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Resource
Update - November 2006
IN THIS
ISSUE:
Some links may say
"click here" instead of the full link because the length of the link itself interferes with the newsletter format. If you cannot click on the link or
would like to have the full address, contact Kristen Rogers at kristen@wcpcan.wa.gov.
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WCPCAN News
Accepting Applications for Membership
on the Program Development Committee (PDC)
The primary job of the PDC is to make
recommendations to WCPCAN regarding funding of community-based prevention programs, monitoring these programs designed to prevent child abuse and
neglect, and evaluating their performance and effectiveness. We are seeking two new members, one from eastern Washington. Members should
have experience in prevention programs and interest in program evaluation. Please contact Maria Gehl at 206-389-3297 or maria@wcpcan.wa.gov for further information or to request an
application.
Have a Plan Teen Video Now
Available!
Frustration. It's normal. Have a plan. These
are the messages that a new video aimed at temms hopes will assist in preventing the nearly 1,400 documented cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome (SBS) that
occur each year. "Have a Plan for Teens" is the first video in the nation to tackle the subject of SBS prevention from a teen's point of view. The
video was produced through a partnership between WCPCAN, the Children's Protection Program at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, the
Counscious Fathering Program of Parent Trust for Washington Children and the state chapter of the National Shaken Baby Coalition. To view a preview
of the video, click
here.
WCPCAN is
Moving!
Due to a significant rent increase at
WCPCAN's Pioneer Square location, we will be moving to new offices in the next few months. The move may cause some communications issues for a few
weeks as we get our phone, internet and mail services sorted out. Watch for information about our address change in the near future. Our email
addresses will stay the same, however. Thanks for your patience as we sort through this process!
Strengthening Families Through Early
Care and Education
As mentioned in previous Resource Updates,
WCPCAN received a grant to work with child care and early learning providers on strategies that protect children from abuse and neglect. The first
step for us was creating Learning Communities of programs in our state doing that well, so that we can learn what works for them and share those
efforts with other programs. We had a great response to our request for participants and will be making decisions in the middle of this month about
which communities will make up the Learning Community. In addition, we will start a NEW Resource Update focused around child care and early learning
and the intersections between that work and child abuse and neglect prevention. If you would like to receive this bi-monthly newsletter
electronically, please email Kristen Rogers at: kristen@wcpcan.wa.gov.
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Conferences & Trainings
Conferences Joining Forces: 19th Annual Conference on Child Abuse & Family
Violence
November 13th –
15th, Salt Lake City, Utah
Prevent Child Abuse Utah is pleased to offer JOINING
FORCES: Prevention, Investigation, Prosecution, and Treatment. This year’s program offers outstanding presentations from leading child abuse
experts from around the country. The goal of JOINING FORCES is to prevent child abuse and family violence by providing professionals with practical
instruction, current information, up-to-date research and the most successful intervention strategies in the areas of prevention, investigation,
prosecution and treatment. For more information about the conference, or to register online, please visit http://www.preventchildabuseutah.org/.
Zero to Three 21st National
Training Institute
December 1st – 3rd,
Albuquerque, New Mexico
The National Training Institute (NTI) is the
multidisciplinary conference for infant/family professionals working in the areas of child care, mental health, early intervention, family support,
social service, child welfare, and health care. NTI is designed for experienced professionals whose roles span the infant/family field. For more
information on sessions & how to register, go to: http://www.zerotothree.org/nti/.
Forum on Nonprofit
Governance
December 3rd & 4th,
Chicago, Illinois
More than 600 nonprofit board members, executive
directors, and others are expected to gather in Chicago to discuss governance issues affecting charities, foundations, associations, and other
nonprofits. The BoardSource Annual Leadership Forum will feature sessions on fundraising, marketing, governance, decision making, and executive
transition. For more information and to register, go to: http://www.boardsource.org/Workshops.asp?ID=43.
