rape to provide updated information to all school nurses.
http://www.whptv.com/news/local/story/Teachers-and-nurses-responsible-for-reporting/ccBVMfMxhUSP6uwsqkOYXg.cspx

08/16/2011
US: Unraveling the Black Adoption Myths in America

Atlanta Post August 15, 2011
At any given moment there are 500,000 children in foster care across the United States with 26% being African American according to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2010 statistics.
This statistic gives pause to Gloria King, executive director of the Oakland, Calf, based Black Adoption and Placement Resource Center. Founded in 1983 BAPRC was among the first “specialty” agencies to distill the myths surrounding adoption eligibility criteria that kept countless prospective parents from applying.
http://atlantapost.com/2011/08/15/unraveling-the-black-adoption-myths-in-america/

08/16/2011
US: Child abuse fears must be reported by doctors, but some cases pose dilemmas

Washington Post August 15, 2011
This case was different. This time my patient was only months away from her 18th birthday, at which point mandatory reporting laws would no longer apply. Never before had I explained the reporting process without a parent present. (Her mother, through an interpreter, had given me permission to see the teen on her own.) Never before had a patient urged me not to report her father, insisting that although he had intentionally bruised her, it was an acceptable punishment in her culture. Never before had I thought seriously that reporting a case of abuse might not be in my patient’s best interest.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/child-abuse-fears-must-be-reported-by-doctors-but-some-cases-pose-dilemmas/2011/07/06/gIQAUldSHJ_story.html?wprss=rss_health-science

08/16/2011
US: Step Forward for Orphans March: American families to protest U.S. policies

Washington Times August 15, 2011
American parents of children stranded in orphanages around the world will take to the National Mall to march to the U.S Capitol on August 26. Dubbed the Step Forward for Orphans, the march is designed to bring attention to the dire situation that’s affecting orphans around the world.
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/red-thread-adoptive-family-forum/2011/aug/15/separated-their-children-us-policies-american-fami/

08/15/2011
US: Grand jury indicts woman in adoption scam

The Kansas City Star August 13, 2011
Jones already was the subject of a federal criminal complaint, but the indictment goes much further in spelling out her allegedly fraudulent activities against 14 couples. Four of them are local, from Bonner Springs, Olathe, Shawnee and Leavenworth. Others were from Minnesota, Georgia, California, Tennessee, New York and Massachusetts.
http://www.kansascity.com/2011/08/11/3071584/grand-jury-indicts-woman-in-adoption.html

08/15/2011
US: The Racialization of Adoption Threatens Black Children (Opinion)

Life News August 12, 2011
Contrary to the claims of groups like NABSW and Child Welfare League, the preponderance of empirical studies prove that transracially adopted children are just as well adjusted as same-race adopted children. Researcher and esteemed scholar, Rita Simon, has conducted one of the most cited, in-depth longitudinal studies on the issue. Her research shows that 80% of transracial adoptees disagree with groups like the National Association of Black Social Workers. I’m one of those adoptees.
http://www.lifenews.com/2011/08/12/the-radicalization-of-adoption-threatens-black-children/

08/15/2011
GUATAMALA/MO: Mo. couple seeks to protect adopted daughter

Associated Press August 13, 2011
"On the one hand you feel for the mother in Guatemala. She should have her child. And on the other hand, I can't imagine if I were in that situation. It would be like a death," Harmoning said. "I would pay my life away to move the birth mother up here before I would let my child go. She's my baby."
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gDCr_2168QcT060afG0VzMaRqYFA?docId=5cad097d334d40dfa044306180845d71

08/15/2011
INDIA: Rs 10,000 for couples adopting girl child

Daily Bhaskar August 13, 2011
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's (PCMC) women and child welfare department on Thursday passed a resolution of providing Rs10,000 as fixed deposit to couples who adopt a girl child.
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article/MAH-PUN-rs-10000-for-couples-adopting-girl-child-2352502.html

08/15/2011
UK: Childhood abuse victims 'twice as likely' to suffer from lifetime of depression

Daily Mail August 15, 2011
Lead investigator Dr Andrea Danese said: 'Identifying those at risk of multiple and long-lasting depressive episodes is crucial from a public health perspective. 'The results of our study indicate that childhood maltreatment is associated both with an increased risk of developing recurrent and persistent episodes of depression, and with an increased risk of responding poorly to treatment.’
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2026108/Childhood-abuse-victims-twice-likely-suffer-lifetime-depression.html

08/03/2011
Adopted Woman Locates Birth Brother Through Facebook in California (Includes Video)

KOLO TV August 2, 2011
It's a discovery of a lifetime. A 65-year-old woman who was adopted when she was 10 days old learns she has a brother in Reno. And just recently, she was able to use Facebook to track him down and meet up.
http://www.kolotv.com/news/headlines/Adopted_Woman_Locates_Birth_Brother_Through_Facebook_126640983.html?ref=983

08/03/2011
US: THE Other Side of Adoption: Women who place children with other families face unique challenges

Fond du Lac Reporter August 2, 2011
Unlike a closed adoption in which birthmothers have no contact with their children once the legal papers are signed, semi-open and open adoptions give birthmothers a bit more access into the lives of the children they have placed into the care of an adoptive family. Though they have glimpses and limited roles in their birthchild’s new life, there is an emotional cost that accompanies such a difficult choice.
http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20110803/FON0101/110802151/THE-OTHER-SIDE-ADOPTION-Women-who-place-children-other-families-face-unique-challenges

08/03/2011
US: After Interning on Capitol Hill, Former Foster Youth Challenge Child Welfare's Accountability

Youth Today August 2, 2011
States should not receive federal funding for foster care if they are not providing high-quality services, caseworkers should not be allowed to hold most visits with youths in front of other adults, and foster children should not be categorized as special education students unless they are going to get the services that classification entitles them to.
Those proscriptions are among a long list of policy recommendations from 15 former foster children who worked this summer as Capitol Hill interns.
http://www.youthtoday.org/view_article.cfm?article_id=4949

08/03/2011
US: International Adoptions Decline: Stiffer policies may bring a rise in domestic adoption

Epoch Times July 27, 2011
The Hague Convention “protects children and their families against the risks of illegal, irregular, premature, or ill-prepared adoptions abroad.” International adoptions have decreased dramatically over the years, as adoption policies have become more restrictive.
This may mean prospective adoptive parents in the United States will focus more on domestic foster children.
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/united-states/foster-care-benefits-as-international-adoptions-decline-59610.html

08/01/2011
US: Advocates seek foster parents in churches

Baptist Standard July 29, 2011

For many decades, when at-risk children needed to be removed from home for their protection, they were welcomed into group homes and residential campuses established—often by Baptists—to care for children orphaned by wars and disease. Government policies, social welfare changes and budget woes have combined to make such residential services a placement of last resort. http://www.baptiststandard.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12820&Itemid=53

08/01/2011
US: When parents abuse drugs, chances are their kids will, too: Addiction specialist Dr. STEFAN KRUSZEWSKI tells of children who lose the parent lottery

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette July 31, 2011

This doesn't describe 100 percent of the kids, but the pattern is strikingly repetitive. Young people with drug and alcohol problems have parents -- and, increasingly, grandparents -- whose lives and values have been destroyed by drugs.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11212/1163870-109-0.stm

08/01/2011
US: Child Death Cases: Proving a Trend

NPR July 28, 2011

In June, NPR aired 'The Child Cases,' a series investigating child death cases in which parents or caregivers were prosecuted. The stories, produced in collaboration with PBS Frontline and ProPublica, analyzed 23 cases that were overturned or dropped, but did not explain why or how they were selected, raising questions about how representative or common the cases were. http://www.wnyc.org/npr_articles/2011/jul/28/child-abuse-cases-proving-a-trend/

08/01/2011
US: Opening Up Adoption: Learn more about one of your neighbors, a pioneer of open adoption

The Patch July 31, 2011

When Silber began working in the field of adoption in the late 1960s, there was no such thing as open adoption. Adoptions were surrounded in secrecy. Birth mothers placed babies for adoption and would never know what kind of family their children went to. http://sanramon.patch.com/articles/opening-up-adoption

08/01/2011
CHINA: American adoptees look for their families' roots in China

People's Daily Online July 29, 2011The welcoming ceremony of the root-seeking tour for American adoptees opened on July 27, Beijing. The root-seeking tour has 90 American adoptive families and 294 people totally. Most of the adopted children are from the welfare organizations in Jiangxi, Hunan, Guangdong and Guangxi. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/7455758.html

08/01/2011
Ongoing Violent Land Evictions Violate Human Rights and Victimize Guatemala’s Most Marginalized Populations

Washington, DC -- The Guatemala Human Rights Commission in Washington, DC joins local and international groups in expressing extreme concern over the pattern of violent land evictions occurring in campesino and indigenous communities across Guatemala. Forced evictions have been carried out by state forces with violence, extreme intimidation, and a pattern of destruction reminiscent of the scorched earth policy of the internal conflict.
To read the entire article please click here.

07/28/2011
NY: Queens family court judge is picked to lead the city’s child welfare agency

New York Times July 27, 2011
The Bloomberg administration on Wednesday appointed Ronald E. Richter, a Family Court judge with broad experience in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, as the next commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/nyregion/queens-judge-ronald-richter-to-lead-administration-for-childrens-services.html

07/28/2011
CHINA: Foreign parents taking more disabled orphans

China Daily July 28, 2011
"We helped about 580 Chinese orphans find families in the US in 2010, and more than 70 percent are physically or mentally challenged," said Joshua Zhong, president of the Colorado-based Chinese Children Adoption International.
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-07/28/content_12997076.htm

07/28/2011
IRELAND: Child abuse accounts for half rape helpline calls

Independent July 27, 2011
Over half of all callers to Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (DRCC) helpline were abused as children, a new report reveals.
http://www.independent.ie/national-news/child-abuse-accounts-for-half-rape-helpline-calls-2832801.html

07/28/2011
RUSSIA: 15 months later, boy rejected by U.S. mother lives in orphanage

The Moscow Times July 28, 2011
Savelyev's adoption has been delayed by red tape and worries about his psychological condition, not over a lack of willing adoptive parents, his caretakers said.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/15-months-later-boy-rejected-by-us-mother-lives-in-orphanage/441249.html

07/28/2011
UK: Social workers under fire over falling adoption rates despite long waiting list of children

Mail Online July 28, 2011
In 2010, a total of 4,472 adoptions were recorded – a decrease of 4.1 per cent since 2009, according to the Office for National Statistics. The number was the lowest since figures for court adoption orders were first recorded in 1997.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2019576/Adoption-rates-lowest-level-record-England-Wales.html

07/28/2011
New Emancipating/Older Youth and Fostering Connections Section of NRCPFC Website

The new Emancipating and/or Older Youth webpage of the Fostering Connections section of the NRCPFC website provides a variety of resources, organized into the following sections: Promising Practices and Policies from States and Tribes; T/TA & Web Based Resources from NRCs, Children’s Bureau, and the T/TA Network; Resources from Collaborating Organizations; and, Evidence-Based Practice, Research, and Reports. It also links to the NRCPFC Independent Living/Transition to Adulthood Hot Topic webpage, which offers additional resources. The Fostering Connections section of the NRCPFC website is a work in progress and will be updated continuously. NRCPFC will announce the availability of information on new topical areas in Weekly Update. We welcome suggestions for resources and information that could be included on the website.
http://www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/emancipating_older_youth.html

07/28/2011
Resources Related to Q&A from NRCPFC Engaging Fathers in Child Welfare Teleconference

The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC) hosted a teleconference/webinar on Engaging Fathers in Child Welfare on July 13, 2011. The teleconference is now archived on the NRCPFC website. To follow up on the Q&A portion of the event, NRCPFC created a resource list related to questions raised by participants. Participants raised questions related to whether, when, and how to engage fathers when issues of domestic violence or sexual abuse may be involved. Additionally, a participant asked about research on, and evidence of, the impact of father involvement in children’s lives. We welcome suggestions for additional resources that could be included in this list and/or on the NRCPFC Fatherhood Hot Topic webpage.
Access the archived teleconference at:
http://nrcpfc.org/teleconferences/07-13-11.html
Access the resource list directly at:
http://www.nrcpfc.org/teleconferences/7-13-11/Resource%20List_Questions%20Raised.pdf
Visit the NRCPFC Fatherhood Hot Topic webpage:
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/info_services/fatherhood.html

07/28/2011
Brain Development and Child Neglect (Webinar)

Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota’s new Executive Director, Karina Forrest-Perkins, recently presented a national 3-part webinar on Brain Development, Substance Abuse, and Child Maltreatment on behalf of the Centers for Disease Control. Drawing on this material and her extensive background, Karina will offer a free webinar presentation on Brain Development and Child Neglect followed by a question and answer period. The webinar will be held at two different times in order to provide options to those interested in participating:
Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 12:00 PM-1:30 PM CDT (1:00-2:30 PM EDT)
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/603089278
Tuesday, August 16, 2011, 6:00 PM-7:30 PM CDT (7:00-8:30 PM EDT)
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/585069278
Call 1-800-621-6322 or visit www.pcamn.org to learn more about Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota.

