April 2022 Issue 49
Summer (Camp) is Calling
Although some parts of the country are still getting snow, Arizona can already feel the heat of summer nipping at our heels. Now is the time to start planning fun summer activities before they fill up! Did you know that Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation can help pay for kiddos to have a camp experience? They can fund one request up to $425 per child per year. Consider reaching out to the camp directly to ask if they offer any sort of scholarships or discounts for children in foster care.
Raising Arizona Kids has compiled a directory of summer camps that includes leadership camps, overnight camps, special needs camps, and many more categories.
PhoenixSummerCamps.com is dedicated to summer camps in Phoenix in the areas of art, sports, academics, and specialty subjects.
AZ OnTrack Summer Camp, launched by the Office of the Governor Doug Ducey, will enrich, advance, and connect eligible Arizona students in the ways they need to help them enter the 2022-23 school year with greater excitement and confidence. Subscribe now to be notified at the end of March, when educational Summer Camps become available to the eligible students you care for — at no cost to your family.
Royal Family Kids’ Camp has been providing a wholesome, fun, and safe camping environment for foster children for over 20 years. Royal Family Kids’ Camp is a one-week camp specifically designed and dedicated for the sole purpose of creating positive memories for foster children ages 7-11 who have experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment in their homes.
DDD Eligibility and Process
When a child enters DCS care, their needs should be assessed as soon as possible to determine what developmental support they need. All children will receive a Rapid Response Assessment. If this initial assessment uncovers concerns for their development, additional referrals should be made. Children under the age of 3 should be referred to the Arizona Early Intervention Program (AzEIP) for early intervention services, such as speech, occupational, or physical therapies. A referral can be made any time during the case, so long as the child is under age 3. This referral can be completed by the Specialist or the caregiver. Children may qualify for services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD), as long as they have a qualifying diagnosis. The AzEIP specialist will submit the referral for a child under age 3. The qualifying diagnoses for ages 3 and above are autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or cognitive/intellectual delay or disability. Children ages 3-6 may also qualify for DDD if they are considered at risk for a developmental delay or disability. At-risk conditions are: spina bifida with Arnold Chiari malformation; periventricular leukomalacia; chromosomal abnormalities with high risk for cognitive disability such as Downs Syndrome; Autism Spectrum Disorder; post-natal traumatic brain injury such as “abusive head trauma” or near drowning; hydrocephaly; microcephaly; alcohol- or drug-related birth defects such as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; birth weight under 1000 grams (2.2 lbs) with evidence of neurological impairment. Children in this age bracket may also be considered eligible for DDD if they demonstrate a significant developmental delay and a strong potential the child will have a developmental disability, indicated by a 50% delay in one of the following five developmental domains or that the child has 25% delay in two or more of the following five domains: physical (fine and gross/motor, vision, or hearing); cognitive; communication; social-emotional; self-help.
If the child does not yet have a qualifying diagnosis but has signs or symptoms of one of these disorders, the child’s primary care physician can assist with providing referrals to the necessary providers and specialists who can assess for a diagnosis. Qualified providers include a licensed psychiatrist, psychologist, physician, or developmental pediatrician. In addition to having a qualifying diagnosis, a child age six or older must also demonstrate functional limitations in at least three of the seven major life activities: receptive and expressive language; learning; self-direction; economic self-sufficiency; self-care; mobility; capacity for independent living.
Once the child receives a diagnosis that appears to meet DDD eligibility criteria, the child shall promptly be referred to DDD. The assigned Specialist should work with the caregiver and child's team to complete the DDD Eligibility Packet and submit it along with all necessary supporting documents.
If the child is approved for DDD services, the caregiver is able to apply to become a Child Developmental Home (CDH). This can be done through certain licensing agencies (caregiver should first check with their current licensing agency) or directly through DDD. Be sure to review the qualifications and requirements for this type of licensure. Due to the increased level of care and additional services being provided to the child, the reimbursement rate is adjusted accordingly. If a caregiver does not meet the requirements or does not wish to become a CDH, the caregiver is still expected to meet the child’s needs and may qualify for a special rate. A Special Rate Assessment can be submitted by the DCS Specialist or the caregiver's Licensing Worker. (Note: This can also be submitted if the child does not meet DDD eligibility but still has higher needs. See DCS Program Policy Chapter 4: Section 10 for Foster Home Special Rate Approval Guidelines and the application.) If the caregiver does not believe that they can meet the child’s special needs in their home, they should reach out to the child’s team and assigned Specialist to discuss alternatives.