Putting the Pieces Together for Children and
Families: The National Conference on Substance Abuse, Child Welfare and the Courts
January 31st – February
2nd 2007, Disneyland Hotel, Anaheim, California
You are invited to Putting the Pieces Together for
Children and Families: The National Conference on Substance Abuse, Child Welfare and the Courts. This national conference brings together prominent
leaders and researchers in these fields to promote advances in practice and policy that lead to effective, coordinated, and culturally relevant
services for children, youth, and families affected by substance use disorders and child abuse or neglect. This conference will be of interest to
decision makers, policy setters, front line professionals, family members, and Tribal communities. Participants will include professionals from the
fields of child welfare, substance abuse, juvenile and family court, health care, children’s mental health, youth development and community
organizations. On January 30, there will be a special pre-conference symposium on Behavior and the Brain: Prevention and Intervention for Children
across the Developmental Stages. For more information and online registration, go to: www.cffutures.org/conference_information/.
REQUEST FOR PRESENTERS: Connections Conference an Early Childhood Conference in Support of
Children and Families
March 17th 2007,
Skagit Valley College, Skagit Valley, Washington
The Connections Conference Committee is pleased to invite you to submit an
application to participate as a workshop presenter. This is an early childhood conference in support of children and families. Please complete the
requested information and return this form no later than November 13th, 2006. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Tracy
Ulrich at 360-629-8181 or tracyulrich@verizon.net.
In addition to receiving free registration to the conference, presenters are paid an honorarium. This fee is paid per workshop and not per presenter.
For more information or to apply, click here.
Trainings
Becoming Parents Instructor
Training
November 6th –
10th, Seattle, Washington
This program developed by Pam Jordan is
for use with married or unmarried couples any age, race, or class. Curriculum adaptations are available for low-income/low literacy couples in both
English and Spanish. For details and to register, visit: http://www.becomingparents.com/.
Advocacy for
Rookies
December 4th &
5th, Spokane, Washington
Brand new? Feeling blue? Don’t
know what to do? This training is for you! A top-notch team from the WA State Coalition, Against Domestic Violence is ready to offer this training
designed for new advocates – both paid and volunteer – working in shelters, on crisis lines, and in community-based grassroots advocacy
programs as well as systems-based programs (i.e., police, courts and welfare advocates). For more information & to register (registration deadline
Nov. 14th), go to: http://www.wscadv.org/.
PCAN Three Day Training for
Trainers: Working with Infant-Toddler Child Care Professionals
Jan. 30th - Feb.
1st, 2007, 9 am – 4:30 pm, Washington D.C.
Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect:
Parent-Provider Partnership in Child Care (PCAN) supports child care professionals in helping to reduce the risk of child abuse and neglect through
their every day interactions with families. The PCAN curriculum addresses: working effectively with infants, toddlers and their families; preventing
abuse and neglect of infants and toddlers; recognizing the role of culture in working with infants and their families; supporting directors in
helping staff create partnerships with parents. This training is for experienced trainers with expertise in: early care and education, and/or child
abuse and neglect. The cost is $650.00 per person includes training and all curriculum materials. You must apply in teams – see application
for further details. Applications are due December 30th, 2006, no refunds after January 15th, 2007. For information or to
apply, go to: http://www.zerotothree.org/PartneringwithParents/.
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Policy, Advocacy & Legislative Information
Start with the
Basics – How Advocacy Works
Whenever learning
something new, it is helpful to “start with the basics” and build your knowledge from there. With that in mind, this ZERO TO THREE
Policy Network advocacy tool describes the basic process of how a bill becomes a law at the federal level and explains the roles of key Congressional
staff. The tool is focused on the federal process, and yet the basic process is quite similar at the state level. Because every state is unique,
though, you should visit you’re the Washington State legislature’s web site for an exact description of your state’s legislative
process. For more information, on the ZERO TO THREE article, click
here. To visit the Washington State legislature site, go to: http://www.leg.wa.gov/.
Federal Shaken
Baby Syndrome Legislation Introduced
On September 14th,
Representative Sue Kelly (R-NY-19) introduced the Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Act (HR 6070). The legislation provides $5 million to the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to: develop and implement a public information and educational campaign about the harmful effects of
shaking infants and children under the age of five, and about healthy strategies to cope with a crying baby and related frustrations; convene
biannual meetings with groups concerned with Shaken Baby Syndrome, including parenting support communities, organizations involved in child
protection and child maltreatment prevention, and Shaken Baby Syndrome advocacy groups; and provide support for parents of surviving children who
suffer serious brain injuries as the result of shaking. The bill is not expected to move this year, but will likely be introduced in the next
Congress, along with a Senate companion bill. Once a Senate bill is introduced, Prevent Child Abuse America will post an action alert to our
Legislative Action Center for advocates interested in moving the legislation forward. For more information, check with the Prevent Child Abuse
America legislative action center for an action alert at: www.parentchildabuse.org/advocacy.