07/28/2011
Who are the Infants in Out-of-Home Care?

Studying children in out-of-home care is laden with challenges. One of these challenges lies in the fact that there is considerable diversity in the population of children. The authors of this Chapin Hall issue brief argue that infants represent a distinctive subset of the out-of-home care population with unique needs and strengths. Using data from the Multistate Foster Care Data Archive and data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW), they distinguish the infant population in out-of-home care from older children in terms of their incidence and duration of time spent in care, their experiences in care, and characteristics of the infants themselves and their birth families. They also discuss the developmental distinctiveness of infancy and the particular vulnerabilities infants in care face in terms of delays in cognitive, social, and emotional development. (May 2011)
http://chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/publications/06_08_11_Issue%20Brief_F_1.pdf

07/28/2011
Cultural and Linguistic Competency: Strategies for Establishing a Learning Environment Based on Students’ Needs

Date/Time: Thursday, August 4, 2011, 2:00-3:00 PM EST
Cultural and linguistic competency (CLC) among teachers and staff who work with students who are English language learners (ELL), or from other diverse backgrounds, is an especially important concern within neglect, delinquent, or at-risk education programs. During this webinar, Dr. Carlos Rodriguez, Principal Research Scientist at the American Institutes for Research, will discuss effective approaches for increasing engagement among youth from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds and the related barriers. He will share ideas on how to prepare and steer students toward an achievement pathway. Dr. Rodriguez also will advise how learning environments can be created that are attuned and sensitive to students’ needs. Ms. Ana Diaz-Booz, Principal, School of International Business, Kearny High School Complex in San Diego, California, will then discuss the implementation of approaches used to remedy issues related to both ELL and CLC. She will describe the demographics within her school and the mechanisms that are in place, and outline the strategies that her school used to remove the obstacles hindering students’ educational growth and opportunity. To conclude, Ms. Diaz-Booz will identify the types of approaches for which certain strategies would be best suited. To register for this event, which is available through the National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk (NDTAC), click on the link below.
http://events1.neglected-delinquent.org/register.php?eid=101

07/28/2011
What Works for the Workforce: Leadership Competencies in Action

A Webinar Series on Leading Change to Strengthen the Child Welfare Workforce
Offered in quarterly, hour-long sessions to allow busy child welfare professionals the opportunity to participate, this webinar series by the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) is designed to showcase child welfare workforce innovations, and the competencies, skills, resources and action steps needed to support and sustain them. Participants will hear from distinguished state, county and tribal agency representatives as well as workforce and leadership experts affiliated with the NCWWI on a variety of topics, including: Leadership; Data and Accountability; Recruitment, Screening and Selection; Supervision and Management; Mentoring and Coaching; Organizational Climate and Culture; Caseload and Workload; Cultural Responsiveness; Professional Education and Training; and, Retention. Presentations will address the following:
• Overview/Description: What is the workforce change initiative that has been implemented and resulted in stronger workforce capacity, improved practice and better outcomes for children, youth and families?
• Impact: What are those workforce and practice improvements; what are those improved outcomes?
• Accelerators/Decelerators: How has this change been successfully implemented? What have been the roadblocks?
• Lessons Learned: How can it best be sustained and/or replicated? What plans, resources, and action steps are recommended for agencies considering similar efforts?
• Leadership Competencies: What leadership competencies and skills have supported the success of this initiative? What is needed for agencies considering similar efforts?
NCWWI invites you and your colleagues to participate in the series kick-off on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 3:00 PM EST to learn about a creative, systemic leadership initiative, ChildStat, implemented 5 years ago by New York City’s Administration for Children’s Services as a weekly forum for the commissioner, deputy and associate commissioners and middle managers, through an in-depth examination of specific data indicators and randomly selected cases, to engage in frank dialogue and team problem-solving about urgent issues impacting frontline practice and the system as a whole. Stay tuned for registration details and further information about the series.

07/26/2011
US: Drop in international adoptions sparks debate

USA Today July 23, 2011Elizabeth Bartholet, a Harvard law professor and international adoption expert, said those numbers are "pretty stunning. I see it as a crisis for international adoption, which I think is a crisis for children worldwide." But others say a needed transition is under way, and that international adoption should be the last resort for finding homes for unparented children. Loose regulations and the large sums of money changing hands have spawned corrupt practices, they say, and as abuses are exposed, many countries have shut down or severely limited inter-country adoption."Which is as it should be," said Julie Gilbert Rosicky, executive director of the American branch of the International Social Service, a nonprofit active in 140 countries. "We should not be adopting children when children are being bought and sold or being stolen." http://yourlife.usatoday.com/parenting-family/story/2011/07/Drop-in-international-adoptions-sparks-debate/49630702/1

07/26/2011
FL: Boys have 2 moms: Now it's official: With ban gone, several Orlando-area gays have adopted

Orlando Sentinel July 24, 2011

For 33 years, gays and lesbians were barred by state law from adopting. That changed in October, when Florida's 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami upheld the right of a Miami man — a foster parent — to adopt two children he had been raising for years. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-gay-adoption-20110724,0,3486197.story

07/26/2011
RUSSIA: Russia to keep eye on adoptees

The Voice of Russia July 26, 2011Russia has requested information from US authorities about all agencies handling international adoptions, in a bid to be able to keep an eye on all Russian children adopted by Americans. http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/07/26/53721634.html

07/15/2011
Do You Need Legal Assistance with Consumer / Debtor Related Matters?

If so, you may qualify for our FREE legal services if: You are a resident of Essex County and You are unable to pay for the services of an attorney and You are being sued, or about to be sued in Essex County on consumer/debtor related issues:
Please contact Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ) at (973) 645-1952 on Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:00am-1:00pm. Clinics are held
Tuesdays at 10:00am at the Essex County Court House. Please call to make an appointment!

07/13/2011
Engaging Community Stakeholders: Strategies for Effective Recruitment (Webinar)

Date/Time: Wednesday, July 20, 2011, 2:00-3:30 PM EST
This free 90-minute webinar, hosted by the National Resource Center for Recruitment and Retention of Foster and Adoptive Parents at AdoptUSKids, will focus on the importance of, and effective strategies for, partnering with the community to recruit foster and adoptive families for children in foster care. The webinar will feature several of the Children’s Bureau’s 2008 Diligent Recruitment grantees, and highlight creative strategies they are using to engage community stakeholders. The grantees will also: share lessons learned on building effective relationships with community partners; explore how community partnerships have helped agencies strengthen their recruitment efforts; and, offer specific suggestions to engage community partners.
https://cc.readytalk.com/cc/schedule/display.do?udc=a7o4yah3cohz

07/13/2011
Strategies for Fostering Safety and Promoting Wellbeing for Families Experiencing Domestic Violence in Child Welfare Settings

Date/Time: July 14, 2011, 3:00-4:30 PM EDT
This webinar will provide participants with an overview of key strategies for fostering safety and promoting wellbeing for families experiencing domestic violence, particularly for families in child welfare settings. Building a partnership with victims of domestic violence is a key first step to fostering safety. Information shared during this webinar can provide a strong foundation for on-going assessment, identification, and safety planning. Presenters will provide participants with a snapshot of the research, successful practices and practical tips for engaging and fostering safety for victims, children and abusive partners. As a result of the webinar, participants will have: increased understanding of the benefits to building a strong partnership with victims of domestic violence; practical tips for identifying and assessing for domestic violence; enhanced knowledge about safety and safety planning with victims of domestic violence and their children; and, strategies for identifying domestic violence resources at the Federal level and within local communities. This webinar is presented by ACF’s Children’s Bureau, Family Violence Prevention and Services Program in collaboration with Futures Without Violence, formally the Family Violence Prevention Fund.
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/833024538

07/13/2011
CBX Survey Launches – Share your Feedback!

For the second time in its 11-year history, Children’s Bureau Express (CBX) is asking for reader feedback. They want to know what you think about their content, topical coverage, format, style, number and timing of issues, display, and more. Your feedback will be used to help ensure that Children’s Bureau Express meets your information needs. Please click on the survey link below to complete the brief questionnaire. Your opinion is valued!
http://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm?event=website.onlineSurvey

07/13/2011
Promising Practices Toolkit: Working with Drug Endangered Children and Their Families

This toolkit was developed by the Federal Interagency Task Force on Drug Endangered Children. The DEC Task Force Federal Partnerships Subcommittee conducted an assessment of promising practices in the field and of training modules provided by federal, state, local, tribal, and community-based providers across the country. This toolkit is a compilation of many of those practices, separated into three categories: (1) increasing DEC awareness, (2) fostering community collaboration, and (3) creating a more effective response. The intent of this toolkit is to provide guidance and resources to professionals in identifying, responding to, and serving drug endangered children. The Task Force is committed to identifying ways to better serve and protect drug endangered children by building partnerships on the federal, state, tribal, and local levels. For each practice identified, the toolkit provide information about the practice (what is working), how the practice can be helpful (why it works), and resources to assist in implementing the practice in your community (how to get started). (May 2011)
http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/pdf/promising_practices_toolkit.pdf

07/13/2011
Tribes and State Leaders Create the first Truth and Reconciliation Commission of its kind in the US

In Maine, the State government and the Wabanaki tribes have started the process of creating a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This effort, the first of its kind in the nation, comes from over a decade of work between tribal and state welfare agencies, to address the long term effect of child welfare practices on tribes. Meredith DeFrancesco reports from WERU in Maine, in this brief news segment available via Free Speech Radio News.
http://fsrn.org/audio/maine-tribes-and-state-leaders-create-first-truth-and-reconciliation-commission-its-kind-us/87

07/12/2011
Adoption benefits FAQ.

IRS Adoption Benefits FAQ. To read please click here.

07/11/2011
2011 Foster Youth Internship Briefing and Reception

CCAI invites you to attend the 2011 Foster Youth Internship briefing and reception where the interns will release their policy report of recommendations to improve foster care. These 15 exceptional leaders have spent their summer interning on Capitol Hill and are using their legislative knowledge combined with their personal experience of life growing up in foster care to educate policymakers on areas for reform. The briefing will cover pertinent policy areas such as the reauthorizations of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and federal child welfare financing. In addition, each intern has focused on a specific policy area of interest and will present recommendations on these issues. Past briefings and reports have been used by policymakers and advocates across the country as guideposts for the development of future adoption and foster care related policies.

Wednesday, July 27th

Capitol Visitor Center Room SVC 208-209

Briefing: 3:00-4:30pmReception: 4:30-5:30pm

Please RSVP to Emily@ccainstitute.org by Friday, July 22nd. Feel free to contact me with any questions. For information about the program, please visit http://www.ccainstitute.org/our-programs/foster-youth-internship/about.html

07/06/2011
ACNJ: Give Foster Youth a Voice in Court

Children in foster care should be more involved in the decisions that affect their lives and encouraged to participate in court hearings, according to a report released today by Advocates for Children of New Jersey.
“When children enter the foster care system, caseworkers, attorneys and judges make decisions that will affect their lives for years to come,” said Mary Coogan, ACNJ’s assistant director and co-author of the report. “Often, these children have little say in these critical decisions.”
The report notes that few statistics exist to measure children’s involvement in abuse/neglect court proceedings.
“But we know that New Jersey is behind the curve in involving children in court and in these critical decisions,” Coogan said.
Read the report .

07/07/2011
Mothers Use Peer Support to Prevent Behavioral Health Issues

WASHINGTON, DC - In June, nearly 20 mothers in northern New Jersey gathered to begin an advocacy and education effort that they hope will raise the national consciousness of what it is like to be a caregiver to a child with special needs. The mothers are the most recent GlassBook Project participants who have created an advocacy accordion glass book that they hope, through exhibition, will draw the attention of policymakers, agency and program administrators, community leaders and others. The book is titled "Breathless: Mothers of Children with Special Needs."
To read the entire article please click here.