If the child has a significant disability that requires a nursing home level of care, the child may qualify for the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS), which may then cover or supplement additional services and supports. This is an extensive and challenging process, and the child’s team should collaborate closely with DDD if this is a possibility.
For questions regarding DDD eligibility, contact DDD at 1-844-770-9500 or email DDDApply@azdes.gov.
Parenting Program for Kinship Families of African American Children
The Family Check Up/Everyday Parenting (FCU/EDP) program allows kinship caregivers to take part in an evidence-based parenting program that has been shown to improve parenting, reduce child behavior issues, and decrease future risk of problem issues such as childhood obesity, substance use, and justice system involvement.
UMPS Care Charities Scholarship Opportunity
The UMPS CARE Charities All-Star College Scholarship is for youth adopted at or after the age of 13. This scholarship gives students $10,000 per year for a four-year institution and $5,000 for a two-year institution. To learn more about the eligibility visit our scholarship page. Here is the application. The deadline for submission is May 13, 2022.
Out-of-Home Provider Investigations
Often, foster caregivers raise concerns regarding possible allegations of maltreatment of children placed in their care. While it doesn't happen on every case with every child, the reality is that allegations do happen, and families should be informed of and prepared for the possibility. It is vital that families document any issues with the child, even a small bump at daycare or a concerning statement that the child makes, by following all reporting procedures set by DCS and the licensing agency. Although it may not prevent allegations, it may be be helpful to provide during an investigation.
This brochure provides the step-by-step process that will be taken by the DCS Specialist/OCWI (Office of Child Welfare Investigations) Investigator.
Shared Parenting Tips
What is shared parenting? Shared parenting is the relationship between an out-of-home caregiver, like a foster parent, and the birth parent(s) of the child in their care. This relationship is important for making the child's transition into care as comfortable as possible. In addition to making them feel comfortable throughout this journey of building a new family, you must remember that safe reunification is best for the children in your care. It’s comforting to them when they know that you understand that they want to be with their birth parents and to keep that relationship in focus.
Going forward, each issue of Thrive will have tips and info regarding shared parenting and how to engage better with families. If you have tips, information on activities, want to share success stories, or are in need of a Shared Parenting Journal, email Rhiannon Schaudt-Hobkirk.
Although the initial facilitation of shared parenting contact falls to DCS as the hub for all communication, all parties have expectations to meet if shared parenting is going to work. Remember, it’s about progress, not perfection, so don’t panic if the team cannot meet all of the expectations from the start. It’s a process. Just be consistent, and you will get there.
Each party has a role to play. Ideally, the parent should engage with the caregiver about the child's progress and issues on a consistent basis through established channels of communication. This is not something that can be mandated, but it should be encouraged and reinforced at every opportunity.
The caregiver's role is essentially the same as the parent's; however, it is expected that they make continued, consistent efforts, regardless of the engagement on the parent's part. The communication may be one-sided. That may never change, or the parent may eventually come around. By continuing to engage with the parent, the caregiver will demonstrate that they have the child's best interest in mind and that they value the parent's relationship with their child.
The role of the DCS Specialist is to facilitate the initial communication by sharing contact information that has been approved by both parties. Once both parties are comfortable doing so, perhaps an initial visit can be arranged between the caregiver and the parent. The Specialist should promote a positive relationship between all parties and can be a liaison if assistance is needed, but they are not there to mandate or drive the communication.
Mercy Care DCS CHP Eyeglass Coverage
one-n-ten Support Groups
one-n-ten provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to connect with others, engage in fun, empowering programs, and get resources to be their best self. They also offer a monthly Parents' Group that is open to parents, teachers, counselors, or other trusted adults to ask questions about on-n-ten programs and services and how to best support their LGBTQ+ youth. For questions about Parents' Group, contact Gina at 602-279-0894 or gina@onenten.org
CPR/First Aid Certification
Jose's Closet Foster Care Classes
At Jose's Closet, we are excited to offer our latest FREE foster care classes. These classes will be CEU approved, and certificates will be provided upon completion of each course. Classes are being held from January through April 7th, specific times and dates are listed on the flyer.
We are offering a three-course series with a fourth optional course. The three main course topics will be repeated to give you more opportunities to attend!