Attend the
Policy Pre-Institute at ZERO TO THREE’s National Training Institute
Are you planning to
attend the 2006 ZERO TO THREE National Training Institute in Albuquerque? If so, you won’t want to miss the Policy Pre-Institute, Building
Relationships to Achieve Policy Change for Babies, which is being held on November 30th from noon to 6 pm. This policy
and advocacy training will include how to be an advocate at the state level, how federal infant-toddler programs are implemented at the state level,
as well as hands-on advocacy skills building. There will also be a special session with two New Mexico state legislators and the New Mexico Secretary
for Children, Youth and Families. You still have time to sign-up and join us on November 30th! Just visit: www.zerotothree.org/nti/.
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Federal Priorities:
Marriage & Disabilities
Marriage Education Findings
Preliminary findings from the early stages of an
Administration for Children and Families project for low-income, unwed parents at or near childbirth found some encouraging signs. Couples
participating in the Building Strong Families project reported that group sessions with other couples increased their relationship skills and helped
them “realize that their experiences and relationship challenges were neither unique nor necessarily a reason to break up.” To read the
full report, click
here.
Recognize and Respond to Struggling Young
Learners
Even at age three or four, some children show signs
that they struggle to learn. Some of these concerns will resolve themselves over time, but some may be precursors of learning disabilities. This
month the National Center for Learning Disabilities, in collaboration with the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, the National
Association for the Education of Young Children, the Communication Consortium Media Center, and several key state partners, is launching
RecognitionandResponse.org, a Web site full of free resources based on a new and innovative Recognition and Response system. The system is a
research-based approach to helping teachers and parents respond to signs of learning difficulty in young children early, before they experience
school failure. The Web site offers easy-to-read articles, checklists and fact sheets with action-oriented information. Also offered are policy
statements, legislative summaries and research papers and reports that can help early learning professionals integrate the Recognition and Response
system into their programs. A wide variety of resources is also offered to help teachers with observing and recording behavior, progress monitoring,
engaging parents as partners, and more. For more information, visit http://www.recognitionandresponse.org/.
GRANT OPPORTUNITY: Integrated Services for
Children with Special Health Care Needs
Applications are due by December 4th,
2006
The purpose of this initiative for "Family To Family
Health Care Information and Education Centers for Families of Children with Special Health Care Needs" (F2F HICs) is to address the President's New
Freedom Initiative to reduce barriers to community living for people with disabilities and to address families' lack of access to the services,
advocacy and assistance they need as mandated in The Family Opportunity Act of 2005. This initiative ultimately will assist families so that:
"Families of children with special health care needs will partner in decision-making at all levels". Grants will fund state-based, family-run centers
providing information, education, technical assistance and peer support to families of CYSHCN. They will be responsible for developing partnerships
with those organizations serving these children and their families and monitor the progress of programs with responsibility for payment and direct
services of this population through a statewide data collection system. For more information or to apply, click here.
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Sustainability &
Resources
GRANT OPPORTUNITY: Public Relations
Grants
CyberAlert, Inc. will provide grants of one full year of free
news clipping service (CyberAlert 4.0) to a minimum of ten (10) not-for-profit organizations in the United States and Canada. To apply for the grant,
simply complete the on-line form, providing a short explanation of why CyberAlert should select your organization to receive the grant. The grant year
is January to December 2007 and the retail value of each grant ranges between $2,700 and $3,900. CyberAlert expects total retail value of the grants
to exceed $35,000. December 31st, 2006 is the application deadline. For more information or to apply, go to: https://secure.cyberalert.com/grants.html.
GRANT OPPORTUNITY: Ludwick Family
Foundation
Ludwick Family Foundation is a philanthropic
organization committed to assisting a broad array of groups that are working to make a positive difference in the world. Ludwick Family Foundation
varies from many other foundations in that it tends to provide grants for tangible types of items that assist a program or project (such as new
vehicles or equipment, equipment replacement and modernization, improvements to facilities, and educational materials), rather than funding the
program itself. Eligible organizations include those tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Grants range from $5,000 to
$50,000 and are made for a single year. Requests are accepted January 1 – March 1, 2007 (and July 1 – September 1). For more
information, go to: http://www.ludwick.org/.