06/30/2011
Recent Child Product Recalls

NJ Family Magazine features recent Child Product Recalls. Click here to view the latest recalls….http://njfamily.com/en/news/Recalls.aspx

06/27/2011
New Jersey adoption bill gets conditional veto from governor

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New Jersey Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed a bill on Thursday designed to make it easier for adopted people to obtain birth records, saying he wanted stronger protection for birth parents who wished to remain anonymous.
Christie said he would lift the state's current requirement that adoptees must get a court order to see their original birth certificates, but he proposed birth parents should keep the option of remaining unidentified if they wish and release only non-identifying family medical records.
To read the entire article please click here.

06/24/2011
N.J. Assembly passes bill allowing adopted adults to learn parents' names

Adults who were adopted as infants will be able to get a copy of their birth certificate with the names of their biological parents under a bill that won final legislative passage today, 31 years after advocates began waging what they have called a civil-rights battle to learn their identities. "This means I’ll be able to find out who my mother is,’’ said Ellen Hill of Doylestown, Pa., wiping away tears. The full Assembly approved the measure — the same one passed last year by the Senate — by a vote of 44 to 26, with two abstentions.
To read the entire article please click here.

06/24/2011
N.J. adoptees could obtain birth certificate, but might have to wait 12 months to do so

The 30-year battle for adopted people to obtain their birth certificates in New Jersey all but ended today, as Gov. Chris Christie agreed to release the records but rejected controversial provisions that would have denied mothers who place a child for adoption the promise of anonymity.
The governor issued a "conditional" or partial veto of the bill that passed the legislature in May, and instead rewrote the measure to put the responsibility of the search for a birth parent in the hands of a confidential intermediary, employed by an adoption agency. The intermediary would approach birth parents on behalf of their long-ago surrendered children to arrange contact. If the birth parent declines contact, the intermediary shall request the parent complete a medical history form.
To read the entire article please click here.

06/24/2011
Gov. Christie conditionally vetoes adoptee birth certificate bill, insisting anonymity for mothers

Attempting to end a 30-year battle over whether adopted people can get their birth certificates, Gov. Chris Christie agreed Thursday the records should be released but insisted that women who gave their kids up to adoption should have their anonymity preserved. Christie’s proposed changes to a bill that passed in May came as a blow to open record advocates who fought for decades to convince lawmakers that denying adoptees information about their identity violated their civil rights. The changes were cheered by opponents of the bill, including Catholic bishops.
To read the entire article please click here.

06/22/2011
Language Delays Seen in kids in Institutions beyond Age 2.

Researchers looked at more than 100 children who had lived in institutions in Romania. About half of the children were placed in foster homes when they were about 22 months old, while the other half continued living in institutions. These two groups were compared to about 60 young children who lived in the same community with their biological parents.
Children from institutions who were placed in foster care before they were 2 had greater language skills by the time they were 3½ years old than those who remained in institutions, according to the study in the current issue of the journal Child Development.
To read the entire article please click here.

06/22/2011
ACF Awards a Targeted Awareness Training Contract for LGBT Refugees

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) recently announced the creation of a first-ever resource center to support the resettlement of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) refugees. The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), a division of ACF, has awarded a $250,000 contract to the Heartland Alliance of Chicago to create this training and technical assistance center. The focus of this initiative will be to provide: Resource and capacity development in key resettlement locations; Sensitivity training to network staff, including an overview of key issues regarding newly arriving LGBT refugees; Technical assistance in service delivery; and, Development of best practices and orientation materials for refugee service providers across the country. ORR is founded on the belief that newly arriving refugees have inherent capabilities when given opportunities. ORR provides refugees with critical resources to assist them in becoming integrated members of American society. For more information on the Office of Refugee Resettlement please click on the link below.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/orr/

06/22/2011
Successful Transitions to High School: Promoting High School Success and Facilitating College Readiness

Date/Time: Thursday, June 23, 2011, 2:00-3:30 PM EDT
The U.S. Department of Education and its partners, United Way Worldwide, National PTA, SEDL, and Harvard Family Research Project, invite you to participate in the seventh installment of this webinar series on Achieving Excellence and Innovation in Family, School, and Community Engagement. This webinar will highlight ways to support students and families during the transition from middle to high school – a critical time for setting the course to graduate from high school on time and ready for college. Presenters will focus on the knowledge needed to ensure a smooth entry into ninth grade, such as coursework sequencing and graduation requirements, and will also explore how schools and community organizations can partner with families to provide services such as tutoring, mentoring, and afterschool programming. The webinar will highlight innovative practices that facilitate the transition to high school, information about how schools can help families stay engaged in their children’s education during the high school years, and services that offer essential information and assistance for students and their families throughout the college application process. The webinar will be moderated by Samantha Wigand, Education Consultant, United Way Worldwide. Featured speakers will include: Joanna Hornig Fox, Deputy Director, Everyone Graduates Center, John Hopkins University; Beth Porter, National Executive Director, Breakthrough Collaborative; Carol Myers, Consultant, Indiana State PIRC, Indiana Partnerships Center. Learn more about the webinar and register by clicking on the link below.
http://www.nationalpirc.org/engagement_webinars/webinar-transitions-to-high-school.html

06/22/2011
Implementing Centralized Intake in Indiana (Webinar)

Date/Time: Wednesday, June 29, 2011, 1:30-3:00 PM CDT (2:30-4:00 EDT)
*Correction: Please note that this webinar will take place at 2:30-4:00 EDT.
To improve the quality and consistency of information obtained during the intake process, the Indiana Department of Child Services and the Midwest Child Welfare Implementation Center have partnered to implement a state-wide, centralized intake process for reports of abuse and neglect in Indiana. Prior to implementation of the centralized intake process, reports of abuse and neglect were routed through 210 different numbers. Indiana constructed the new centralized intake process to facilitate the process of reporting for community members and stakeholders, with enhanced accessibility. The presenters will discuss how this project is designed to achieve this systemic change. Key elements of the project include: Assembling a team of experienced child protection workers to staff the centralized intake unit; Designing and delivering specialized training for the staff of the new unit; Identifying and purchasing equipment and software needed; Constructing and implementing new processes and policies necessary for the unit to function effectively; and, Creating and instituting a quality assurance methodology focused on assessing the effectiveness of the new centralized intake process. Register using the link below.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/131587416

06/22/2011
NRCOI Practice Model Peer Network

The National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement (NRCOI) has a new peer network. The primary objective of the Practice Model Peer Network is to focus on key issues child welfare staff are facing as they work towards developing and implementing practice models in their agencies. Participants share strategies and resources. NRCOI holds quarterly calls focused on members' requests and ideas, and also manages a Network listserv. The corresponding section of the NRCOI website was created for members of the Practice Model Peer Network. On this site, you will find practice model-related documents and tools, resources and links, reminders of upcoming calls, and notes and recordings from past calls. To join the Network, or if you have questions about it, please contact Anne Comstock, NRCOI Associate Director, at acomstock@usm.maine.edu or 720-382-0197.
http://www.nrcoi.org/PracticeModelNetwork.htm

06/22/2011
Outcomes and Lessons Learned from Children’s Bureau Discretionary Grants

Find information on Children's Bureau Discretionary Grant project outcomes, products, keys to success and lessons learned by visiting the Child Welfare Information Gateway website. You'll find links to grantee findings in specific research practices, and training areas. Site visit reports and syntheses summarize successes, challenges, and resources used and created. The website includes two site visit reports on sub grants of the National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System. The website also includes the following two syntheses: (1) Developing Models of Effective Child Welfare Staff Recruitment and Retention Training, and (2) Training of Child Welfare Agency Supervisors in the Effective Delivery and Management of Federal Independent Living Services for Youth in Foster Care.
www.childwelfare.gov/management/funding/funding_sources/cbreports.cfm

06/22/2011
New Kinship/Guardianship and Fostering Connections Section of NRCPFC Website

The new Kinship/Guardianship webpage of the Fostering Connections section of the NRCPFC website provides a variety of resources, organized into the following sections: Promising Practices and Policies from States and Tribes; T/TA & Web Based Resources from NRCs, Children’s Bureau, and the T/TA Network; Resources from Collaborating Organizations; and, Evidence Based Practice, Research and Reports. It also links to the NRCPFC Kinship, Guardianship, and Family Search and Engagement Hot Topic WebPages, which offer additional resources. The Fostering Connections section of the NRCPFC website is a work in progress and will be updated continuously. NRCPFC will announce the availability of information on new topical areas in Weekly Update. We welcome suggestions for resources and information that could be included on the website.
http://www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/kinship_guardianship.html

06/21/2011
Maryland father finds his son after 35 years

For 35 years, Ron Ryba dreamed of a reunion with the infant son he and his high-school sweetheart had given up for adoption. Two days before Father's Day, that dream came true over burgers and beer at a Wilmington, Del., restaurant. The Timonium businessman said he and his newfound son, Kevin Callaghan of Philadelphia, were nervous at first. But that didn't last long. "He gave me a big hug, and told me he was happy to see me," Ryba said. "We had a couple of cheeseburgers, and shared our first beer together." "Finally, we asked the bartender to take our pictures, and she said, 'You know, you two look alike.' So we both started laughing."
To read the entire article please click here.

06/21/2011
Adopt US Kids is offering a Min-Grant for at 2011 Respite Program

Adopt US Kids is offering a Min-Grant for at 2011 Respite Program. The application is the opportunity for foster/ adopt/kinship (FAK) support groups or associations to apply for a mini-grand ($5,000) to start a respite care program in partnership with your local public agency. Deadline for submission is July 1: For details and an application log onto:
http://adoptuskids.org/images/professionalResourceCenter/documents/AUSK-respite-mini-grant-application-2011.pdf

06/20/2011
New Regulations Affect Adoptions from Several Countries

This past month, Ukraine, Mexico and the Democratic Republic of Congo have all issued new regulations that affect intercountry adoptions
Ukraine now requires all orphans to be registered on the adoption registry for one year and to be older than 5 before becoming eligible for intercountry adoption. Infants and toddlers without special needs and who are not part of a sibling group will no longer be available for adoption outside Ukraine.
Mexico will now only authorize Hague accredited adoption service providers to process adoptions from Mexico to the United States. Currently, there is only one American adoption agency that has been authorized at the national level to assist with adoptions in Mexico. Several other agencies are pending authorization at this time.
The Democratic Republic of Congo now requires that all prospective adopters travel to the country and accompany children through the exit clearance process in order to bring them back to the United States.
To learn more, visit:
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/red-thread-adoptive-family-forum/2011/jun/10/new-regulations-make-international-adoption-harder/.

06/20/2011
Register Now for the 2011 NACAC Conference!

There is still time to register early for the 2011 NACAC conference and receive a $55 discount for a full-conference registration and a $15 discount off the daily registration rate! The early registration deadline is Friday, July 8. Register soon to take advantage of this discount!

To learn more or to register for the conference, visit http://www.nacac.org/conference/conference.html.

06/20/2011
2012 NACAC Conference Will Be Near Washington, D.C.!

We are excited to announce that the 2012 NACAC conference will take place July 26-28, in the Washington D.C. area! The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, in the Crystal City neighborhood of Arlington, Virginia. We will be just a few metro stops away from the heart of D.C.!

To submit a proposal to present at next year’s conference, please visit http://www.nacac.org/conference/proposals.html

06/13/2011
NYSCCC Conference Call on Thursday

You won't want to miss this week's parent group conference call scheduled for 11:30 on Thursday, June 16th. The ever engaging, Maris Blechner, Executive Director of Family Focus Adoption Services will be joining us to talk about Creating an Adoption Milestone: Adoption Ceremonies and Covenants. Maris is an entertaining and inspiring speaker and will have great information to share about creating adoption covenents and ceremonies which recognize a family's decision to unconditionally commit to one another - first for an adult becoming a parent to a child, and then for that child accepting the promises the adult has made. See the Family Focus website for some examples of Adoption Convenants.