The classes include:
- Attachment and Trust: Building Therapeutic Relationships
- Challenging Behaviors: Understanding Behavior Foster Care
- Fostering Children through Transition, Grief and Loss
- Optional course: Embracing a Child's Culture: Transracial Adoption
For questions, email Sydnie at sbarboza@atsu.edu.
Arizona Grandparent Ambassadors
We are a statewide support and legislative advocacy network of, by and for grandparents raising grandchildren and non-parent caregivers raising children. We are the families who give these children safe, stable homes and keep them out of the foster care system. Join us as we work with legislators and policymakers to create positive changes for our families. Check out our website for information and resources, including parenting classes, respite services, support groups, therapy and parenting help, and more!
Raising Special Kids
Raising Special Kids began in 1979 as a grassroots effort of families, professionals, and community leaders determined to provide support and information for parents of children with disabilities and special health care needs. Today, Raising Special Kids serves as Arizona’s Family-to-Family Health Information Center, and as Arizona’s Parent Training and Information Center. Helping parents access information about health care, community resources, and support services so they can make informed decisions regarding their children’s care has been our mission from the beginning. We support thousands of Arizona families each year through our programs and services.
Raising Special Kids provides programs and services at no cost to families. No eligibility determinations are required. Any parent or family member of a child with a disability can take advantage of services provided in English, Spanish, and other languages.
- Individual Consultation - Our staff of Family Support Specialists is comprised of parents and family members of children with disabilities who can relate to the challenges facing parents and family members who call for support. Our staff receives ongoing training on Federal and State programs, as well as community-based programs and resources, available to individuals with disabilities and special health care needs. We provide families with support for the full spectrum of issues a family may encounter from birth through age 26, and sometimes beyond. Raising Special Kids staff specializes in information and training in the areas of Education, Health Care, Behavior Support, and Transition to Adulthood. Families who contact us or are referred for individual consultation will receive: a call from one of our Family Support Specialists by the end of the following business day; compassion and understanding from our staff of professional, experienced, fellow parents or family members of a child with a disability; information, resources, problem-solving support, and strategies to help parents access and advocate for the support their child needs.
- Parent-to-Parent support has always been the heart of Raising Special Kids. Each year, more than 300 families in Arizona are connected with veteran “mentor” parents who have walked a similar path and who understand the challenges of raising a child with a disability or special health care need.
- Raising Special Kids’ Positive Family Coaching (PFC) program provides enhanced support to families of children receiving behavioral health services through AHCCCS. Through the child’s Child & Family Team (CFT), Raising Special Kids can provide support with education, health care system navigation, development of effective advocacy skills, and strategies for positive behavior support. Currently, Raising Special Kids PFC program is only available to families of children with Mercy Care and United Healthcare plans through AHCCCS, with more plans to come soon. If you have Mercy Care or United Healthcare and would like to receive Positive Family Coaching from Raising Special Kids, please contact your child’s case manager to request our Positive Family Coaching services. For more information, please call us at 602-242-4366.
- Events & Trainings - At this time, most events and trainings are being held virtually. Trainings/workshops include topics such as Talking to Your Child About Sexuality, Understanding 504, IEP Training, High School Transition, Early Childhood Education, Positive Behavior Support, and more.
Family Involvement Center Resources
For plenty of parents, teachers, and school staff, anxiety is running high as school is back to in-person learning, and COVID-19 cases are rising again. So we want to remind you that support is available right now. Our team is trained to help with recovering from the psychological effects caused by the pandemic. Thanks to our partnership with Resilient Arizona, you can receive confidential help at no cost in group or one-on-one settings. This includes for supportive crisis counseling, education and development of coping skills. Again, services are 100% free and confidential.
Resilient Arizona providers are located throughout Arizona. If you live in Northern Arizona, call (928) 440-6181. If you reside in Central Arizona, call (602) 704-0440. And if you live in Southern Arizona, please call (520) 485-5858.
The available support also includes assistance with finding food, paying house bills, accessing free childcare, and other essential services. You can also dial 2-1-1 anywhere in Arizona 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or visit www.ResilientArizona.org. Feel free to email us at pac@familyinvolvementcenter.org if you have any additional questions.
Child & Family Resources Youth Mentoring Services Program
Child Crisis Arizona Education Programs
ASA Now
ASA Now is a non-profit organization that ADVOCATES for, SUPPORTS, and ASSISTS children and families impacted by foster care. We are passionate about providing support to families and professionals by restoring hope and empowering them to better serve these children in need.