Xerox Free Color Printers Program
The Xerox FreeColorPrinter program empowers all your efforts with
the impact of color that gets you noticed. Thousands of small businesses, schools, religious institutions, and non-profit organizations have already
benefited from adding Xerox color for free. Why wait? To qualify, organizations must be based in the United States. All organizations must have more
than one employee, print and or/copy between 2,000-4,000 pages per month, and be able to use credit card for supplies purchases. The deadline to
apply for the free printers is ongoing. For more information, go to: http://www.freecolorprinters.com/.
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS: 2007 NCVRW Community Awareness
Project Funding
Deadline: November 20th, 2006
The National Association of VOCA Assistance Administrators
(NAVAA), through a grant from the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), within the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, is seeking
proposals for innovative and collaborative approaches to promoting communitywide awareness of the rights and available services for victims of all
types of crimes during National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 22–28, 2007. Approximately 60 communities will each be
awarded up to $5,000 in reimbursement for approved NCVRW public awareness activities. Public agencies, nonprofit organizations, community-based
victim service organizations, faith-based organizations, tribal organizations, and community coalitions committed to advocating for the rights and
services of crime victims are among those encouraged to apply. Examples of allowable costs for the NCVRW Community Awareness Projects include the
following: purchase of advertising in print media, radio, television, or outdoor advertising to promote NCVRW events, victims’ rights, and
available services; design and print of promotional or educational materials; support for event speakers; design and print of posters, invitations,
and fliers; purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment used in public awareness events and activities; and rental of space to conduct NCVRW
activities and events. Salaries, overhead, entertainment, and fundraising costs are not eligible for reimbursement. For more information or to apply,
go to: http://cap.navaa.org/.
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Parent Education
Mutual Self-Help Parent Support Groups in the
Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
A White Paper titled, “Mutual Self-help Parent
Support Groups in the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect”, authored by Dr. Mary Kay Falconer, Senior Evaluator with the Ounce of Prevention
Fund of Florida, is now available. This unsurpassed paper is based on the work of Circle of Parents and will be distributed widely amongst the child
abuse and neglect prevention field. The paper articulates eight different justifications for why mutual self-help parent support groups are an
effective strategy for preventing child abuse and neglect. To read the white paper, go to: www.ounce.org/pdf/Mutual_Self_Help_Support_Group_White_Paper.pdf.
Looking for Parenting Classes on Specific Topics
for Yourself or Families you Serve?
Check out ParentMap this month for information
on classes like Coping with Autism; Hypnotherapy for Expectant Parents; Baby Sign Language; Conscious Fathering; Postpartum Depression and more. To
view some of the programs available around the Puget Sound, go to: http://www.parentmap.com/nov_06/1106_8.htm.
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Home
Visiting & 0 - 3 Services
Family Environment Proves More Influential than Child
Care Experience
A series of findings from the National Institute on Child Health
and Human Development reveal that a child’s family life has more influence on a child’s development through age four and a half than
does his or her experience in child care. The findings, detailed in a downloadable booklet, suggest that the link between child care and child
development is minor. For more information, go to: www.nichd.nih.gov/research/supported/seccyd.cfm or for the PDF of the booklet, go to: www.nichd.nih.gov/childcare.
Involvement in Early Head Start Home Visiting Services:
Demographic Predictors and Relations to Child and Parent Outcomes
This study looks at the role of parent involvement in home
visiting programs. The authors identify three different components of parent involvement in home visiting services: quantity of involvement, quality
of engagement, and visit content. They find specifically that the duration of time that families were involved in the program and the proportion of
time during visits devoted to child-focused activities predict positive outcomes for both children and families. They suggest that programs and their
evaluators can measure multiple aspects of home visits and sharpen and refine child-focused activities. For more information, click here.