06/09/2011
Archived NRCPFC Webcast: Working with LGBTQ Youth
This NRCPFC webcast, which took place earlier today, focused on working with LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth in the child welfare system. The presenters identified and explored practice issues, shared resources, and discussed practice skills necessary for workers and judges to competently engage and support LGTBQ youth in the child welfare system utilizing an affirming, strengths-based approach. This free archived webcast is offered by the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC), in partnership with the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Opening Doors for LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care Project. Presenters: Gary Mallon, DSW, Director, National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, and Julia Lathrop Professor of Child Welfare, and Mimi Laver, Director, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Opening Doors for LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care Project. To view the archived webcast and access materials from the event, click on the link below.
http://www.nrcpfc.org/webcasts/23.html

06/09/2011
Funding Opportunity Announcement: Child Welfare -- Education System Collaborations to Increase Educational Stability (HHS-2011-ACF-ACYF-CO-0183)
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to build collaborations between child welfare systems and education systems to increase the educational stability of children in, or at risk of entering, the child welfare system. Child welfare systems may identify the neighborhoods or school districts that serve the highest number of children involved in the child welfare system, and develop collaborative policies, procedures, and programs that will increase the educational stability and school success for those children, particularly those aged 10-17 years. Application Due Date: 7/26/11
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/view/HHS-2011-ACF-ACYF-CO-0183

06/09/2011
Funding Opportunity Announcement: Integrating Trauma-Informed and Trauma-Focused Practice in Child Protective Service (CPS) Delivery (HHS-2011-ACF-ACYF-CO-0169)
The purpose of this Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is to solicit proposals for projects that will: Support public child welfare systems in their efforts to provide effective mental and behavioral health services for children and families and to further develop trauma-informed systems that promote safety, permanency, and well-being; Assist child welfare systems to target and divert existing resources to the implementation and/or expansion of effective clinical, trauma-focused treatments; Support the implementation of trauma-focused treatment models with high fidelity in child welfare systems; Identify factors and strategies associated with successful installation and implementation of trauma treatments in child welfare systems; Improve the social and emotional well-being of targeted children in child welfare systems who experience trauma and are exhibiting trauma symptoms; Evaluate the impact of trauma treatment on safety, permanency, well-being and adoption outcomes, and Complement ongoing Federal efforts to improve the standard of care for children who have experienced trauma, including the work of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA) National Child Traumatic Stress Initiative. Projects funded under this FOA will: Replicate and scale up trauma-focused treatments to reduce traumatic stress reactions for one or more targeted groups of children in contact with the child welfare systems; Take the steps necessary for the child welfare system to become more trauma-informed and receptive to the introduction or expansion of trauma-focused treatments; and, Put into place those supports necessary to successfully implement and sustain the treatment models. Grant funds may be used for the process of service transformation efforts to improve mental and behavioral health services and further develop trauma-informed child welfare systems. Activities may include, but are not limited to training, installation, implementation, and evaluation. Successful applicants will design a plan to sustain service transformations within their child welfare service delivery systems. Application Due Date: 07/25/11
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/view/HHS-2011-ACF-ACYF-CO-0169

06/09/2011
Children’s Bureau Express: June Edition Alert
This issue of the Children’s Bureau Express (CBX) newsletter spotlights diversity in child welfare, bringing together resources on child welfare research and practice with diverse populations, including information on cultural competency, racial disproportionality, and GLBT issues in foster care and adoption. This month, CBX continues the Centennial Series with a brief look at early social work in America, while other articles link you to an ACF tip sheet on collaboration, recent grant information, an announcement about nominations for Adoption Excellence Awards, an updated State Department Adoption website, and additional resources, strategies, and tools for practice.
http://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/index.cfm?event=website.viewPrinterFriendly&issueid=127

06/09/2011
Family-Centered, Solution-Focused Service Planning
Date/Time: Thursday, June 16, 2011, 2:00-3:30 PM EDT
Learn strategies for engaging families in family-led, solution-focused service planning and explore techniques for eliciting the family’s own ideas about how to address its needs, including how to creatively identify formal services, informal supports and resources that families feel will meet their needs and build on their inherent strengths. This webinar is part of American Humane’s Differential Response Webinar Series.
http://www.americanhumane.org/children/professional-resources/conferences-webinars/differential-response-webinar.html

06/09/2011
Rise Spring 2011: Raising Children with Emotional and Behavioral Problems
Children who come to the attention of the child welfare system have very high rates of emotional and behavioral problems. Many families, especially those in isolated or poor communities, have trouble accessing effective supports. Above all, families need service providers to listen and become their partners in caring for the children. In this issue of Rise magazine, parents write about caring for their children and themselves. Rise magazine is written by and for parents involved in the child welfare system. Its mission is to help parents advocate for themselves and their children.
http://www.risemagazine.org/PDF/Rise_issue_18.pdf

06/03/2011
Fathers Needed

As an adoptive parent, you have the responsibility of helping your children celebrate Father's Day. How you celebrate is really up to you and your children; there isn't one right way to do it. However, this can become a little tricky for some families whose children may have multiple fathers or father figures in their lives. And even though you may feel that a father or father figure in your children's lives doesn't deserve to be honored, it's important that you speak kindly and respectfully of the person they love and consider one of their fathers.
To read the entire article please click here.

06/03/2011
Prisoner’s Family Conference: Save the Date and Call for Presentations

Date/Location: February 22-24, 2012, Albuquerque, New Mexico
The 4th Annual National Prisoner’s Family Conference is a project of Community Solutions of El Paso, a non-profit that works to strengthen community by strengthening children, youth and families to achieve their highest potential to become valuable and valued members of the mainstream community. The conference provides vital information for improving the quality of life for the prisoner’s family during and following the incarceration of a loved one, and offers ample networking opportunities with those from across the country concerned for the prisoner’s family and the reintegrating prisoner. Presenter guidelines and submission form are available online. The deadline for presentation proposals is July 31, 2011. Further details about the 2012 conference and registration will be available online soon.
www.solutionsforelpaso.org

06/03/2011
Videos on Working with LGBT Youth available on SAMSHA’s YouTube Channel

Larkin Street Youth Services is an organization in San Francisco that provides homeless, runaway and at-risk youth between the ages of 12 and 24 with the help and comprehensive services they need to rebuild their lives. Larkin Street participated in creating training videos for working with LGBT youth for the Homeless Resource Center, a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA). The SAMSHA YouTube Channel now features the following Larkin Street Stories: The Homeless LGBT Experience (Episode 1)

http://www.youtube.com/user/SAMHSA#p/u/11/48mC89f6PgA

Confronting Hate Speech and Homophobia (Episode 2)
http://www.youtube.com/user/SAMHSA#p/u/10/eNIOqoHYHEo

Neither/Nor Working with Transgender Youth (Episode 3)
http://www.youtube.com/user/SAMHSA#p/u/9/12AYYR3kMhQ

06/03/2011
Social Media and Social Networking in Child Welfare (Webinar)

Date/Time: Thursday, June 9, 2011, 2:30-4:00 PM EDT
How can social media help child welfare work? This webinar from the National Resource Center for Child Welfare Data and Technology and AdoptUSKids can help to answer that question. It will cover some “Social Media 101” material for those unfamiliar with the basics (What are social networks? Which platforms are popular?) and it will also discuss why it matters. The webinar will present the results of a survey of child welfare staff about their perceptions of social media. Then AdoptUSKids will share an in-depth story about their use of social media – how they got started, which tools they’re using, and what they’ve learned from the process. The National Resource Center for Youth Development and partners from Oklahoma will discuss engaging with youth through social media, and recommend the free tools that they use to manage this communication. Participants are invited to bring questions and comments about social media in their own work.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/311270377

06/03/2011
Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Grants Program: Application Information

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF), Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) has announced the solicitation of applications for cooperative agreements under the Family Violence Prevention and Services Discretionary Grants Program to support a nationwide network composed of National Resource Centers, Special Issues Resource Centers, and Culturally Specific Special Issue Resource Centers focused on the intervention and prevention of family violence, domestic violence, and dating violence. This network will consist of one National Resource Center on Domestic Violence (NRCDV), one National Indian Resource Center Addressing Domestic Violence and Safety for Indian Women (NIRC), three Culturally Specific Special Issue Resource Centers (CSIRC), and at least four Special Issue Resource Centers (SIRC). Applications are due on July 15, 2011 for all four of the funding opportunity announcements (NRCDV, NIRC, CSIRC, and SIRC). Please note that the NIRC application due date was incorrectly published with a July 16th deadline. They have corrected the due date for all NIRC applications to July 15, 2011. If you have any questions about these funding opportunities please contact Shawndell Dawson, Program Specialist, Family Violence Prevention and Services Program at (202) 205-1476 or Shawndell.Dawson@acf.hhs.gov. All four of the funding opportunity announcements have been posted online and additional details are available via the link below.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/grants/open/foa/office/acyf_fysb

06/03/2011
New NRCPFC Child Welfare and Technology Hot Topic Webpage

This new National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections Hot Topic webpage provides resources addressing and exploring technology and child welfare, including the opportunities presented by advances in technology, as well as the issues and challenges that the use of new forms of technology and social media raise for the child welfare field. NRCPFC will regularly update this Hot Topic page. We welcome suggestions for resources and information that could be included on the webpage.
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/info_services/Child-Welfare-and-Technology.html

06/03/2011
NRCPFC Webcast: Working with LGBTQ Youth

Date/Time: Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 1:00-2:00 PM EDT
This webcast will focus on working with LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning) youth in the child welfare system. The presenters will identify and explore practice issues, share resources, and discuss practice skills necessary for workers to competently engage and support LGTBQ youth in the child welfare system utilizing an affirming, strengths-based approach. This free webcast is being offered by the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC), in partnership with the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Opening Doors for LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care Project. Presenters: Gary Mallon, DSW, Director, National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, and Julia Lathrop Professor of Child Welfare, and Mimi Laver, Director, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Opening Doors for LGBTQ Youth in Foster Care Project. For more information and to register, please click on the link below.
http://www.nrcpfc.org/webcasts/registration.htm

05/312011
Lexi's Saga: A Lost Childhood Leaves Emotional Scars

A girl in New Hampshire celebrated her seventh birthday Sunday. But she's had to spend the first few years of her life acting a lot more like a mother than a little girl. Before entering the foster care system, she was forced to take care of herself and her two younger brothers. Now, her first instinct is to take care of everybody. It's the impulse that helped her survive.
To read thee entire article please click here.

05/25/2011
Medicaid changes

Medicaid changes proposed for July may impact on children in DYFS out-of-home placement. Click HERE for the letter sent to Resource Parents explaining these changes in Medicaid including frequently asked questions for DYFS caregivers regarding HMO enrollment.
Monthly Foster and Subsidy Checks
You may also call 1-800-719-9670 to listen to a recording for the most recent Monthly Foster and Subsidy Check information.§ Foster, Adoptive and Residential Checks for the month of May 2011 were generated with issue date of May 5, 2011.§ Checks were placed in the U.S. Postal Service on May 9, 2011.§ The target date for the month of June 2011 checks to be issued is approximately June 7, 2011.
To read more please click here.

05/23/2011
Training Workshops

The Parsons Child and Family Center and Albany County will be offering training workshops on caring for children who have experienced trauma. The two-day trainings for foster parents and providers will take place in May, June, August and September.

05/23/2011
Congressional Briefing on Post-Adoption Services

On May 10^th, Voice for Adoption, in collaboration with six other adoption organizations, held a joint Congressional briefing on post-adoption services. Watch the briefing and/or read policy recommendations, a press release and other resources from this event.

05/23/2011
Parent-Child Visiting

In a recent Technical Assistance Visit to the Thibodaux Region of Louisiana, Dr. Gary Mallon, Executive Director of the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections developed a PowerPoint presentation on the basics of Parent-Child Visiting. It may be useful to others who are considering Parent-Child Visiting Issues in their State, Tribe or Local District.

05/23/2011
Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out of Home Care

The Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy has developed a training curriculum and a caseworker manual for the State of Colorado Department of Health and Human Services on serving the educational needs of children and youth in the child welfare system. The following resources are available online: Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out-of-Home Care: Manual, Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out-of-Home Care: Training Curriculum for Caseworkers and Supervisors and Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out-of-Home Care: Training Curriculum for Foster Parents

05/23/2011
Extracurricular Activities Benefit Youth in Care

A recent article in Youth Law News makes a strong case for the importance of extracurricular activities in the lives of youth in foster care.

05/23/2011
Training on Trauma in Children and Families

Recognizing and Addressing Trauma in Infants, Young Children, and Their Families, developed by the Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation, is an online tutorial for professionals who work with young children. The free tutorial takes between 30 and 40 minutes to complete.

