5-12-2012 Urgent Update on Whooping Cough to All Foster Parents

Last week Children’s Administration (CA) issued a notice for foster parents and relative caregivers about the Pertussis “Whooping Cough” epidemic. Caregivers must still immediately notify the child’s social worker if a foster or relative child is diagnosed with whooping cough. Also, foster parents are to contact their licensor to issue a Stop Placement, if anyone in their home is diagnosed with whooping cough.

Because of the seriousness of this epidemic, CA is announcing a new requirement to safeguard the health of infant children. CA will not make new placements of infants under two (2) years of age in a licensed foster home unless all family members in the home have received the appropriate whooping cough vaccine or booster for their age. There will be no exceptions for new placements of children.

 If all family members are fully vaccinated for Whooping Cough,
including a booster shot as appropriate for whooping cough, you may
accept placement of an infant 0 – 2 years old.

 If all family members are not fully vaccinated, including a booster shot
as appropriate for whooping cough:
o Do Not accept placement of an infant 0 – 2 years old.
o Contact your regional office if you are contacted for a placement of
a child 0 – 2 years old and all family members are not fully
immunized for whooping cough.

Kids under seven should get a series of five DTaP vaccines. Kids aged 7 to 10 years who aren’t fully vaccinated against whooping cough and everyone aged 11 and older should get a whooping cough booster, called Tdap. For more information on these vaccines visit:

http://www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/immunize/vaccine/dtap/

Get whooping cough vaccine from:
 Your healthcare provider
 Most pharmacies
 Clinics
 Your local health department

If you need information on health insurance or help finding a healthcare provider, call the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 or visit http://www.parenthelp123.org/; Most Health care programs and Medicaid provide coverage for the whooping cough vaccine. Foster families licensed for infants 0-2 years who demonstrate a financial hardship in obtaining the immunization should contact their child’s social worker or DLR licensor. If you have any questions about your whooping cough immunization status, consult your family medical provider.

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Tdap contains protection against Pertussis (whooping cough). Adolescents 11-18 years of age (preferably at age 11-12 years) and adults 19 through 64 years of age should receive a single dose of Tdap. For adults 65 and older who have close contact with an infant and have not previously received Tdap, one dose should be received. Tdap should also be given to 7-10 year olds who are not fully immunized against pertussis.

Foster survey one page publicity piece_FINAL.docx

TACOMA

Behavior Management Skills for Caregivers

Resource Family Training Institute

Training for Foster Parents, Adoptive Parents, and Kinship Care Providers

http://fosterparent.dshs.wa.gov

Presents:

managing Anger And Handling conflict

with gary benton

gary has been in social work for over 30 years providing marriage and family therapy, anger management, and domestic violence treatment to a widerange of participants. he is a local and national consultant, trainer, and seminar presenter providing training on a wide variety of topics. Join us for a packed day of education and information!

this presentation will:

· identify factors that lead children to act out

· strategies to prevent or minimize acting out

· strategies to improve adult response to an acting out child/youth

The deadline is quickly approaching.

Camp To Belong Washington 2012 is now accepting applications.

Go to www.camptobelongwa.org to download the application and also see a great video of what camp is and what it means to the 3 sisters in it!

Camp is held again at Miracle Ranch Camp in Port Orchard WA

100 brothers and sisters will be reunited August 13th – 18th

Deadline for camper applications are May 11th 2012.

We always receive more applications than camper spots available. Selection is based on need and we do have a wait list after selection. Please fill out and email ASAP.

To qualify for camp: Camper must be between the ages of 8-18 and must be separated due to foster care, adoption through the foster care and Kinship care. Example: One child is in foster care but have 1/2 sibs with a birth parent – they would qualify to apply. If you have any questions about qualification or camp, please feel free to email or call me.

Yours in Camp!

