Adoptive Families Denver

 Volunteer Services

AFP Volunteer Opportunities…
We are in search of volunteers to serve the adoptive families of AFP! Two committees are in need of additional participants. It is important to us that our committees consist of a balance among staff, adoption professionals, and adoptive families who understand the needs we are trying to address. We have two committees with vacant seats.

The first is our Advisory Council. This is the advisory body of the program and is responsible to meet quarterly for discussion about how we are serving the families and what we can do to make our services better. An understanding about the needs of families who have adopted internationally and domestically, through private agencies is important. Creativity and dedication are great traits to bring along! Adoption professionals and adoptive families are encouraged to consider serving on this committee.

The second is our Funding Review Committee. This is the group that reviews family minigrant applications to ensure we are following the established guidelines for equitable distribution for minigrant funds. Families who have previously received funds and do not plan to apply in the future, have children who are grown and are therefore no longer eligible for funds, and professionals who understand the needs of families are encouraged to consider serving on this committee. We meet the second Monday of each month at 11:00am for 30 minutes to one hour.

Please contact Casi Preheim for more information at  email or at 303.755.4756, ext. 203.

Source:Colorado Post-Adoption Resource Center eNewsletter

In speaking with many of you, I’ve learned that our adoptive families appreciate the education and support that better equip them to address the challenging behaviors and diagnoses that often accompany our children. As a program designed to support our adoptive families, AFP can offer a basic introduction to some of these special needs, as well as a list of support services. While these articles provide a general overview, keep in mind that it is important for families to seek ongoing, professional treatment for these special needs.

For further information about the featured topic or other special needs, please contact Casi Preheim at 303.755.4756, ext. 277 or by email.

Cystic Fibrosis 101

Cystic Fibrosis Support

Source: Colorado Post-Adoption Resource Center eNewsletter

Life Books 

For the Child

-Uses: Therapeutic for a child in need of answers to questions, growth and development of a healthy and positive self image, and a better understanding of their past experiences, present experiences, and their future experiences within the foster/adopt process. “What does your forever family look like?”

 For the Family (Developing a Life Book for their Foster/Adoptive Child.)

 -Uses: Gives the family an outline to help them learn how to talk about difficult topics with their foster-adopt placement such as: feelings and memories surrounding biological family members, confusion about the child’s role within their forever family, answers questions for both the child and the adoptive parents about the child’s past, expectations, and needs.

 NOTE: If a child who is placed in your home begins disclosing past memories of traumatic experiences (abuse or neglect) it would be beneficial to continue to create the child’s Life Book with the help of a therapeutic professional so the therapist can help the child fully process these experiences. 

 For the Family (Developing a Family Life Book to Present to your Adoptive Placement).

 -Uses: Introducing your family to your potential foster-adopt child. Allowing the child to know what to expect when they visit your home: Pictures introducing the child to your family (names, mom and dad, siblings, aunts and uncles), Show the child their bedroom (you can decorate it when you get here!), Show family pets, outings, etc.

New Resources from NACAC

The North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC) recently uploaded two new resources to their website:
• A series of state-by-state adoption fact sheets (based primarily on 2007 AFCARS data) — Designed to be a tool for local adoption advocates, each sheet highlights the number of waiting children, number of children adopted, race and ethnic background of waiting children, data on who adopted foster children, and much more.

• A flyer for recruiters about our adoption subsidy program — Adoption recruiters, parent group leaders, and other adoption professionals can use this flyer to help inform prospective adopters about the support and information NACAC can provide related to adoption assistance.

Former Foster Youth College Scholarships, Now Accepting Applications

Casey Family Programs and The Orphan Foundation of America announced the scholarship application process for the 2010-2011 academic year is underway. The Casey Family Scholars Scholarships and the Foster Care to Success Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of merit and need and funding levels are determined based on cost of attendance and other resources. Applications are being accepted now until March 31, 2010.

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Have been in foster care for one consecutive year at the time of their18th birthday OR have been adopted   or taken into legal guardianship out of foster care or upon death of their parents after their 16th birthday OR subsequently adopted or taken into legal guardianship.
• Be enrolled in or accepted into an accredited post-secondary program at the undergraduate level 3.
• Be under the age of 25 on March 31, 2010.
• Have been in foster care or orphaned while living in the United States. U.S. (citizenship is not required).
Some graduate applications are being accepted, see website for more information.
To access the application and to obtain more information visit: http://orphan.org/index.php?id=30
COCAF E-Newsletter March 2010

Hopes for Higher Education Scholarship

The Hopes for Higher Education Scholarship is awarded to youth in foster care for the purposes of obtaining professional certification or to attend a post secondary institution (undergraduate only). Scholarships range in amount from $500 to $1,000, and the number awarded each year varies depending on funding. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, fees, and school room and board.

A complete application and supporting documentation must be received on or before May 15, 2010.

Candidates for the scholarship must demonstrate the following to be considered:

1. Applicants must be legal residents of the United States.
2. Applicant may reside in a foster home, group home, or kinship care or be an emancipated foster youth under age 25 (proof of age required with submission of application).
3. Are not receiving 100% tuition reimbursement from another source.
4. Submit a complete, signed application, together with all supporting documentation, if any, by the deadline date listed under the Selection Process section. The completion of the application form does not create an obligation to award a scholarship to applicant.
5. Submit an essay to address the following question: How will you utilize your college education to contribute to society? High importance will be placed on the applicant’s desire to advance in their education, with an emphasis on furthering their careers, and their impact in the community for which they reside. To be considered, the essay must meet the following requirements:
• MAXIMUM of 1,000 words
• Double spaced
• 12 point font
• 8 x 11 white paper
• Two letters of recommendation. (one must be from Social Worker or Foster Parent)
• Proof of enrollment & acceptance to program
• All materials must be emailed to: scholarship@hopesforhighereducation.com.
For more information, go to www.hopesforhighereducation.com or email scholarship@hopesforhighereducation.com.

HB10-1059: Gagliardi Bill Helping Foster

 Kids Get Driver’s Licenses Passes Final

 House Vote

Posted on 08 February 2010

Tags: HB10-1059, Sara Gagliardi

 

                                       Addressing the Needs of Adopted Teens

Most parents agree the adolescent and teen years are without question the most challenging for their children and for the family as a whole. This can be especially true in the case of adopted children who, like all teens, struggle with issues related to who they are and who they want to be. Imagine the added confusion during this crucial developmental stage, when teens reflect on their unique situation as an adopted child.

Questions that may not have bothered adoptive children in the past, take on new meaning in the teen years when they are actively working to define themselves and differentiate themselves from their parents. “Why do you look different from your mom and dad?” “What happened to your birth parents?” These and other questions resurface in the mind of the adoptive child and, when not addressed, become a source of frustration and confusion that can lead to low self-esteem, anxiety, depression and related problems.

Debbie Riley and Dr. John Meeks reveal in their book, Beneath the Mask: Understanding Adopted Teens, that though only 2% of American children are adopted, they make up one-third of the teens in therapy. The statistics support their thesis: adopted children endure a special set of emotional issues that reemerge during adolescence. Unless therapists and parents understand and deal with the wounds of adoption, teens cannot heal and become healthy adults.