05/23/2011
Online Survey of Foster Parents

We received the following message from researchers at Catholic University of America: “Greetings Foster Parents! Please consider taking part in a research study that will help to understand how foster parents are thinking about the care they provide. Understanding how you think about your parenting tasks will help foster care professionals and community members to be able to support you in better and more effective ways. You deserve support and training programs that will help build your satisfaction with providing foster care and help you to continue to do the important work of foster parenting. Your participation in this research study will involve completing 5 questionnaires about your foster parenting experience on a secure website. Your responses to the questionnaires will be completely anonymous. The questionnaires will take about 30 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, please email: cua-fosterparentstudy@cua.edu.” Click here to participate.

05/23/2011
Survey of Transracially Adopted Adolescents and Their Families

The University of Maryland’s Department of Family Science, in conjunction with The Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE), is conducting a national survey of transracially adopted adolescents and their families. The specific focus of the study is to examine the impact of family characteristics on the overall adjustment, self-esteem and racial identity of racial minority youth adopted by white parents. The researchers are currently looking for participants for this important research project. To be eligible, the family must be comprised of white parents raising at least one racial minority adolescent (currently aged 14-19) who was adopted by the age of 4. Both parent and child will complete a 20-minute online survey. Upon completion, participating adolescents will receive a $10 iTunes gift card (some restrictions apply). If you are interested in participating, or have any questions about the study, please contact Dr. Leigh Leslie at lleslie@umd.edu or 301-405-4011 or Katie Hrapczynski at katieh@umd.edu.

05/23/2011
Study on Adult Transnational Adoptees and Their Adoptive Parents

This project looks at the manner in which adult transnational adoptees and their parents have negotiated the complex and often thorny issues related to adoptive, racial, and ethnic/cultural identity. The research project has two complementary components. The first consists of a pair of online surveys that compare the responses of adult transnational adoptees and their adoptive parents across a variety of measures. To participate, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Stories_Adult_Adoptee or https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Stories_Adoptive_Parent.
The second component consists of in-depth interviews with adoptee-parent pairs; that is, each interview set will include not only an adult transnational adoptee but also his/her adoptive parents. For more information, contact Dr. Karen R. Benally at krbenally@gmail.com or (928) 653-5757 or Lisa Charlie de Morais Teixeira at charlieritts@gmail.com or (808) 391-0774.

05/23/2011
A plea to let N.J. adoptees find themselves

I am case number KC 114343 in the New Jersey foster care system, and like thousands of other adoptees — some women like me, some black like me — I will not have a right to my birth certificate unless Gov. Chris Christie signs the Adoptees Birthright Bill (A1406/S799) passed this month by the state Assembly (and the Senate in March).
Though Christie and I are set in different positions on this issue, I write this piece to show how adoption touches everybody’s lives in unexpected ways, even strangers.
to read the entire article please click here.

05/18/2011
10 ways to Use Bilingual Books with Children - Language Lizard's Culture Connection Newsletter.

To read the newsletter please click here.

05/172011
Help adoptees reach first parents

Ask the man on the street if people who were adopted as babies should be able, as adults, to find out the identities of their original parents, and the typical answer is: Sure, isn't that their right?
Only for the fortunate few. In all states but six -- and New York isn't among that half-dozen -- individuals adopted at birth are still denied the unrestricted right to even look at a copy of their original birth certificates. Without that piece of paper, it's hard to have that longed-for mother-and-child reunion.
To read the entire article please click here.

05/16/2011
Adoptees and Original Birth Records

The Wall Street Journal
05/13/2011

Regarding your editorial "Born in the U.S.A." (April 28): I am glad that President Obama was able to obtain a copy of his original long-form birth certificate to prove that he was born in the U.S.
However, if President Obama had been born and adopted in almost any of the states in the U.S., he still would not be able to produce his original birth certificate for the public or even for his own viewing. By law, he would only be able to produce an amended birth certificate (ABC). An amended birth certificate is issued at the finalization of a person's adoption. This "birth certificate" replaces a person's birth name with a new name and the natural parents' names, with those of the adoptive parents. Once an ABC is issued, a person is kept from viewing or possessing a truthful documentation of birth. The original birth certificate is sealed forever.
I wish President Obama had been adopted so that the country could see how discriminatory it is to seal an adopted person's birth certificate and replace it with a falsified one.
Mara Parker
Trinidad, Calif.

05/16/2011
Birth mothers tell their stories to fight for N.J. adoption bill

Growing up in Union Township 50 years ago, Valerie Drabyk said she was the kind of student who always earned solid grades, and the kind of daughter who went to church and never disobeyed her parents. "I was a good girl," she said. Then at the age of 19, she got pregnant the first time she had sex. "I sat my mother down and asked her, ‘Do you love me no matter what I do?’ She was so angry, so disappointed. She said ‘How could you do this to me?’" Without taking a breath, her mother told her to put the baby up for adoption, saying: "I’m not raising another baby." Drabyk wanted to keep her child, but instead kept silent. She even obeyed a priest who told her never to tell anyone, "not even your husband. No one will want you." Drabyk, 68, of Edison, waited 38 years to reveal her secret to her husband and their three grown children, and find the son she lost.
To read the entire article please click here.

05/12/2011
The Record: Birthmothers have rights

THIS WEEK the state Assembly passed legislation seeking to bring closure to one of the longest-debated issues in Trenton: whether adults who were adopted as infants have a right to access their full birth records, up to and including the names of the birth parents.
Adoptees' advocates have hailed the bipartisan passage as a civil rights victory; the same bill was approved last year by the Senate. It now awaits action by Governor Christie, who so far has given no indication of whether he will sign it into law.
We urge the governor to veto this flawed bill. No matter how well-intentioned, we believe it puts too great a burden on birth mothers, forcing them to go to extraordinary measures to maintain a confidentiality they believed they would have for life.
to read the entire article please click here.

05/11/2011
Adoptees would have access to medical history and birth records under bill waiting governor's OK

TRENTON — Legislation to give adoptees in New Jersey access to their medical history and birth records received final legislative approval on Monday by the Assembly.
The bill (S-799/A-1406), approved by a vote of 44-26-2, would establish a system to allow adult adoptees access to their original birth certificates and family medical history. It now heads to the Governor’s desk.
Under the bill, the birth parents of individuals put forward for adoption in New Jersey would have one year from the enactment of regulations to submit a request to the state registrar for non-disclosure.
To read the entire article please click here.

05/11/2011
Needing front office review, Adoptees Birthright Bill has personal meaning to Christie
By Timothy J. Carroll | May 10th, 2011 - 6:55pm

VOORHEES – His sister was adopted, so Gov. Chris Christie said the Adoptees Birthright Bill literally hits home for him.
But he’s not committing to its passage just yet. Christie said today his counsel will review the bill to see if amendments recommended by the front office were included in the final version.
“I’m not current on whether they were incorporated,” he said today at a press conference. “This is an intensely personal issue for me.”
As State Street Wire reported this week, after more than 30 years, a group of adoptees finally moved the bill into a position to be signed into law. The Assembly passed the bill on Monday, 44-26-2, but without any clear divide along party lines.
The bill, S799, would allow adopted adults 18 or over to receive a copy of their original birth certificate upon request, but would protect birth parents who want no contact with children they gave up for adoption by allowing one year to redact the parents’ name and address from the certificate.
Christie said the ramifications of health were, alone, very interesting.
His sister is concerned about whether breast cancer, found to be genetic, is a cause for concern. Christie said, “It’s a particular concern for a woman that was adopted, who can’t turn to her birth mother and say, ‘Do I have this?’ ”
On the other hand, he said it’s also important to protect the rights of birth parents, who have made an “incredibly awesome” decision to give up their child to another family.
“This is another one of those very, very difficult public policy decisions,” he said.

05/11/2011
Bill would give adult adoptees access to records

TRENTON — Adults who were adopted, as well as their adoptive parents and adult descendents, would gain access to their original birth certificates, if a bill given final legislative approval Monday by the Assembly is signed into law. The idea has been pending in the Legislature for more than 30 years, gaining approval in one half of the Legislature in 1992, 1994, 2004, 2006 and 2008, only to die when the other house didn't take up the bill. The proposal, which the Senate approved last March, was passed by the Assembly after almost no debate Monday by a vote of 44-26, with two voting to abstain.
To read the entire article please click here.

05/10/2011
Access to the Original Birth Certificate by Adult Adoptees

The OBC Bill (A 1406) was approved by the New Jersey Assembly this afternoon with 44 votes in favor (a simple majority is 41 votes as there are 80 members). Having passed the New Jersey
Assembly previously by a vote of 27-10, it now goes to the Governor for approval or a veto for which he has 45 days to act in that regard.

05/05/2011
New Fact Sheet on Current ADHD Research

In recognition of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, the National Institute on Mental Health (NIMH) has published a new fact sheet on current ADHD research. There’s a lot of misinformation “out there” about this diagnosis, so check out this fact sheet so that next time you hear any of it, you will be prepared with the facts!
To see the entire sheet please click here.

04/27/2011
May is National Foster Care Month – Get Involved!

Building Connections through Meaningful Family Engagement: Visit the National Foster Care Month section of Child Welfare Information Gateway website to access personal and digital stories, as well as resources and information for child welfare professionals on engaging and building connections with families, youth, siblings, schools, and community.
http://www.childwelfare.gov/fostercaremonth/

Change a Lifetime: National Foster Care Month shines a light on the experiences of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved – as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways. No matter who you are or how much time you have to give, you can help create permanent, lifelong connections for these children and youth. Find more information by visiting the National Foster Care Month website.
http://www.fostercaremonth.org/Pages/default.aspx

04/27/2011
Working with the Community to Reduce New HIV Infections Among Gay and Bisexual Men and Transgender Women

Click on the web link below to view the information found in the blog written by Ronald Valdiserri, M.D., M.P.H., Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Infectious Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which focuses on ‘Working with the Community to Reduce New HIV Infections among Gay and Bisexual Men and Transgender Women’. On this site there are instructions for you to follow if you would like to respond to the blog.
http://blog.aids.gov/2011/03/working-with-the-community-to-reduce-new-hiv-infections-among-gay-and-bisexual-men-and-transgender-w.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_
medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+aids%2Fgov+%28Blog.AIDS.gov%29

04/27/2011
The Logic Model Builder and Information Gateway Resources for Exploring the Research on Evidence-Based Practices

Thursday, May 12, 2011, 3:00-4:30 PM EDT
Logic models are critical to good planning, implementation, and evaluation of services. The FRIENDS’ approach to logic models places a strong emphasis on articulating the rationale behind services provided. In developing a logic model, it is incumbent on service providers to understand and document the research or other evidence that suggests their services will achieve positive outcomes for children and families. This webinar, offered by FRIENDS National Resource Center on Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention and Child Welfare Information Gateway, will provide a demonstration of the interactive, web-enabled Logic Model Builder and explore Child Welfare Information Gateway’s online library. This webinar is appropriate for those who are providing prevention services as well as those who are providing postadoption services. This webinar will cover: The purposes and development of the Evaluation Toolkit and Logic Model Builder; how to use the Logic Model Builder, with options and features for developing and presenting your logic model; how to use the Child Welfare Information Gateway library to conduct literature reviews and explore the research on child welfare practices.
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/310302702

04/27/2011
Early Childhood-Child Welfare Partnerships

Promoting children’s optimal development by ensuring high-quality early care, as well as early detection and early intervention services can result in better safety, permanency, and well-being outcomes for infants and young children being served by both child welfare and early childhood systems. Several Federal policies and programs are in place to promote access to high-quality, stable early care and education for children in the child welfare system, and numerous opportunities exist for further strengthening collaborations between early childhood and child welfare systems. This tip sheet from Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services discusses existing policies and programs and opportunities and provides links to resources. (April 2011) Joint Statement to State Child Welfare Leaders, Child Care Directors, and Head Start Directors Encouraging Collaboration between State Early Childhood and Child Welfare Systems
http://www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/download/Joint%20Statement%20-%20EducationalStability%20for%20Young%20Children%20in%20Foster%20Care.pdfTip Sheet for Early Childhood-Child Welfare Partnership: Policies and Programs that Promote Educational Access, Stability, and Success for Vulnerable Children and Families
http://www.nrcpfc.org/fostering_connections/download/Tip%20Sheet%20for%20Early%20
Childhood_Child%20Welfare%20Partnership.pdf

