July 2022 Issue 52

Special Allowances

As we move into the new fiscal year on 7/1/22, children in out-of-home care become eligible for the Special Allowances once more: Books/Education, Emergency Clothing, and Special Needs. Some DCS Specialists will request these items automatically as the fiscal year begins. However, there is no standard practice regarding the allowances, so be sure to reach out to the assigned Specialist to request the allowances that the child needs.

Initial Placement Policy

When a child is placed in your home, it is a time of upheaval for everyone involved, and it is often an urgent situation where things can be overlooked in the rush to get the child into a safe, family-like setting. There are items that are required by DCS Policy to be provided to caregivers when a child is placed or shortly thereafter.

The Initial Placement Information includes:

• DCS contact Information
• Information about the child
• Visitation and contacts
• Health/physical impairments/conditions/allergies/immunizations
• Behavioral/emotional/psychological/psychiatric information
• Educational needs
• Instructions on accessing the Guardian provider portal
• Notice to Providers (educational, medical)
• Notice of Rights for a Child in Out-of-Home Care
• Resource Items: Behavioral Health Services for Children in Foster, Kinship, and Adoptive Care; Crisis Services for Children in Foster, Kinship, and Adoptive Care
• copy of any minute entry setting a future dependency or delinquency hearing involving the child, if available
• Case Plan, if available
• Copy of the most recent Foster Care Review Board report, if the initial review has been held

The complete Placement Packet can be obtained through the Guardian Portal. Additional items that may be found in the portal include but are not limited to:

• Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan New Member Packet
• Child’s (temporary or permanent) Mercy Care DCS CHP member identification card
• Available immunization record
• Copy of a minute entry setting future hearings
• Case plan
• Copy of the most recent Foster Care Review Board report

The DCS Specialist shall follow procedures outlined in Policy to provide:

• a child in the custody of the Department, age 14 years and older, with the child’s social security card within 120 days of receiving a written request from the child
• a youth at least 16 years old in the custody of the Department shall have access to their vital documents within 60 days after coming into care
• a birth certificate for a child in the custody of the Department, in out-of-home care, within 30 days of the child’s removal (unless the child returns to the custody of the parent during the 30-day period)
• a foster or kinship caregiver with the child’s social security number within 90 days of the request if it is for a lawful purpose

When requested for a lawful purpose (such as enrollment in educational or social activities, etc.), the DCS Specialist shall provide the out-of-home caregiver with the social security number of a child placed in their care by the Department within 90 days of receipt of a written or verbal request from the caregiver. (Please keep in mind that children often come into care with no SSN assigned. This process can take at least 60 days for children who already have a birth certificate and much longer for those that do not have one, were not named by their parents, or were not born in a hospital. If you anticipate being eligible to claim the child on your taxes for this year, please reach out to the DCS Specialist as soon as possible so that they can ensure the SSN is received in a timely manner.)

Information necessary to care for the child should be shared as soon as it is available. The Specialist should gather this information from the parents or former caregiver. You are also able to gather this information through Shared Parenting efforts.

• planned appointments and other agency involvement;
• cultural practices, traditions, values, and religious involvement;
• sexual orientation and gender identity (if youth agrees to sharing of this information);
• daily routine;
• emotional and behavioral health needs;
• if applicable, information on previous court involvement or arrests as a result of alleged delinquent acts, name of juvenile probation officer, and dates of upcoming court hearings;
• contact information and schedules for clubs, teams, groups or other extracurricular activities;
• special dietary needs;
• food and activity preferences; and
• history of abuse or neglect that may affect the child's behavior or needs.

If you are having difficulty obtaining any of these documents or information, there are supports available to assist you. If it is vital information necessary to keep the child safe (Notice to Provider, allergy information, etc), please reach out to the DCS Specialist and Program Supervisor immediately or the Child Abuse Hotline if it is outside of business hours (M-F 8am-5pm, closed on state holidays). Elevate the issue in the timeframe that you feel is appropriate given the urgency of the situation. If it is a matter that is not urgent, contact the DCS Specialist and allow 24-48 hours for a response. If it is still not resolved, copy the Program Supervisor on your follow-up email. If you do not receive a resolution from either within 24-48 hours, follow up and include the Program Manager on the email. If this does not provide you with a resolution, you can contact the Warmline for assistance at 877-543-7633 option 3 or kinship@azdcs.gov, or you can choose to elevate the issue to the DCS Office of the Ombudsman.

Kinship Youth Council Seeking Members

One by One Foster & Kinship Solutions is subcontracted under the Arizona Foundation for Human Resource Providers to carry out the program of a state grant provided by the Arizona Department of Human Services. We have been commissioned to create a Kinship Youth Council comprising of 8-10 youth ages 11 to 19 who are in Kinship Care placements, both formal and informal. The Council will be facilitated by our very own Executive Director, Stephanie Wright, as the Youth Advisor. The youth will have an opportunity to identify a health care need that matters to them and create community projects around the need. They will also have the privilege of attending a day-long conference at the state capitol.