Services we offer include tutoring & extracurricular activities, food pantry, clothing, and meeting basic necessities. Other services include life skills for youth, respite care, therapeutic programs, family activities, peer-to-peer support groups, education and training on utilizing Jacob's Law to obtain behavioral health services, providing resources to families and caregivers to successfully navigate the foster care system, raising awareness, recruiting new foster families, and advocating for families and their children.
Arizona Helping Hands
Arizona Helping Hands is the largest provider of essential items for children in foster care in Arizona. Their programs provide a safe place to sleep, clothing, hygiene items, birthday packages, backpacks filled with school supplies, licensing safety items, foster footlockers, and more. If needed, kinship and foster families with a current notice to provider are eligible to receive basic needs such as clothing, diapers, wipes, and hygiene items every four months.
Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents
AZAFAP wants to support you and the children in your family (foster, kinship, adopted, biological). We are a non-profit, statewide organization that serves families who adopt children and provide foster and kinship care. Working in partnership with child welfare professionals and the community, our purpose is to support, educate, empower and provide a unified voice for Arizona’s foster and adoptive families, with the goal of increasing the well-being and stability of Arizona’s most vulnerable children. AZAFAP’s programming is open to all foster, kinship, and adoptive families in Arizona. Basic membership is free and includes a subscription to our monthly newsletter with information and resources, our online support groups, and some of our training. Premier membership is available for an annual fee of $75 for two-parent families and a discounted rate of $50 for single-parent families. Premier members are eligible to participate in all program activities. Our programming includes Family Connections events like camps, picnics, and staycations, Family Support Services such as training, Children’s Basic Needs with new shoes, jackets, toys and bikes, and Community Awareness events. Join us today before the Family Camp registration opens! Visit www.azafap.org/membership for more information.
Papa John's Partnership
Southwest Human Development Head Start
Southwest Human Development is offering Early Head Start and Head Start Programs. The in-person classes will be small to encourage physical distancing while being socially together. There will also be virtual programs that families can participate in from home. In-person groups will be limited to 8 children with 2 or 4 teachers, depending on the length of the program day.
For children under 3 years old, the Early Head Start program offers a 10-hour program for working families designed to provide a high-quality learning environment while encouraging physical distancing, as well as a virtual curriculum families can participate in from home.
The Head Start program has in-person, small group programs offering 10 hours, 6 hours, or 3.5 hours of care in a high-quality learning environment designed to limit close physical contact, as well as a virtual option for families to participate in from their home.
Child Crisis Arizona Training
Child Crisis Arizona's spring program calendar is live! Classes include Adoption 101, Neurosequential Model in Caregiving, Trauma Informed Parenting Techniques, and more! All trainings are virtual via Zoom.
Email FCATraining@childcrisisaz.org to register for training or the support group!
STEP Training- TUCSON
Support, Tools, and Education for Parents (STEP) is designed to build positive relationships between family members. It provides a safe space to discuss topics that may be too difficult to talk about at home. These conversations are about peer pressure, stress, and the importance of working together as a team. When caregivers and children work together, it creates a stronger family! The Children’s Advocacy Center understands that family does not always mean a biological parent and child. STEP is a program that will benefit the whole family, including biological, foster, kinship, and adoptive families.
Families enrolled in STEP will meet virtually each week. Each session consists of different topics such as communication, stress management, substance abuse prevention and how to talk to your child about difficult topics (identifying potential child abusers, child abuse, healthy and concerning sexualized behavior), each session building on the next. Child care will be available when classes are offered in person again. For questions, please contact Jackie Ballesteros at jballesteros@soazadvocacy.org or 520-724-2148.
Christian Family Care Training
AZ.127 Foster Family Support & Connections
AZ.127 will be offering support via Facebook & Instagram mini-sessions of techniques and tools from the Trust-Based Relational Intervention program. Additionally, they will be matching mentor foster families with foster families in need of support.
Caring Connections for Special Needs
Arizona Early Intervention Program
Yavapai CASA for Kids
Christian Family Care Thrift Store
Did you know, Christian Family Care’s Thrift Stores have been around since 1996? Previously known as Family Attic, our Tucson and Phoenix thrift stores help fund our adoption, foster care, and counseling programs. Make a donation, shop, or volunteer at our thrift stores. Don’t miss out on all of the amazing discounts we offer. All foster/adoptive families in Arizona receive a 25% off discount when shopping at our thrift stores. Just show the cashier this Thrive article for the discount. Visit https://cfcare.org/get-involved/#thrift-stores to learn more!