04/26/2011
Do you or your child seem disorganized: How to recognize Executive Function Disorder

While not new to cognitive and educational psychology, Executive Function (EF) has become the “buzz” in education circles. Once known as “learning to learn” and “metacognitive” , executive function is the process of learning that promotes comprehension, planning, organizing, re-drafting and problem solving. EF is a complex of many parts and it is best to think of it as a continuum of processes. For some EF is unwitting and automatic, but for others, regardless of IQ, EF is unknown and not working. Individuals with disabilities vary on the EF dimension.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
7:30 PM - 8:30 PM EDT
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/800381089

04/22/2011
NRCPFC PowerPoint Presentation on Parent-Child Visiting

In a recent Technical Assistance Visit to the Thibodaux Region of Louisiana, Dr. Gary Mallon, Executive Director of the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections (NRCPFC) developed this PowerPoint presentation on the basics of Parent-Child Visiting. It may be useful to others who are considering Parent-Child Visiting Issues in their State, Tribe or Local District. The NRCPFC is developing many resources on Visiting, so please be on the look-out for them in upcoming Weekly Update announcements.
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/info_services/download/Visiting_ppt.pdf

04/22/2011
Online Calendar of National Foster Care Month Events

Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. As part of National Foster Care Month, hundreds of events across the nation take place to honor foster parents, raise awareness, and engage caring adults to change a lifetime for a young person in care. You are invited to submit information about National Foster Care Month events taking place in your State for inclusion in the online calendar of National Foster Care Month events by clicking on the link below.
http://www.fostercaremonth.org/EventsAndPromotions/Pages/EventSubmission.aspx

04/22/2011
Judicial Guide to Implementing the Fostering Connections Act

The American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law (ABA), National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges (NCJFCJ) and National Center for State Courts (NCSC) recently announced a new publication, “Judicial Guide to Implementing the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.” The role of the court in effectively implementing Fostering Connections is critical. This practical guide contains an analysis of the barriers faced by courts as well as implementation strategies to overcome these barriers. For each section of Fostering Connections, the guide provides: An overview of the law; judicial considerations for successful implementation; questions to ask from the bench to help ensure compliance with the law and best practice; and, resources from national experts to direct further reflection and analysis.
http://www.grandfamilies.org/images/pdf/Judicial%20Guide%20to%20Fostering%20Connections.pdf

04/22/2011
HHS Recommended Actions to Improve the Health and Well-Being of LGBT People

This webpage provides a summary of the efforts taken by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to improve the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, as well as recommendations for future action. The recommendations were developed in response to the Presidential Memorandum on Hospital Visitation, which, in addition to addressing the rights of patients to designate visitors regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, directed the Secretary to explore additional steps HHS could take to improve the lives of LGBT people. For too long, LGBT people have been denied the compassionate services they deserve. That is now changing. HHS continues to make significant progress toward protecting the rights of every American to access quality care, recognizing that diverse populations have distinctive needs. Safeguarding the health and well-being of all Americans requires a commitment to treating all people with respect while being sensitive to their differences.
http://www.hhs.gov/secretary/about/lgbthealth.html

04/22/2011
Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out of Home Care

The Cutler Institute for Health and Social Policy developed a training curriculum and a caseworker manual for the State of Colorado Department of Health and Human Services on serving the educational needs of children and youth in the child welfare system. These materials were designed to provide child welfare caseworkers and their supervisors with an understanding of the relevant educational policies, processes, assessments and plans; methods for monitoring outcomes and services; and tools to enable them to advocate for the educational needs of children in the child welfare system. They were derived primarily from what youth in care say about their educational experiences and what the research tells us makes a difference in educational outcomes for this population. The curriculum covers educational needs from birth through age 21. The curriculum and manual were originally completed in 2006. Both were updated in January 2009 and April 2010 to reflect new state legislation in Colorado addressing the educational needs of this population, as well as changes brought about at the federal level by the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, 2004) and by passage of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act (2008). The following resources are available online:
Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out-of-Home Care: Manual
http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/pubstext/COCaseworkerManual.pdf

Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out-of-Home Care: Training Curriculum for Caseworkers and Supervisors
http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/pubstext/CaseworkerCurriculumSept2010.pdf

Advocating for the Educational Needs of Children in Out-of-Home Care: Training Curriculum for Foster Parents
http://muskie.usm.maine.edu/helpkids/pubstext/FosterParentCurriculum2010.pdf

04/22/2011
DOJ and HHS Publication to Help Communities Address Children's Exposure to Violence

The U.S. Departments of Justice and Health and Human Services have jointly released, "Evidence-Based Practices for Children Exposed to Violence: A Selection from Federal Databases." This publication summarizes findings from federal reviews of research studies and program evaluations to help communities improve outcomes for children exposed to violence. It cites evidence-based practices that practitioners and policymakers can use to implement prevention services and activities for these children. Download and read the full document by clicking on the link below.
http://www.safestartcenter.org/pdf/Evidence-Based-Practices-Matrix_2011.pdf

04/05/2011
Are You Taking Care of Yourself?
Caregivers guide to putting themselves first!

Taking care of relatives or friends can be stressful and challenging. Most caregivers are better caring for others than themselves. This disability conference can be a starting point for anyone seeking to learn more about making your care giving a positive experience. It will support caregivers in their efforts to provide care to individuals with chronic illness or disabilities.
To read more about Disability Conference please click here.

04/05/2011
Military coping with work and family stress

The Center for Alcohol and Drug Resources, a program of Children's Aid and Family Services, is offering a workshop series focusing on Coping with Work and Family. This evidenced based program comes out of Yale University offering participants many positive approaches to handle life stressors.
There is no cost to attend the program.
It is quite a challenge to reach active duty national guard personnel, veterans and their families and I am asking for assistance. Please share the attached flyer with individuals, organizations, houses of worship, school personnel that may know of military affiliated individuals.
To se the flier, please click here.

03/31/2011
Send Silence Packing
and help reduce college student suicide.

1,100 backpacks and moving personal stories will span The Arch Pathway on April 27th from 10:00am-4:00pmIn case of inclement weather,
the display will be held in the Bradley Center. Walk for Wellness 3:00 PM - 4:00PM
Join Active Minds at Ramapo College in starting a dialogue about suicide and encouraging people to reach out for help before it’s too late.

03/31/2011
You Want to Adopt an Infant - What are Your Options

Whether you have completed your family, or are thinking of adopting again, there is always more to know. Join us for this unique opportunity to meet many of the local adoption attorneys at the Ametz Adoption Program/Jewish Child Care Association 17th ANNUAL ADOPTION AND THE FAMILY CONFERENCE being held in NYC on SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2011
Leading experts outline:
- The adoption process.
- How to choose the right adoption path.
- The role of adoption agencies and attorneys.
- Medical issues to be considered, including pre-natal care and unknown familial histories.
- Relationships with birth parents. (Open and closed adoptions).
- Networking strategies
- Advertising
- Talking about adoption before and after you adopt.
- Options for singles, LGBTQ, older parents and large families.
- What it is like growing up adopted (adoptees share their stories)
- Finalizing your adoption
- And more………see full program at www.jccany.org/ametzconference
Ametz Adoption Program of JCCA is a licensed agency in New York and New Jersey. For over 27 years, Ametz has been helping singles and couples pursue domestic and international, step and second parent adoptions. Ametz's services include adoption homestudies, educational workshops and counseling. Ametz works with singles and couples of all religious and cultural backgrounds, in every stage of domestic, international, step and second parent adoptions. Ametz also offers professional training regarding adoption. The annual conference is the highlight of the year, when Ametz showcases its programs, collaborations, and resources throughout the adoption community.
To view the full program, presenter bios and registration information, including fees, go to: www.jccany.org/ametzconference, email us at Ametz@jccany.org or call 212-558-9949. SCHOLARSHIPS STILL AVAILABLE.

03/30/2011
Shunned by her classmates, girl escapes to new school

Kids who are bullied are targeted for any number of reasons — they’re fat, they’re quiet, they’re smart — or for no reason at all. And their torment can be intense. At home, they cry, withdraw and lash out in anger. Sometimes, they take their own lives.
To read the entire articles please click here or here

03/17/2011
The Juvenile Justice System Improvement Project

The Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University recently launched a new program, designed to reduce crime and delinquency and improve positive outcomes for youth in the juvenile justice system through the implementation of more efficient and effective juvenile justice administration. This new project, named the Juvenile Justice System Improvement Project (JJSIP), will help states improve outcomes for juvenile offenders by better translating knowledge on “what works” into everyday practice and policy. The JJSIP takes the vast amount of knowledge gained through Dr. Mark Lipsey’s meta-analysis of effective juvenile justice programs and embeds it within the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s Comprehensive Strategy for Serious, Violent, and Chronic Juvenile Offenders as developed by Dr. James C. Howell and John Wilson. In doing so, the JJSIP provides a framework for improving juvenile justice practice throughout the entire juvenile justice continuum. Georgetown University will select three states to participate in an intensive training and then receive 18-months of technical assistance to implement this approach. Letters of Interest are due by Thursday, April 14, 2011. A conference call for prospective applicants will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 3:30 pm EDT (call in number: 1-866-910-4857, code 863624#).
http://cjjr.georgetown.edu/jjsip/jjsip.html

03/17/2011
Struggling to Survive: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning Homeless Youth on the Streets of California

The purpose of this issue brief from the California Homeless Youth Project is to highlight the challenges faced by LGBTQ homeless youth in California based on an in-depth review of existing research on this population, including a recently released report from the Hollywood Homeless Youth Partnership, as well as a series of interviews conducted with LGBTQ homeless youth and service providers throughout the state. These narratives support the existing research and highlight the policy recommendations found in the literature. The unique and challenging circumstances faced by these youth strongly suggest the need for targeted state policy attention and intervention.
http://cahomelessyouth.library.ca.gov/docs/pdf/StrugglingToSurviveFinal.pdf

03/17/2011
GIS in Child Welfare (NRC for Child Welfare Data and Technology Webinar)

Date/Time: Thursday, April 14, 2011, 2:30-4:00 PM EDT
This webinar from the National Resource Center for Child Welfare Data and Technology will provide a demonstration and overview of the use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in child welfare. One example demonstrated will be the use of GIS to assist in placement of children within home school districts. Register online by clicking on the link below.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/317589224
See more webinars offered by NRC-CWDT:
https://www.nrccwdt.org/conferences/webinars.html

03/17/2011
Strategies to Support School Stability and Continuity – Part 2 (NRCOI Webinar)

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 2:30 PM EDT
This free webinar from the National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement is co-sponsored by the National Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues, the National Resource Center for Youth Development, the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, and the National Resource Center for Child Welfare Data and Technology.
This second session in the two-part series on school stability and continuity will focus on collaborative strategies with two key partners: education and courts. We’ll highlight a variety of strategies that involve collaboration with education systems and hear about collaborations with courts and the role courts can play in promoting educational stability and continuity for children in child welfare. For additional information and to register for this event, click on the link below. If you missed the first session, it will be available on the site below by the end of this week.
www.nrcoi.org/tele.htm

03/17/2011
Sticks and Stones Can Break Your Bones: The Bio-Psycho-Social Consequences of LGBT Bullying

This PowerPoint Presentation by Dr. Gerald P. Mallon, DSW, Director of the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections, provides information on bullying, focusing on bullying and LGBTQ youth and discussing the impact of bullying and harassment on the education and mental health of LGBTQ youth. It provides information on what we can do to help, as well as additional resources. This PowerPoint was presented on March 14, 2011 at the Dominican College Social Work Program Community Day Event.
http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/socwork/nrcfcpp/info_services/bullying.html#ppt

03/17/2011
Introduction to Family-Centered Practice: A Curriculum

During 2009-2010, the National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections partnered with Building Professional Social Work in Developing Countries to develop a Child Protection curriculum for social work faculty in Indonesia under a contract with Save the Children. The NRCPFC has modified the introductory curriculum into four modules for use in U.S. child welfare organizations and universities. Information from the modules can be incorporated into child welfare organizations’ pre-service training or used in a child welfare policy/practice course by BSW or MSW Programs. NRCPFC is hopeful that colleagues in the U.S. will find this guide to be a useful product with students and with Local, State and Tribal child welfare workers currently in the field. The guide can be utilized in whole as it is written and taught in sequence or it can be used in part as modules or tools for training at the new worker or intermediate levels.
http://www.nrcpfc.org/ifcpc/

03/17/2011
Adoption Tax Credit and Exclusions

The Adoption Credit is available for the amount of out-of pocket qualified adoption expenses, or to exclude employer-provided adoption benefits from income. The maximum credit for 2010 is $13,170. For adoptions finalized in 2010 or 2011, the credit is refundable, as is unused credit carried forward from prior years, even though the credit was nonrefundable in prior years.
To read more please click here.

