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December 2021 Issue 45

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

December 3, 2021 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities. It was created in 1992 by the United Nations with the aim to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development, and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life. Persons with disabilities are one of the most excluded groups in our global society and are less likely to access health care, education, employment, and to participate in the community.

Foster caregivers often have firsthand experience working with children with disabilities, both visible and not visible. The Division of Developmental Disabilities offers guidance and support to families and individuals diagnosed with one of the following developmental disabilities:

  • Autism
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Epilepsy
  • Cognitive/Intellectual Disability
  • Under the age of 6 and at risk of having a Developmental Disability

In order to qualify for DDD services, the child must have an official diagnosis from a professional trained in early childhood development, such as an AzEIP specialist (under age 3), licensed physician, school psychologist, early childhood education specialist, nurse practitioner, physician's assistant, licensed psychologist, pediatrician, or child neurologist (age 3-6). The diagnostic requirements vary after age 6. Please consult the DDD website for eligibility criteria.

Either the legal or physical guardian of the child can complete the application for DDD enrollment, so if a child in your care receives a qualifying diagnosis, the caregiver can complete it or reach out to the assigned Specialist right away to get the application started. If the child is approved for DDD, it may change the foster care reimbursement rate, depending on the type and frequency of services/treatment that the child participates in. Your licensing worker should be able to help you navigate this process, including how to modify your license to a Child Developmental Home (CDH), if necessary.

Be aware that DDD does not provide services to the child (other than case management with regular check-ins), unless they qualify for ALTCS, Arizona Long Term Care System. ALTCS provides long term care services to financially and medically eligible Arizona residents who are aged, blind, disabled, or have a developmental disability (must impact them in several functional areas). Children in DCS custody are provided health insurance, which does cover necessary medical, behavioral, and developmental services. However, ALTCS may cover services with providers outside of the CHP network, and the benefit continues into adulthood, whereas CHP does not. So if a child in your care qualifies for DDD, it would be wise to apply for ALTCS.

DDD and/or ALTCS can be a long, confusing, and challenging process. Raising Special Kids is an organization that exists to improve the lives of children from birth to age 26 who have any type of disability or special healthcare need. They provide support, training, information, and individual assistance to Arizona families to help them become effective advocates for their children.

Arizona Day Trips

Christmas seems to be coming earlier each year, but summer feels like it's lasting an eternity! The weather is finally supposed to cool down in the next few weeks, and things are opening up again, so let's get out and enjoy our three months of lovely weather before we're sweating again! Here are some fun, lesser-known activities and day trips around Arizona. Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation may be able to help with cost of admission/activities in some of these locations. Note: DCS is not affiliated with any of these businesses, nor do we endorse them or any views they may hold; they just look like a fun family time!