How to Develop a Statewide System to Link Families with
Community Resources: A Manual Based on Help Me Grow
Children with developmental/behavioral problems are eluding early
detection. While programs exist to provide services to young children and their families, child health care providers face challenges in connecting
at-risk children with needed services. Children and their families benefit from a coordinated, statewide system of early detection and intervention
for children at risk. This online manual offers guidance for exploring, creating, and/or enhancing a single-point-of-access system to connect
children at risk for developmental or behavioral problems with community resources. The material in this manual is based on Connecticut's Help Me
Grow initiative, a program of the State of Connecticut's Children's Trust Fund. Help Me Grow is a unique program that assists families and providers
in identifying developmental concerns in children up to age 8, establishes an inventory of appropriate resources, and helps families connect with
these programs and services. For more information or to view the whole manual, go to: http://www.cmwf.org/General/General_show.htm?doc_id=381829.
Friendships ease Isolation for New
Parents
By Tera Schreiber
Connecting with old friends and making new ones can help moms and
dads survive the stresses of new parenthood, and will strengthen the entire family as their kids grow up, experts and parents agree. To read full
article on the importance of social support networks for parents, from ParentMap, go to: http://www.parentmap.com/oct_06/1006_2.htm.
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Fatherhood
It's Time to Normalize Fatherhood
By Bernie Dorsey
What does it actually mean to "normalize" something? Usually, normalizing
involves becoming so accepted that it is a part of what we say, do or think. Take the television. Once a novelty, it now exists in the vast majority
of American homes. In the same way, we must begin to normalize fathering. That's not to say that it's not normal now to have a father. But there
isn't a universal definition for a father's role in the life of his child. Boys are growing into men and becoming fathers with entirely different
ideas about their roles. To read this article about the role of fathers in BabyMap, go to: http://www.parentmap.com/bm_fw2006/fw06_2.htm.
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Health & Mental
Health
System Transformation Initiative
Community Forum
November 15th, 9 am –
3:30 pm, Embassy Suites, Tukwila, Washington
The Department of Social and Health
Services (DSHS), Health and Recovery Services Administration (HRSA) Mental Health Division (MHD) has formed the System Transformation Initiative
Forum to make recommendations for improvements in the delivery of public mental health services for people with severe and persistent mental illness.
This forum will provide input to DSHS on implementation of specific legislative and budget initiatives from the 2006 legislative session. The Mental
Health Division would like to cordially invite you to attend this community forum to hear and gather your ideas. A second Forum in late January 2007
will continue to explore ideas and hear your input regarding the remaining initiatives. The project will be addressing the following initiatives over
the next year: statewide implementation of Program of Assertive Community Treatment teams; preparation of a plan for expanding housing options for
individuals with mental illness; a study of the Medicaid benefits package and Medicaid managed care rates. Because seating is limited to 150 guests,
please register by Wednesday, November 8th, 2006. A confirmation will be sent to you indicating that you are registered.
Reimbursement for hotel and travel expenses will be available for a limited number of consumers of mental health services and family members. For
more information, call Diane Pearson at (253)756-2741 or 866-303-3037.
Methamphetamine: The Child Welfare
Impact and Response
Earlier this year the Children’s
Bureau hosted a conference on Methamphetamines and the impact of the drug on children and families, in partnership with SAMHSA’s Center for
Substance Abuse Treatment and the Child Care Bureau. This two day event drew hundreds of child welfare staff, substance abuse treatment staff, child
care staff and persons in recovery from all over the country. A variety of informative and moving presentations were given on the impact of
Methamphetamines. In response to the request of many participants as well as requests from persons unable to attend, materials from the Conference
have been made available online at the National Center for Substance Abuse and Child Welfare (which is a joint partnership between the
Children’s Bureau and the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment). For more information, go to: www.ncsacw.samhsa.gov/conf_Methamphetamine.html.
Study Links Neglect to Adolescent
Drug Use, Violence, Depression
A recent study reported
in the journal Pediatrics finds that children who are left home alone, physically assaulted, or sexually abused are more likely to turn to tobacco,
alcohol, and other drugs and suffer from depression in adolescence. The study found that neglect (leaving a child home alone when an adult should be
present) was the most common form of maltreatment. Researchers hope the study will raise awareness about the link between neglectful parenting and
risky behaviors. For more information, go to: http://www.unc.edu/news/archives/sep06/child090106.html.