03/11/11
White House Conference on Bullying Prevention

Every child deserves a chance to grow up happy, healthy and safe. Kids who are bullied are more likely to have challenges in school, abuse drugs or alcohol, or have health and mental health problems. As adults, it's up to us to send a message that bullying of any kind for any reason isn't OK. Parents, teachers, coaches, faith leaders, elected officials, and anyone else involved in our children's lives have a responsibility to set a good example through our own behavior and to take action when we see bullying in our communities. For more information, log onto: http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/03/08/add-your-voice-white-house-conference-bullying-prevention?utm_source=email101&utm_medium=image&utm_campaign=bullying

03/10/11
Grants Available from AdoptUSKids to Create Respite Programs

AdoptUSKids has partnered with NACAC to improve availability of and excellence in respite care that includes social and community involvement. Through this program, foster, adoptive, and kinship parent groups and associations will operate community programs, in partnership with local public agencies, with a goal of sustaining respite services for years to come.
Between now and July 1, parent support organizations that meet the eligibility criteria can apply for a mini-grant ($5,000) to start a respite program. We are particularly interested in applicants from Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico since we have not made respite grants in these states in previous years.
Click here to download the cover letter.
Click here to download the application.

03/10/11
Fostering a Future Scholarship Program

With funding from Capital One, Children’s Action Network and the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption have created a national scholarship program—Fostering a Future. The fund provides the opportunity to pursue higher education to graduating high school seniors who were adopted from foster care at 13 or older. The fund was created in hopes of encouraging prospective parents to adopt older youth and alleviate concerns about the possible financial obligations involved. Applications are currently being accepted and must be postmarked no later than April 20, 2011.
For more information or to download the application, visit www.childrensactionnetwork.org/ .

03/10/11
Home Study Hits and Misses

A recent article in Child and Youth Services Review examines the effectiveness of home studies and the impact on child-specific recruitment practices. According to the study, home studies excel in the areas of: Family History, Family’s Interests and Hobbies, How Parents Were Raised, Detailed Description of Families, and Families’ Motivations to Adopt. The areas in which home studies scored the lowest were: Level of Supervision Needed for Child, Strategies for Handling Behavioral Issues, Understanding of Medical Issues, Understanding of Behavioral Issues, and Interviews with References. According to a majority of the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiters interviewed for this study, the areas in which home studies fall short—particularly the understanding and ability to deal with a child’s behavioral, medical and emotional needs—are critical in terms of finding a match for a child. These are areas that are vital in preparing adoptive parents for a placement and maintaining a successful adoption.
Click here to read an abstract and/or purchase the article.

03/10/11
Adopted Asians Are More Likely to Adopt From Their Country of Origin

Between the years of 1971 and 2001, more than 150,000 children were adopted from Asia. According to the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute’s study titled
Beyond Culture Camp, a growing number of adoptees are now adopting from their country of origin. Thirty percent of the adoptees polled in the study reported having adopted at least one child. One reason for this trend is that, depending on the adoption agency and country they choose, the adoption process for some Asian adoptees can be expedited. Korean adoptees, for example, are still considered Korean nationals, and are granted preference in adopting children from Korea. Adoptees who return to their country of origin to adopt also find that they are able to learn more about their culture with their child through programs such as heritage classes and camps.
To learn more, visit http://www.adoptioninstitute.org/research/2009_11_culture_camp.php

03/08/11
ATTACh You-Tube Release

ATTACh has just released its third video in a series regarding Attachment Disorder entitled Attachment Disorder: Diagnosis & Treatment featuring Richard Kagan, Ph.D., Gregory Keck, Ph.D., Michael Trout, M.A. and others.
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV6d1nAgBNI to view the video.

03/08/11
Children's Institutionalization Linked to Greater Incidence of ADHD

A new study, "Behavioral and Emotional Symptoms of Post-institutionalized Children in Middle Childhood," published in the January issue of the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry assessed child functioning in three groups of children ages 8-11: ones adopted internationally from institutions, ones adopted internationally from foster care, and those living with their birth families. While adopted children had significantly more parent-reported externalizing and internalizing problems than their non-adopted peers, the differences between children coming from orphanages and those coming from foster care were primarily related to increased ADHD symptoms. Visit the Wiley Online Library to access the study.

03/08/11
New NRCPFC Resource to Assist Older Foster Youth

The National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections offers a PowerPoint presentation on its website, "Unpacking the 'No' of Permanency for Older Adolescents: Planning for Youth Transitioning from Foster Care to Adulthood," developed by Dr. Gary Mallon. It is designed to assist workers in learning how to talk with older youth about the concept of permanency and exploring their need for permanent families. Visit the NRCPFC website to access.

03/08/11
Webinar on Attachment Issues in March

Adoption Learning Partners is pleased to introduce a new webinar titled "Connecting Your Family: Inside and Out," which will be held on Tuesday, March 8. World-renowned attachment expert Dr. Dan Hughes will share family-centered strategies on how to connect to your child as a toddler, 'tween and teen. Dr. Hughes will be joined by Lynn Wetterberg, Executive Director of ATTACh, who will discuss finding attachment-related resources and adoption-competent professional support. The webinar will take place from 7 to 8 p.m., with Q&A from 8 to 8.30 p.m. (all times are Central). Visit Adoption Learning Partners for registration details.
http://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/data/downloads/pdfs/new%20jersey.pdf

03/08/11
Child Welfare Outcomes Site

The Children's Bureau has launched a new website featuring data from the Child Welfare Outcomes Reports: http://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/data. The site makes the latest Child Welfare Outcomes data available for you to view in a variety of ways according to your needs. Child Welfare Outcomes data for 2006 through 2009 are currently available.
http://cwoutcomes.acf.hhs.gov/data/downloads/pdfs/new%20jersey.pdf

03/08/11
New Resource on Child Welfare Information Gateway

A new report from Casey Family Programs, Ensuring Safe, Nurturing and Permanent Families for Children: The Need for Federal Finance Reform has been added to the CWIG library. The report is the first in a series of white papers on improving the child welfare system. It analyzes how child welfare funding structures can align with the federal policy goal of providing safe, nurturing and permanent families for all children. “One way to accomplish the dual goals of safety and permanency is to change the way our nation pays for child welfare services,” says the report, which has been distributed widely to policymakers, the media and our partners. Download the full report on the Casey website.

03/08/11
Categorical Eligibility for Free Meals to Foster Children

Signed into law by the President on December 13, 2010, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 provides categorical eligibility to foster children for free meals served under the National School Lunch Act. A 1/31/11 guidance letter issued to child nutrition program directors indicates that all a local educational agency need receive is documentation from an appropriate state or local child welfare agency indicating that a child is a foster child under state responsibility or has been placed in a caretaker household by a court. Visit the NRCPFC website to access the memo providing guidance for implementing the new eligibility standards effective 10/1/1/. In a recent memo Howard Davidson, Director of the ABA Commission on Youth at Risk, recommends that children's attorneys, guardian ad litems, CASA volunteers, and Judges should inquire at court hearings to ensure children are accessing this new area of support.

03/03/11
What Works for Acting-Out (Externalizing) Behavior:
Lessons from Experimental Evaluations of Social Interventions

This fact sheet presents lessons learned from 123 rigorously evaluated programs for children and youth that are designed to prevent and/or reduce acting-out or externalizing behavior (such as verbal and/or physical intimidation or physical aggression, defiant or argumentative behavior, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and delinquent behaviors). Overall, slightly over half of the programs (68 out of 123) reduced externalizing behavior. Many programs that teach at-risk children and youth how to manage strong emotions can reduce externalizing behavior. The fact sheet includes a chart summarizing the programs and whether they were found to work, not proven to work, or had mixed findings.
To read more please click here.

03/03/11
What Works for Promoting and Enhancing Positive Social Skills:
Lessons from Experimental Evaluations of Programs and Interventions

This fact sheet reviews 38 rigorously evaluated programs to identify what works to promote social skills among children and adolescents (such as getting along with others, expressing empathy to others, trying to resolve conflicts, and regulating emotions and behaviors). Overall, most of the programs (27 out of 38) significantly increased at least one social skill in children and adolescents. Programs that incorporated peer-teaching, group discussion, or role modeling, as well as teacher-led instruction were effective. The fact sheet includes a chart summarizing the programs and whether they were found to work, not proven to work, or had mixed findings.

To read more please click here

03/01/11
Lost kids: When foster children reach adulthood

Teens stuck in foster care rarely forget the day they become adults.For Jibe Young, it was the day he turned 18 and his foster parents said he had to move out -- but that his little brother could stay because the state was still paying for him. Destiny Helfrich shoved her foster mother on the day she was told to leave home -- and was arrested and jailed for two nights. Her next stop was a homeless shelter."If she's not getting paid, I guess she doesn't love me anymore," said Helfrich, now 20. "That's how I felt."Every year, 500 to 600 foster children in Minnesota reach adulthood without any parents -- despite the state's efforts to reunite them with their birth families or place them for adoption. Compared to other states, Minnesota has a high rate of children who, like Helfrich and Young, "age out" of the system after three years or more.
To read the entire article please click here.

02/25/11
Renewed Promise: The Welfare of Children in Haiti

January 12^th marked the one year anniversary since the earthquake that devastated Haiti. As we move into year two, CCAI’s report Renewed Promise: The Welfare of Children in Haiti highlights lessons learned from the emergency relief and recovery efforts that have taken place this past year, and focuses federal policymakers on the needs that continue to exist related to orphaned and vulnerable children in Haiti. Click here to access the report: http://www.ccainstitute.org/images/stories/renewed_promise_the_welfare_of_children_in_haiti_jan_12_11.pdf

02/25/11
Report on Inter Country Adoptions as of December

To find out more please click here.

02/17/11
Engaging Fathers: Positive Outcomes for Children and Families (Webinar)

Date/Time: Thursday, February 17, 2011, 3:00 PM EST
Many children who enter the social and child welfare system live with their mothers or other relatives, but not their fathers, at the time they enter care. Increase your capacity to engage and collaborate with fathers for positive outcomes for children by participating in this webinar. This webinar is part of American Humane’s Differential Response Webinar Series.
http://www.americanhumane.org/children/professional-resources/conferences-webinars/differential-response-webinar.html

02/17/11
Engaging and Involving Youth in Wraparound (Webinar)

Date/Time: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 2:00 PM EST
The National Wraparound Initiative is teaming up with the Technical Assistance Partnership to present a series of web-based trainings and technical assistance sessions about high-quality wraparound implementation, and the organizational and system supports that facilitate it. The Engaging and Involving Youth in Wraparound webinar is part of this series. It will focus on concrete strategies that can be used to increase the extent to which young people participate meaningfully in their own wraparound teams. The webinar will also focus on providing coaching/training to people who carry out these strategies, and evaluating the quality and impact of these efforts to increase youth participation. The presentation will last one hour and be followed by 30 minutes of open discussion.
http://www.nwi.pdx.edu/webinars.shtml

02/17/11
2011 National Child Welfare Evaluation Summit: Call for Abstracts

The Children’s Bureau invites experts in the child welfare and evaluation communities to present at the 2nd National Child Welfare Evaluation Summit. The Summit will focus on building evidence, strengthening practice, and informing policy. They are seeking a balance of presentations that demonstrate direct involvement with public and/or tribal child welfare agencies; partnerships with national advocacy organizations, think tanks, or technical assistance providers; collaboration with community agencies; and independent research. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals that will contribute to the evidence-base of child welfare practice and policy and benefit the diverse array of children and families served by the child welfare system. Abstracts will be accepted for panel presentations, workshops, roundtables, and posters that support the Summit’s themes of Building Evidence, Strengthening Practice, and Informing Policy. For more information about the Evaluation Summit and Call for Abstracts, please click on the link below. Abstracts will be accepted electronically via the website in early March. The deadline to submit abstracts is April 15, 2011. The Summit will take place August 29-31, 2011 in Washington, D.C.
http://ncwes2011.jbsinternational.com/ContentTwoColumn.aspx

02/17/11
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act: What Court Systems Need to Know – Education Provisions Webinar

Date/Time: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 2:00 PM EST
This National Child Welfare Resource Center on Legal and Judicial Issues webinar series will give an overview of the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, explain how it changes current law, and focus on what the courts can do to help implement the law. In this second webinar in the series, Kathleen McNaught, J.D., Assistant Director, ABA Center on Children and the Law, will provide information on the Education Provisions of Fostering Connections. For information on how to join the webinar, click on the link below.
http://apps.americanbar.org/child/rclji/home.html

02/10/11
Renewed promise: the welfare of Children in Haiti

One year ago today, the people of Haiti’s lives were forever changed when a devastating earthquake claimed the lives of 230,000 and left more than a million homeless. This unprecedented disaster and its aftermath have had, and sadly will continue to have, very real consequences for the 750,000 children reported by UNICEF to be directly impacted. Among those affected are children who either were previously without parental care or have been left without because of this tragic event. Over the past year, the international donor community has concentrated their efforts on providing children humanitarian relief, social protection and emotional support. According to UNICEF’s one year report, they have also successfully reunified 1,265 of 4,948 identified as separated or unaccompanied minors with their families. More recently, working group partners have begun to undertake efforts to prevent families affected by the earthquake from having to resort to abandoning their children and reunifying families who have turned to residential care as a last resort. These are all early victories in what many agree will be a long road to recovery. To read the entire article please click here.