  • Jerome isn’t exactly a “hidden gem,” but it always warrants a mention! This old mining town is located between Prescott and Flagstaff. It’s a hub for artists, tourists, and ghosts. They have lots of attractions (like ghost tours), shops, restaurants, hotels, and so much walking, but totally worth it!
  • Bisbee, just a few miles from the Mexico border, is another defunct mining town/tourist destination, but again, totally worth the mention. It has art, music, history, architecture, outdoor activities, dining, and so much more! Take a tour of the Queen Mine, 1500 feet underground! Go on the Old Bisbee Ghost Tour! Or do the scariest activity of all: climb the historic Heritage Stairs, all 1034 of them!
  • Pine Creek Lavender Farm is just off the beaten path between Camp Verde and Payson, but it’s a beautiful drive and an even more beautiful destination. They are open Friday and Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 10-2, weather permitting, and dogs are welcome (children should also be acceptable).
  • What child doesn’t go through a train phase? Daisy Mountain Railroad in Anthem is the answer! Right now, they are running the Candy Cane Express, featuring festive lights and special treats. If trains aren’t your thing, their parent company also owns Enchanted Island Amusement Park in Phoenix, so check that out, too!
  • Not to go overboard with the ride recommendations, but if you’ve ever wanted to take a scenic nature cruise, The Dolly Steamboat is just the adventure for you! Located out past Apache Junction, this family-friendly activity ranges from 90 minutes to 2.5 hours, depending on which cruise you choose.
  • I don’t mean to toot my own horn, but I’m pretty great at train recommendations. McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale is pretty popular, but have you seen the full holiday light event that runs until January 2nd? Tickets include unlimited train and carousel rides.
  • Lake Havasu has a lot of activities, such as watersports, hiking, off-roading, etc, which is great. But did you know that Lake Havasu is home to the London Bridge? It’s totally worth the several-hour drive to see a piece of history that is most definitely not “falling down.”
  • Peoria is home to Challenger Space Center. Exhibits include Space Shuttle Program, Hall of Astronauts, Deep Space Gallery, and much more! Take your future astronaut for an afternoon of niche fun!
  • Hall of Flame in Phoenix is on fire! The 35,000 square feet of exhibit galleries boasts over 130 wheeled pieces and thousands of smaller artifacts, such as fire apparatus, artwork, uniforms and equipment, and many hands-on exhibits for children.
  • If you’ve ever threatened to take away all technology from your kiddos, now’s your chance to show them what life would be like with zero electronics. Pioneer Living History Museum in far-north Phoenix features a full village of twenty historic 19th century buildings, such as houses, a church, shops, a schoolhouse, and many more.
  • We’ve covered trains and automobiles, but what about planes? Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson fits the bill! The 80 acres of outdoor displays and 250,000 square feet inside the hangars are sure to take the airplane obsession to greater heights.
  • If you’ve ever thought about how fun it would be to go hiking on the back of a llama, you’re in luck! Arizona Backcountry Llamas near Prescott can make your dreams come true. Unfortunately, they are booked until March, but the weather should still be nice then, so reserve your llama trek now!
  • Arizona Museum of Natural History in Mesa is honestly one of the most fun family activities. There’s so much to see and do, but by far, the best part is the animatronic dinosaurs on Dinosaur Mountain, featuring a flash flood! Your kiddos will talk about it for weeks!
  • More trains? Arizona may have a slight train obsession... Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler features 12 passenger cars that visitors can walk through. They’re closed during the summer due to the heat, but they are open Saturdays and Sundays 10-4 September through May.
  • The Navajo Nation has several museums throughout Arizona, including the Explore Navajo Interactive Museum, the Navajo Code Talker Museum, the Navajo Village Heritage Center, and several more. Exhibits vary but include historical manuscripts, documents, films, photographs, and artifacts; gear and tools used in World War II, transcripts of a Code Talker, and exceptionally detailed photos; authentic Navajo food, plains Indian dance performances, and traditional storytelling.
  • This one is a little out there, but it’s definitely intriguing. Mystery Castle in the foothills of South Mountain in Phoenix is something out of a fairytale. Tours run October through May. It is not wheelchair accessible and is difficult for anyone with mobility issues.
  • We’ve all driven by it on the way to/from Tucson, but how many of us have actually stopped at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch? Surprise, it’s more than just ostriches! They have deer, goats, donkeys, ducks, birds, sheep, bunnies, and stingrays, too! You can feed and pet the animals. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon with the kiddos!
  • We’ve all heard of Tombstone, but have you heard of Trail Dust Town? Located in Tucson, this wild west town is fun for all ages. There’s dining, shopping, attractions, and more to experience.
  • Biosphere 2 in Oracle is the world’s largest controlled environment dedicated to understanding the impacts of climate change. The 3.14 acre laboratory contains active research systems, spanning from ocean to desert environments. You can tour the facility and learn about the research happening there. It is family-friendly but not mobility-friendly. Make sure to apply mosquito repellant!
  • Seligman is known as the birthplace of Historic Route 66, aka the inspiration for Disney’s Cars. There are a lot of Mom & Pop businesses, family-run restaurants, and trading posts. The surrounding areas feature Supai and its magical waterfalls, Kingman’s Keepers of the Wild exotic animal nature park, exploring and hiking, and so much more!

AFFCF Food Cards

Roadmap to Resilience Podcast

Roadmap to Resilience: Supporting Children Experiencing Stress and Trauma is a free collection of podcast episodes and digital resources that provide an understanding of the latest research and best practices for supporting children of all ages who have experienced stressful and traumatic events.

Dr. Amanda Zelechoski and Dr. Julian Ford are psychologists and researchers who are experts in the field of child stress and trauma. Together with more than a dozen international experts in child trauma, they delve into research-based strategies for building resilience in children of all ages.

Scholarship Opportunity for Students Experiencing Homelessness

The EEqual Scholarship Awards Program is designed to highlight the incredible potential of young people in the United States who are struggling with homelessness, housing instability, or extreme poverty. At EEqual, we believe that every student, no matter their economic background, should have an equal opportunity in education.