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Management and
Organizational Issues
The Center for Ethical Leadership presents
“Ethical Leadership Intensive”
November 8th & 9th, 8:30 am
– 5 pm
Wherever you are in your journey to advance change
that matters, the Ethical Leadership Intensive can help you step into a fuller expression of your leadership potential. Through deeper reflection,
new tools and techniques, gathering new allies to challenge and support you, and tapping into a new vision of what’s possible, this two-day
intensive will help you challenge yourself to stretch through transitions, reframe your approach to work, and address the internal and external
contradictions that are blocking you from advancing to change you want to create. By deepening your inner journey of ethical leadership, you find new
sources of hope, courage and clarity to guide your next steps in transitions, and challenge the internal and external barriers you must overcome to
step more fully into the real work you want to do. The cost is $395 (includes lunches). Scholarships are available. For more information, go to: http://www.ethicalleadership.org/calendar.htm and scroll to the bottom of the
page to register.
Burnout Draining Sector’s
Leadership Relentless fundraising pressure, weak boards of directors, low
salaries, and lack of management support are causing many nonprofit executive directors – especially those of small-to-mid-sized nonprofit
organizations – to leave their jobs. This drain of leadership talent, at a time when the Baby Boom generation is reaching retirement and
competition for employees is increasing, is a challenge the nonprofit sector can’t afford to ignore. To read the full article including
suggestions of how to deal with this issue, click here.
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Special Topic:
Kinship Care
NOMINATIONS REQUESTED: Casey Family
Programs Ruth Massinga Kinship Caregiver Awards
Casey Family Programs announces the
inaugural Ruth Massinga Awards. There are four award categories including a Kinship Caregivers Award. These awards are intended to recognize those
who have excelled in the following three areas: distinguished community service; outstanding leadership; and exceptional dedication to volunteer
service. The Kinship Caregivers Award is for a relative who provides in- home care for a family member and who has been a consistent voice in the
call for support of kinship caregivers and youth in their care. Nominations are open to all kinship/relative caregivers and retired kinship
caregivers. Nominees need not be currently providing kinship care. Nominations must be based, however, on current leadership, volunteer service and
community service having impact on the local, state or national level within the last two years. The deadline for submission is Friday,
November 24th, 2006. For more information, go to: http://www.casey.org/.
Raising Your Grandchild; A
Grandparent’s Handbook
It's not just a new generation; it's a
whole new world. This handbook will help grandparents team their experience and their love for their grandchild with updated parenting practices to
develop a successful, mutually satisfying relationship. Easy-to-read, information-packed text; worksheets; and record-keeping tools help grandparents
develop a parenting plan that addresses discipline, communication, child safety and health care, academic issues, financial concerns, and more. To
place an online order, click here.
Resources for Working with Kinship
Caregivers
A list of resources for working with
kinship caregivers is available from the National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning. It begins by describing
training materials, including a 27-hour curriculum from the Child Welfare League of America. For more information, click
here.
Caring Communities for Kin
Caregivers
Supporting kinship caregivers in the child
welfare system often requires the services of a number of agencies, as well as collaboration among service providers. To ensure this kind of optimal
support for kinship caregivers in its system, the Department of Family Services in Clark County, NV, has applied a systems of care (SOC) approach.
This SOC approach is the foundation of Clark County's Caring Communities Demonstration Project to improve the safety, permanency, and well-being of
children living with kin caregivers. The Caring Communities Demonstration Project has six objectives: Increase placements of children with kin when
they must be removed from their homes; Increase the safety of children living with kin; Improve physical and mental health of children living with
kin; Increase stability of placements with kin; Increase timely permanency of children living with kin; Increase the capacity of kin caregivers to
care for children placed with them. While the Caring Communities program has faced some challenges, particularly in recruiting relative caregivers to
serve as mentors and in having kinship families referred for mentoring, the program continues to move forward. Working with Nevada PEP and providing
stipends for volunteers have proven helpful in gaining caregiver participation. For more information, go to: http://cbexpress.acf.hhs.gov/articles.cfm?article_id=1033.
State Fact Sheets for Grandparents
and Other Relatives Raising Children
More than six million children -
approximately 1 in 12 - are living in households headed by grandparents (4.5 million children) or other relatives (1.5 million children). U.S. Census
2000 data tell us that 2.4 million grandparents are taking on primary responsibility for their grandchildren's basic needs. Many of these grandparents
have assumed this responsibility without the parent of the child being in the home. These grandparent and other relative caregivers often lack
information about the range of support services, benefits and policies they need to fulfill their caregiving role. In an effort to remedy this
situation, a group of child and aging advocacy and research organizations has prepared State Fact Sheets, which provide helpful state-specific data
and information for all the states and the District of Columbia. For more information, go to: http://www.aarp.org/research/family/grandparenting/aresearch-import-488.html.