April VanGesen

Foster Family Connections

Camp To Belong WA Co-Director

The annual WE ARE FAMILY EVENT at the Mariner’s will be held May 6th at 1pm. Kitsap Foster Care Association has purchased tickets again this year which are free to licensed foster families and relative care givers. If you would like tickets contact Luanne Vail at 360-876-5207. Do not email or call her work phone.

KFCA has rented 2 busses to take people to the game. This year, because of rising costs, there will be a $10 fee per family to ride the bus. The bus will be at the Mullinex park and ride.

Hope to see you there and GO MARINERS!

This camp is for siblings 8-18 separated due to foster care, relative care, adoption or other out of home arrangements. It is August 13-18 at Miracle Ranch in Port Orchard. Camp to Belong is a wonderful way for siblings to stay connected!!

The application can also be accessed at www.camptobelongwa.org and can be used as a volunteer application for anyone interested in helping.

CampToBelongWACamperAPP2012.docx

Greetings,

The mission of the Mockingbird Society is to build a world class foster care system. One of the ways we endeavor to do this is by involving youth and young adults who have experienced foster care to use their voice and leadership to improve the system.

Every summer we hold the annual Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit. We wanted to invite youth from around the state of Washington to apply to attend this free Summit to bring their voice and perspective to the Summit.

The Leadership Summit with be June 25th to 27th 2012 on Bainbridge Island. Applications to the Leadership Summit are due on April 20th. As an extra incentive to get applications in early we will be giving away $10 gift cards to the first 5 applicants.

The Leadership Summit is a skill-building opportunity for current and former foster youth and their allies. All travel expenses and participation costs will be paid for applicants accepted to the Leadership Summit.

Potential applicants would be foster youth age 14 or older or former foster youth age 24 or younger.

Participants at the Leadership Summit will learn how to use their voice effectively to get their needs met in and out of the system. Participants will meet with other current and former foster youth, identify issues important to them, and express their ideas to state policy makers.

Additionally, participants will attend Transitions. This innovative, experiential eight hour training is the latest Mockingbird Society developed curriculum for youth who have experienced foster care. Participants will learn tools to help successfully navigate life’s major transitions including, but not limited to, transitioning out of foster care.

Applications for the Leadership Summit are due by 5 pm on April 20th, 2012. A link to the on-line application can be found on the Mockingbird Society website at: www.mockingbirdsociety.org

For additional information, questions, concerns or application requests, please call 503-929-6659 or email selona

Attached you will find more information about the 2012 Foster Youth and Alumni Leadership Summit and the materials and information that needs to be collected before completing the on line application.

The direct link to the application:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2012summitapplication

Or you can go to the Leadership Summit page at:

http://www.mockingbirdsociety.org/the-mockingbird-network/leadership-summit/

I am also available to help young people complete their applications.

At Pierce County Alliance, my host agency in Tacoma, we also have a Mockingbird Chapter Meeting on the second Tuesday of each month from 3-5:30 pm. Please let me know if you have any young people age 14-24 that might like to attend out Chapter Meeting.

Thank you for your time and please feel free to forward this on to any 14-24 year old that may be interested.