Tucson Resources
Spreading Threads is a grassroots, nonprofit community clothing bank that provides free clothes to foster youth in southern Arizona. The organization was founded by two foster moms in Tucson who have fostered and adopted several children in Arizona. Your donations go directly to local children in need. The second Saturday of each month foster, adoptive, and kinship families can visit the clothing bank. A Notice to Provider will be needed. The clothing bank events are held at 1870 W. Prince, Suite 54 in Tucson.
Respite Resource
A Mighty Change of Heart
A Mighty Change of Heart provides FREE duffle bags to foster children with new, age-appropriate items inside: 2 outfits, shoes & socks, underwear, book, diapers/wipes, hygiene items, and more. These bags have the children’s names embroidered on them, and are something that they can call their very own. They have delivered over 3,500 bags across the state.
Please check out their website for more information: www.amchaz.com. If your family, business, church group or school would be interested in holding a donation drive, please contact A Mighty Change of Heart. Items are always needed.
Warmline Supports Kinship and Foster Families
The Foster Parent Warmline is available for kinship families and licensed foster parents. While not an emergency number, Warmline staff can assist with information, authorizations for services, timely communication, and support. It is not intended to discourage or replace direct and regular communication between the DCS Specialist and the out-of-home caregiver. You can reach the Warmline by calling 1-877-KIDSNEEDU (1-877-543-7633) and selecting Option 3. Warmline staff are available during business hours. Please leave a message with your name and contact information in order to receive a call back.
Children's Heart Gallery
More than 70 percent of the children in need of forever families are adopted by their relatives or foster parents. For the remainder, special recruitment efforts like the Heart Gallery are used to connect them with a forever family.
The children featured in the Heart Gallery represent all ethnic groups and range in age from toddlers to teenagers. Some have special behavioral or medical needs, some are without siblings, and others are in groups of siblings.
Nevaeh R.
Nevaeh is a fun and talkative young girl with a love for playing games, especially Uno. Although Neveah is young, she knows how to advocate for herself and does a great job communicating her needs. She also loves joking around and making others smile. In fact, Nevaeh often puts others' needs before herself and tries to help everyone out whenever possible.
Nevaeh's favorite place to be is school, because she loves her teacher and socializing with her peers. She has also been very successful in bringing her grades up this past year and is now doing very well academically. Besides school, Nevaeh loves animals and enjoys playing and caring for the dogs in her current home.
Navaeh was born in 2007.
Jayden H.
Jayden will be the world’s greatest movie director when he grows up! He has such a creative imagination that fuels his passion for things like video games and playing outdoors. Jayden is a tenderhearted boy who would love to be a part of a family. He is very outgoing and never afraid to show off his smile. Jayden is a very respectful and responsible young man.
Jayden was born in 2012.
Riley and Michael
Riley is a cheerful, engaging, and optimistic young lady who loves playing volleyball with her friends whenever she gets a chance! She also enjoys swimming, coloring, and playing soccer. One of her favorite restaurants is Native where she likes to get the spicy boneless wings. Riley enjoys listening to any kind of music, and her favorite TV shows are Chicago Fire and PD. Riley's future goals are to graduate from high school and get involved with the fire or police departments. She would also really like to learn to cook!
Michael is an energetic, joyful, and sweet little boy who loves Paw Patrol and trucks! Michael's favorite foods are peanut butter and ice cream. He also enjoys going to Burger King and getting chicken nuggets and french fries. Michael has fun singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and ABC's. Michael loves it when he and an adult can spend time playing together with his toys.
Riley was born in 2009, and Michael was born in 2017.
AZ Families Thrive is published monthly by the Arizona Department of Child Safety to inform foster, kinship, and adoptive families across the state. Rhiannon Schaudt-Hobkirk created this edition. Please feel free to email with questions, comments, or content you may be interested in seeing in future editions. Sign up to receive email updates when new issues are posted.
Interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent? Call us: 1-877-KIDS-NEEDU (1-877-543-7633) or email us: FosterAdoption@azdcs.gov. Visit us online: www.azkidsneedu.gov.
To report child abuse or neglect: 1-888-SOS-CHILD