This scholarship covers tuition costs, up to $8,000, for students experiencing homelessness or housing instability (as defined under the McKinny-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program); students in extreme poverty; or students whose family is currently going through a transition) to attain post-secondary education. Selected scholars will also be paired with a mentor who will guide them throughout their years in higher education.

Birth and Foster Parent Partnership

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 are parents and family members of children with disabilities and can relate to the challenges facing parents and family members who call for support. Our staff receives on-going 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.

One For All - Welcome to Our Home

Do you, or does anyone you know, have a NEW foster care placement? Twelve foster care support organizations across the state have created unique “Welcome to our Home” offers for families who take new placements between October 1 and December 31, 2021.

This "One4All" effort is our way of saying thank you, and supporting you in stepping up and stepping in to empty the placement centers and welcome a new child into your home. Whether you’re a licensed foster parent or kinship caregiver, if this is your first placement or your 10th, we appreciate and applaud your commitment.

Participating "Welcome to Our Home" organizations are:

  • ASA Now
  • Arizona 1.27
  • Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents
  • Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation
  • Arizona Helping Hands
  • Aviva Children's Services
  • Boost a Foster Family
  • Helen's Hope Chest
  • More Than a Bed
  • Spreading Threads
  • Three Precious Miracles
  • Voices for CASA Children

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.

This help 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.

Family Care KIDS Preschool

Family Care KIDS is the newest service from Christian Family Care. Family Care KIDS is a trauma-informed preschool in Phoenix which serves foster children, as well as children in the community between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years old. At Family Care KIDS, they understand every child comes with their own story. All teachers at Family Care KIDS are sensitive to that and are trauma-informed. Their goal is to grow and develop a beautiful classroom environment full of children engaged in joyful, playful, and appropriately challenging learning. Learn more at FamilyCareKIDS.com. *DES approved*

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.

Papa John's Partnership

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.

Child Crisis Arizona also offers a Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Virtual Support Group. Meet with other parents experiencing some of the same struggles and victories while parenting Arizona's most vulnerable children. The remaining date for 2021 is December 15 at 1pm.

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

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 from toddlers to teenagers. Some have special behavioral or medical needs, some are without siblings, and others are in groups of siblings.

Royalette

Royalette is a strong-willed and happy girl. She will respond positively to people she knows well and enjoys one-on-one attention. Royalette loves music and will sing along to her favorite songs. She also enjoys floating or walking in the pool and laughing. Royalette enjoys school and is able to pick up on directions quickly in the classroom and at home. She enjoys her time at school and the opportunity to interact with her teachers.

Royalette was born in 2009.

Noah B.

Noah is a sweet and adorable boy. He enjoys listening to children’s music and television shows. Noah likes to spend time outdoors, when the weather permits. He is looking for a forever family to provide him with love and stability. He would love a family that spends one-on-one time with him and reads him children’s books. He would do best with a family that is knowledgeable regarding children with medical needs.

Noah was born in 2009.

Nevaeh V.

Neveah is a friendly and sweet girl who exudes joy as she waves and smiles at people. Nevaeh loves to play in the pool and being pushed in the swings at the park, and her favorite toys include rubber balls or other teething toys that she can chew. She often likes to explore her room and toys. Her foster mom describes her strengths as being sweet, social, and not being picky.

Nevaeh was born in 2007.

Travis

Travis is a curious boy who likes to be on-the-go. He has found simple joys in life which can sustain him for long periods of time: Music, kid friendly videos, swings and slides at the park, and good food. He can be affectionate and likes to be close to you. He likes traveling from place to place. Travis needs patience and dedication from a family who are savvy with support resources for kids like him. He is learning to express himself through different modalities, and that is opening up a whole new world for him.

Travis was born in 2009.

Karen

Karen enjoys music and looking at trees and birds outside the windows. She loves being around other children and being spoken to. Karen seems to be fond of the sounds, colors, and actions of cartoons and movies. She is easily entertained by playing with toys that light up and going to church with her foster family

Karen was born in 2007.

Xavier R.

Xavier is a sweet boy. He is already a patriot. In fact, his favorite part of the day is when his school classmates bring out small American flags and all say the Pledge of Allegiance together out loud. At school he also follows a command to use a mechanical device that turns on music in his classroom and engages in several therapeutic services. Xavier loves to be around people and responds well to tactile contact. Listening to music — especially familiar Disney tunes — is one of Xavier’s favorite at-home activities. He especially enjoys having others sing along and likes to hold hands and “dance” with others while in his assistance chair.

Xavier was born in 2008.

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

Created By
Rhiannon Schaudt-Hobkirk
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