Selona Willett |Resource Specialist Tacoma/Olympia

| 503.929.6659 Mobile

Tacoma – Pierce County Alliance

510 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, WA 98402

Olympia- Community Youth Services

711 State Ave NE, Olympia, WA 98506

The Mockingbird Society – Building a world-class foster care system

2100 24th Avenue S, Suite 240 | Seattle, WA 98144

206.323.5437 office | 206.323.1003 fax | mockingbirdsociety.org

Cascadia Communique Upcoming offerings: April, 2012 Adoption/Foster Care Consultation Group Facilitated by Deborah Gray, MSW, MPA Friday, April 13th, 10:00-1:00 Kirkland, WA 3 CEs This open and on-going group led by Deborah Gray is limited to 12 people so register today. More Information Assessment in Early Childhood Mental Health and Development Taught by Kristie Baber, MSW, LICSW Friday, April 20th, 9:00-4:30, Shoreline Center 6 CEs $150.00 This clinical workshop teaches assessment skills, tools and diagnostics to practicing clinicians, caseworkers and early intervention providers engaging with young children. More Information Attaching: from Childhood through Teen Years–latest evidenced-based knowledge along with the professional supports for today’s families Taught by Deborah Gray, MSW, MPA Friday, May 4th, 9:00-4:30 UW-Tacoma 6 CEs $150.00 Here are a few of the questions this workshop will answer: What is attachment and why is attachment such an issue in foster care and adoption What is the impact of moving children? What techniques work best when moving children with prenatal exposure? How do we assess for qualities that are the best fit for today’s children coming into foster and adoptive homes? What is the best attachment therapy when working with children and teens with prenatal exposure? More Information Northwest Collaborative Adoption Foster Care Conference: Childhood through Adolescence May 18th & 19th Community Center at Mercer View-Mercer Island, WA Topics covered: The Explosive Child Children and Meds Teens and Adoption Homeland Visit stories Birth family reunification stories and panel Open Adoption Ask an expert panel Sponsored by: Cascadia Training, Northwest Adoption Exchange, Adoption Mosaic, University of Washington Center for Adoption Medicine & Nurturing Attachments More Information For more information on all of our workshops call: 206.441.6892 or visit us online: www.cascadia-training.org

Forward email This email was sent to fali300@dshs.wa.gov by cascadia | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Northwest Resource Associates/Cascadia Training | 600 Stewart Street Suite 1313 | Seattle | WA | 98101

Foster Care Critical Support and Retention Program: Received notification of the expansion of program services throughout Region 3. Services had been available since about March 2010 (Region 6) for caregivers (licensed foster parents, relative/kinship and suitable adult placements) with children or youth with challenging behaviors that could lead to placement disruptions. Recent notice aligns services with Regional configuration. Most CPAs (especially those that also provide BRS services) incorporate similar supports or interventions and clarification how program services benefit CPA homes and CPA foster parents is being gathered to be distributed to CPA Network members. Foster Care Critical Support and Retention Program services can be accessed:

Most of Region 3: Heidi Williams, MA, LMHC HeidiW, (360) 878-8248 at Catholic Community Services of Western Washington

Pierce County: Kris Baglio, MSW, kbaglio 253-272-0942 at Multicultural Child and Family And Hope Center: E mail

Kitsap County: Bill Kettering bkring at Compassionate Ministries, (360) 373-9710.

Annual Foster and Alumni Leadership Summit – The Mockingbird Society invite youth from around WA State to apply to attend the Leadership Summit, June 25th to 27th 2012 on Bainbridge Island to bring their voice and perspective. Applications to the Leadership Summit are due on April 20th (additional information included on 2nd and 3rd attachments).

The Leadership Summit is a skill-building opportunity for current and former foster youth and their allies. Foster youth who are interested in sustaining local foster youth and alumni chapters can elevate their voice and unique perspective to create change in their lives and the lives of others who have or who will experience foster care. All travel expenses and participation costs will be paid for applicants accepted to the Leadership Summit. This is a GREAT opportunity for current and former youth in foster care.

We Are Family Day: In partnership with the Seattle Mariners, the fourth Annual We Are Family Day will be held at Safeco Field on Sunday, May 6 as part of Foster Care month. This has been a popular event, with thousands of foster, kinship and adoptive families attending in past years, along with others who work in child welfare.

Tickets will be offered at discounted prices through the link below. Free T-shirts will be given to all who attend.

A pre-game ceremony will be held at Ellis Pavilion at Safeco from 10-11, during which raffle prizes will be awarded, including a chance for some families to go out onto the field for pictures. The game begins at 1:10.

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/sea/ticketing/special_group.jsp?group=wearefamily

Kids Count in Washington: Provides statistical data bout services and outcomes for Washington children and families. Access to regular updates is available at the end of the e-mail.

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