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General Prevention
Web Site Aims to Protect
Children Online
Project Safe Childhood aims to
combat the proliferation of technology-facilitated sexual exploitation crimes against children. This new U.S. Department of Justice Web site provides
information to community partners that help protect children from online exploitation and abuse. Learn more about the program and access press
releases, speeches, publications, and other resources. For more information, go to: http://www.projectsafechildhood.gov/.
Immunity for Reporters of
Child Abuse and Neglect
In order for states to be eligible
to receive Federal grants under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), they are required to establish provisions for immunity from
liability for individuals making good faith reports of suspected or known instances of child abuse or neglect. Some States have limitations to
immunity. For information on how each State addresses this topic, go to: www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/immunityall.pdf.
Children’s Bureau
Annual Report to Congress: States Challenged to Prevent Abuse Recurrence
Improved efforts are needed to
ensure that child victims do not experience recurrence of abuse or neglect, according to this year’s annual report to Congress from the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Children’s Bureau. While the overall performance of state child welfare services generally
improved from 2000 to 2003, the 2006 report, Child Welfare Outcomes 2003: Annual Report to Congress, recognizes that particularly with regard to
maltreatment of children, the reported data do not always include all instances of abuse or neglect. In measuring the recurrence of child abuse and
neglect, the report notes that child victim rates varied considerably across states, ranging from 1.6 per 1,000 children in the state’s
population in Pennsylvania to 42.4 in Alaska, with a median of 10.6. In seven states, there were fewer than five child victims per 1,000 children
(Arizona, Idaho, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington). In contrast, in six states, there were more than 20 child
victims per 1,000 (Alaska, District of Columbia, Florida, Massachusetts, South Dakota, and West Virginia); in two of these six states (Alaska and
Florida) there were more than 35 child victims per 1,000. The full report with state-by-state results plus nation-wide data can be downloaded from
the Children’s Bureau Web site, at: www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cwo03.
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Announcements
FREE Information Kits to Help People
Caring for Adults and Children
The Department of Social and Health Services
(DSHS) is offering FREE caregiver kits to help people who care for aging or adult relatives or friends and relatives raising children. The kits are
being offered during November, which is National Family Caregiver Month. The “Family Caregiver Kit” for people caring for adults offers
helpful booklets and information on: resources for receiving emotional support; information on long-term care services and planning for one’s
future; ideas for keeping yourself healthy; information for those caring for a family member with a developmental disability; contact information for
Family Caregiver Support Programs across the state. People caring for related children will find the “Kinship Caregiver Kit” contains
helpful brochures and booklets, including: a resource and parenting guide for relatives raising children; services and supports for grandparents and
relatives raising children; information on a relative’s right to consent to health care for the child in their care; “Options for
Grandparents and Other Non-parental Caregivers: A legal guide for Washington” produced by the Northwest Women’s Law Center; contact
information on support groups and funding for urgent needs. Both kits are available by calling the DSHS Aging and Disability Services Administration
toll-free at 1-800-422-3263. Or find useful information online at: http://www.adsa.dshs.wa.gov/ under “caregiving”.
Be a Volunteer Tax
Preparer
Help hard-working families claim the tax
credit they’ve earned! A few hours of your time could mean thousands of dollars to a working family. This is an opportunity with the United
Way of Snohomish County. For more information or to volunteer call 425-921-3441 or email laura.walker@uwsc.org before Nov. 15th.
Field Coordinator Position
Available: Work with the ZERO TO THREE Policy Network
The ZERO TO THREE Policy Center is seeking
qualified candidates for the position of Field Coordinator. The Field Coordinator will recruit and mobilize infant-toddler professionals to advance a
national, state and community policy agenda on behalf of babies, toddlers and their families through the ZERO TO THREE Policy Network. For more
information about the position and how to apply, go to: www.zerotothree.org/aboutus/jobs.html.
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Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
Children's Trust Fund of Washington
318 1st Ave. S. Suite 310
Seattle, WA 98104
(206) 464-6151
wcpcan@wcpcan.wa.gov
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