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CONNECTED CAREGIVERS SNEAK PEEK Foster Care Awareness Month We thank the Walter S. Johnson Foundation for their generous support.
CONNECTED CAREGIVERSUpdates & Opportunities for Resource Families in California
M A Y 2018 V O L . 3
02 2018 Legis lat ion
Update for Caregivers
SNEAK PEEK
03 Regional Events to
Create Statewide
Caregiver Pol icy
Agenda
Parents & Caregivers
for Wel lness
Connect & Fol low !
Foster Care AwarenessMonth BY JENN REXROAD
May is Foster Care Awareness month & Mental Health
Awareness Month. We thank all relative and non-relative
caregivers for the amount of time, patience and love you
pour into the lives of the vulnerable children in your care.
As the state continues Continuum of Care Reform, it
depends on its caregivers to provide the loving and
stable homes children need. The number of group home
placements are beginning to decline, as more children
are placed in or are moved into family home settings.
Stability is the focus of the state's current and former
foster youth. Foster youth want stable, loving, and
empathetic homes. California Alliance of Caregivers
brings the voice of caregivers to inform policymakers on
what will make these goals a reality.
We thank the Walter S. Johnson Foundation for their generous support.
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Legislation Supporting Resource Families & Children in Foster Care
Passing a bill is just the first step in
improving the child welfare system.
Local level implementation is the
next step. Two programs need input
from resource families:
Foster Parent Retention,
Recruitment & Support (FPPRS)
Child Care Bridge Program
(Funding began January 1, 2018)
Counties are currently setting up
this program. Stakeholders
(resource families) can ask for a
stakeholder meeting to engage the
county in how the program can best
serve resource families.
If you are interested in learning
more, please contact Jenn Rexroad
The bills that CAC is tracking and providing
input/support on are:
AB - 1784 - Resource family approval: pilot
program - coaching/training - Senate
AB - 2043 - Foster youth: response system -
24 hour hotline and mobile response-
Senate
AB - 2183 - Foster care: resource family -
making RFA work - Appropriations
AB - 2323 - Child abuse and neglect
investigations - Appropriations
SB - 925 - Foster care: CASA invited to
participate in Child & Family Team
meetings - Assembly
SB - 940 - Student Financial Aid: Cal Grant:
Foster Youth - Assembly
SB - 1083 - Resource Family Approval -
Assembly
FPRRS - Foster Parent Retention,
Recruitment & Support Funding- we are
advocating for continued funding
*The Governor has included funding for
Emergency (relative) placements!
You can sign up for updates or read bill
language at:
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
or on our website:
cacaregivers.org/updates-advocacy/
Please let us know if you have any concerns
or ideas for amendments.
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UPCOMING
FREE ENTRY & CHILD CARE
TH
OF
JUNE
EVENTSJOIN US ON THE
Caregiver Policy Summit
315 Mace Blvd, Davis
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Find out more : www.cacaregivers.org/
regional-events
Caregivers across the state are
creating a statewide caregiver
policy agenda. Your input is
needed! Please let us know if
you are interested in attending
an event in your area!
San Diego, September 2018
September 2018
October 2018
January 2019
March 2019
July 2019
Caregiver & Provider
training in Eureka
Caregiver & Provider
training in Bakersf ie ld
Caregiver & Provider
training in Sonoma
Caregiver & Provider
training in Fresno
Caregiver & Provider
training in Lancaster
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 2019Cal i fornia Mental
Health Advocates for
Chi ldren & Youth
Conference
www .cmhacy .org
Advocates from around the state gathered to networkand learn how to improve the quality and penetrationof mental health services for children and youth.Parents & Caregivers for Wellness partnersparticipated in a "Fish Bowl" presentation betweenyouth and parents. The discussion was lively andinformative.
One of the best presentations of the conference wason Education Rights presented by East Bay Children'sLaw Center. I highly recommend that caregivers viewthis presentation for information on how to navigateyour child's entitlement to education services. https://www.cacaregivers.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/EBCLO-Ed-Rights-CMHACY-presentation-5.2018.pdf
A full list of the conference presentations: https://cmhacy.org/2018-conference/#presentation
Please take the caregiver survey if you haven'talready given feedback: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/parentcaregiver_cac
Sign up for information on upcoming Parents &Caregivers for Wellness events: http://bit.ly/PC4WSignup
To schedule a focus group or "Fish Bowl" presentationwith your group: [email protected]