02/09/11
Adoption Subsidy Tax Credit

If you adopted a foster child between 2005 and 2010 and the child receives adoption subsidy, you may be eligible for thousands of dollars in federal adoption tax credit. To learn more please click here.

02/04/2011
Selective Mutism: Coordinated Behavioral Approaches for therapists, Parents, and Schools

Selective Mutism is an impairing behavioral disorder, but few understand how the problem presents or how it can best be addressed. This webinar will provide descriptions of how selective mutism presents in children, its associated impairment, and provide guidance for parents, schools, and therapists for addressing this problem.
Brian C. Chu, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Psychology in the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) and the Department of Psychology at Rutgers University. His expertise includes assessment, treatment, and dissemination of evidence-based treatment to schools and community clinic settings.
This will be a 30 minute presentation with a 30 minute question and answer session afterward.
Professional Development credits will be offered upon completion of the exit survey. We will mail them to you the week after the webinar.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/763104665

02/04/11
NACAC Webinar on US Federal Adoption Tax Credit

NACAC will be hosting two webinars on the U.S. federal adoption tax credit, during which Josh Kroll will present information about steps families can take to access the newly refundable tax credit whether they adopted in 2010 or as far back as 2005. Participants will be able to ask questions about their specific situation. The webinar will last about one hour and 15 minutes. The dates are as follows: February 10, 1 pm central time (11 am pacific, noon mountain, 2 pm eastern) and February 16, 6 pm central time (4 pm pacific, 5 pm mountain, 7 pm eastern). For more information log onto: https://www.nacac.org/secure/webinarregistration.html

02/04/11
More Information on the Federal Adoption Tax Credit

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Jackson Hewitt Tax Service have partnered to help adoptive families understand the Adoption Tax Credit changes which will greatly benefit adoptive families. For tax tips from the professionals, watch a video produced by Jackson Hewitt at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQryETwRziA. Jackson Hewitt is also offering a coupon for $25 off tax preparation services, and will make a donation to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption for every coupon redeemed. Download your printable coupon at: http://www.davethomasfoundation.org/Home

02/04/11
Internship Opportunity for Former Foster Youth

FosterClub is currently soliciting applications for their summer internship program in Oregon. Eligible youth must have spent some time in foster care, be age 18-24 and demonstrate leadership potential and ability to connect with peers. All travel and lodging expenses will be covered. Selected youth will receive intensive leadership training, a small weekly allowance, and a $2,000 honorarium on completion of the internship. The online application is available until Feb. 15th 2011. To learn more and access the application, visit: http://allstars.fosterclub.com/article/all-star-application-overview

02/04/11
Grant a Wish for Kids in Care!

One Simple Wish has been making small miracles happen for children in foster care and vulnerable families since December 2008. Visit the OSW website where you can browse through hundreds of wishes posted on behalf of some of the most deserving, yet invisible children and families in the United States. Wish granting is simple and affordable, with most wishes ranging between $5 and $100. Nonprofit Organizations and Social Service Agencies can also apply to become part of One Simple Wish’s Community Partner Network. Once approved, an organization can begin making wishes on behalf of deserving families and children in need.

02/04/11
Free Training on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder for Parents and Professionals

The Learning Disabilities Association of NYS (LDANYS) is conducting trainings throughout New York State on FASD with funding support from the NYS Developmental Disabilities Planning Council. LDANYS is seeking to deliver Fetal Alcohol Professional Development training at no cost to regional Adoption and Foster Care Parents and Professionals throughout New York State. Contact Sherelle Perryman, Program Coordinator, 518-608-8992 or by sperryman@ldanys.org to schedule dates for the next grant cycle or register for currently scheduled trainings. Visit the LDANYS site for more information.

02/04/11
Open Records Awareness Event in NYC

The Evan B Donaldson Adoption Institute will hold an exciting, unusual event on March 10, 2011, 9am to noon, at the Hard Rock Café in New York, to heighten public, media and policymaker awareness about the need to restore adopted adults' right to access their original birth certificates. Join rap superstar Darryl (DMC) McDaniels and prominent activists, scholars, legislators, and special guests for an eclectic morning of education, entertainment and discussion. Visit the Adoption Institute site to learn more.

02/04/11
New Resource on Attachment Therapy

ATTACh, The Association for Treatment and Training in the Attachment of Children has put up two new videos on You-Tube. Visit ATTACh.org's You-Tube page to view a video overview of the basic principals of Attachment Focused Therapy.

02/04/11
Aging out of Foster Care: New CNYCA Report

The Center for New York City Affairs announces the release of a new Child Welfare Watch report on young adults aging out of the city's foster care system: "In Transition: a better future for youth leaving foster care" The report emphasizes the need to move beyond "independent living skills" training and recommends ACS create "enforceable standards and adequate funding for foster care agencies to ensure that young people are connected to meaningful assistance even after leaving foster care" and that "Most important, foster parents for teens must be fully trained and supported in their work with older teens to reinforce the fact that they are responsible for helping young people prepare for the future."

01/25/11
Oprah's Family Secret

For the most part, Oprah's life has been an open book. "I think I've seen just about everything and heard every story," she says. "I thought nothing could surprise me anymore. But let me tell you, I was wrong."
Just before Thanksgiving 2010, Oprah received some news about her family that she says shook her to her core. "[It's] a bombshell family secret that left me speechless," she says. "Only a handful of people in my life know about this."
With the way the media works today, Oprah says there's no way the story wouldn't eventually get out, so she and her family made the decision to do this show. "I wanted you to hear it from me first," she says. It all starts with one woman's story...a mother from Milwaukee who discovered she's Oprah's half-sister.
To read the entire article please click here.

01/25/11

Oprah Winfrey finds sister she didn't know she had

CHICAGO — Oprah Winfrey has discovered she has a half-sister — a Milwaukee woman who was given up for adoption by Winfrey's mother nearly 50 years ago, when the talk show host was eight years old.An emotional Winfrey introduced her newly found sibling to viewers Monday and explained the woman's persistent quest to find her birth mother.
To read the entire article please click here.

01/24/11
State Statutes Series: Regulation of Private Domestic Adoption Expenses

Read up-to-date information and requirements on birth parent expenses, agency fees and costs, use of an intermediary, and reporting adoption expenses to the court. It includes summaries of laws for all States and U.S. territories. For more information please click here.

01/24/11
Child Welfare Outcomes 2004–2007: Report to Congress

This comprehensive volume reports on the child welfare performance of States in seven outcome categories and includes data on outcomes and measures, data sources and elements, contextual factors, and summaries of key findings of analyses conducted across States. For information please click here.

01/24/11
Free Dental Clinic for Kids

Free dental care for children ages 3 to 12, who do not have dental insurance. Services begin with comprehensive dental exams and x-rays and may include filings, sealants and emergency treatment as needed. To ensure your child receives all of the necessary dental care, you must call for an appointment.
To see the flier please click for English or Spanish

01/24/11
Youth Resource Center Opened in Bergen County

We offer free after-school and summer programming for Bergen County youth age 13 through 18. The Center provides a safe environment, staffed by caring professionals.
Young people can develop positive relationships, make constructive use of their time, build skills, explore personal goals, and have fun during after-school and summer hours.
The Workforce Learning Link, a free literacy and GED program provided by Bergen One-Stop, is also available at the Center. It offers both morning and afternoon classes for 16 through 21 year olds.
To view the flier please click here.

01/19/2011
Two great adoption-related programs coming up at NJ universities.

The film "Lost Sparrow" will be shown at Pollock Theater at Monmouth University next Tuesday, January 25th, at 11:30 AM.

The filmmaker will be present to discuss the film and answer questions.

Below is a link to a page about the film. I believe it is about two Native American boys adopted by a white family in upstate New York who ran away from home and were subsequently killed in a train accident. The filmmaker sought to explore the reasons this occurred and I believe uncovered abuse in the household. I think the filmmaker may be a biological child of the adoptive parents, but I am not entirely sure.

I thought this may be something you folks would be interested in seeing. It is free to the public.

Link to Film: http://lostsparrowmovie.com/NPR interview/transcript @http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131356759 University address: 400 Cedar Avenue West Long Branch, NJ 07764
(732) 571-3474 http://tinyurl.com/4jhtr7p
On February 24, 7 pm Alison Larkin will present at Rutgers: "Transforming Identities in Adulthood: The English American"Trayes Hall A, Douglass College, 100 George Street, New Brunswick

http://tinyurl.com/63spohp

01/04/11
Jingle Bell Blues: Dealing with the Holidays – An Interview with Psychiatrist Dr. Leon Hoffman

In this article from Represent, Jasmenda Padilla interviews a psychiatrist about the strong, sometimes overwhelming emotions that youth in foster care experience during the holidays. The story links to related discussion/writing prompts and a group activity. Represent is a national magazine written by and for young people in the foster care system. Through personal narratives and reported stories, the teen staff provides an inside look at life in the system that other teens in care can connect with.
http://www.youthcomm.org/FCYU-Features/FCYU-2001-11-34.htm

01/04/11
American Humane 2011 Differential Response Webinar Series

American Humane has posted the 2011 Differential Response Webinar Series schedule. The series is designed to provide relevant information to caseworkers and supervisors working with families in a differential response pathway. Each of the 10 sessions is 90 minutes long and addresses an issue related to differential response practice, implementation and supervision. The topics for this year’s series were identified through feedback from the 2010 webinar sessions, training and conference evaluations, and informal dialogues with colleagues. Click on the link below for webinar descriptions, further information, and the registration form.
http://www.americanhumane.org/assets/docs/protecting-children/pc-dr-webinars.pdf

01/04/11
“Special Needs” Adoption: What Does it Mean?

This Factsheet for Families from Child Welfare Information Gateway presents some common questions about adopting a child or youth with special needs and provides resources that will give you detailed answers. It covers definitions and topics such as eligibility, making the decision, getting started, financial and health-care assistance, and post adoption services. (2010)
http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/specialneeds/

01/04/11
Applications for the 2011 Foster Youth Internship (FYI)

Dear Friend of CCAI,

I wanted to send a reminder that the last day for current and former foster youth to apply to our 2011 Foster Youth Internship (FYI) program is this Friday, January 7th. This summer internship program will be a rewarding and life-changing experience for youth who participate. Because of this, I would like to encourage you to forward this information about the program and encourage any youth you know to apply.

CCAI's Foster Youth Internship Program is for young adults who spent at least 24 consecutive months in foster care at any point in their life and who have completed at least 4 semesters of college or vocational school by May 31, 2011. CCAI places these interns in Congressional offices in Washington, DC for a 9-week internship program. Housing arrangements, travel costs, and a weekly stipend are provided by CCAI. The program will run May 31-July 30, 2011. The goal of the program is to educate policymakers about the experiences of foster youth in an effort to inspire legislative improvements for foster care. Interns participating in this program benefit both personally and professionally, gaining experience and skills that will bolster their careers for years to come. For more information and to apply, visit www.ccainstitute.org/fyiapply or contact me at Emily@ccainstitute.org or 202-544-8500.

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