Kinship Youth will have the unique opportunity of representing an often overlooked aspect of the Foster Care System and have their voices heard. We are the only Kinship Council being formed under this grant. They will gain leadership, teamwork, and organization skills. They will have community exposure during their Community Service Learning Events and possibly more. Their participation may count towards any service hours needed for school or other programs. They can speak about their Council experience on resumes and college applications. Participants will also receive a $150 per quarter stipend for their participation.

CPR/1st Aid and Abuse/Neglect/Exploitation Trainings

Casa de los Ninos is offerring in-person/online hybrid CPR/1st Aid traning and an Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Awareness training (DDD-required for CDH-licensed homes) for just $35 per person.

CPR/1st Aid

• Wednesday, July 13, 6-9pm
• Saturday, August 20, 9-12pm
• Saturday, September 17, 9-12pm
• Saturday, October 8, 2-5pm
• Saturday, November 5, 9-12pm
• Saturday, December 3, 9-12pm

Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation Awareness

• Saturday, July 9, 9-12pm

CPLC Training Classes

Chicanos Por La Causa is offering a free class for tweens/teens ages 11 - 18, as well as a parenting class for their caregivers.

Our teen class goes by the name of "Sowing Seeds" and centers around drug abuse prevention education. The curriculum we use in the class is research-based and is called Project TND (Toward No Drug Abuse). We know that this topic is not one of the "fun" topics to cover, but we aim to keep conversations very open and honest in a judgment-free zone.

Our parenting class is facilitated by Pam Cambell, who is a certified trainer of trainers of the "Active Parenting of Teens" curriculum. Pam takes a trauma-informed care approach to facilitating these classes. The focus of the class overall is to strengthen the bonds between caregivers and their youth by going over different parenting styles, demonstrating effective communication, and learning about how to have talks with their children about sexuality and substance abuse prevention.

CPLC Parenting Arizona does provide all course materials. At the end of all 6 sessions, participants earn a "Family Toolkit" that comes with journals, pencils, a medical lockbox, a "How Well Do You Know Me" game, and other useful things for families to practice what they learned in class. We also do provide a certificate of completion to caregivers that lists 12 hours of class time completed. Parenting classes are open to Foster/Kinship/Adoptive parents and also to professionals who work with foster/kinship/adoptive youth.

Scheduling varies by need, so please reach out to Ashley Avila for more information.

Car Seat Safety with Phoenix Children's Hospital

Love Your Texture - African American Hair Care

Love Your Texture is an organization that answers questions and educates foster caregivers on hair products and styling all textures of hair. The organization is eligible for funding through Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation (under Ethnic Hair Care).

Boys & Girls Club

Save My Summer is Back!

AFFCF'S popular Save My Summer award category is back by popular demand! The category will be open May 16 - July 29, 2022 ONLY. Requests made after July 29 will not be considered.

A ONE TIME ONLY AWARD of up to $100 may be made for each child in your home so that you can purchase items for children that will SAVE MY SUMMER! Slip and slide? Board games? Water table? Science experiment? Arts and crafts? You name it...we will consider funding it.

Here's how it works:

1. APPLY at affcf.org/apply, if you are a licensed or unlicensed foster parent or CASA. Caseworkers are not invited to apply at this time for a Save My Summer award.
2. COMPLETE one application for each child you're requesting. Let us know what specific item(s) you're requesting in the description box on the application.
3. GET approved for the award by AFFCF (You'll be notified via e-mail.). This is a VERY important step. If you make a purchase before your request is approved, we CANNOT reimburse you.
4. PURCHASE the item(s) totaling up to $100 per approved award.
5. SUBMIT your original receipts to AFFCF.
6. LOOK for your reimbursement check in the mail.

Foster Ed

Advocacy31nine

Are you a caregiver of a student in foster care? Do you need support navigating the special education system to get help for your student? Does your student have difficulty at school or exhibit behaviors that have a negative impact at school?

Advocacy31nine provides educational advocates at no cost for students impacted by foster care, kinship, or adoption in Arizona. Our trained advocates help you navigate the confusing maze of special education and help students get the support they need to THRIVE!

Arizona Helping Hands Back to School Drive

Back to School Drive Registration is open!

Our 10th Annual Back to School Drive will take place on July 13th & 14th from 10am to 4pm each day. You may pick which day you want to register for. YOU MUST REGISTER EACH CHILD SEPARATELY!

A brand new, fully stocked backpack helps children in foster care feel comfortable and confident and is a rite of passage every child should enjoy on the first day of school.

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

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 Crisis Arizona Education Programs