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Donations are used to support Colorado's adoptive families.
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| Help COCAF While You Shop!
Use AmazonSmile when you shop Amazon, and support COCAF at the same time! Shop at AmazonSmile and 0.5% of your eligible Amazon purchases can be donated to the nonprofit of your choice - including COCAF. Your donations help adoptive families in Colorado find the services they need to keep their families safe, healthy, and thriving. Click here to start shopping.
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CLASSROOM
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TBRI® Primer -- Introduction and Overview
Friday
August 17, 2018
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Boulder County Dept. of Housing & Human Services
515 Coffman, Rm 112
Longmont, CO 80501
TRBI® -- Connecting Principles - Addressing attachment needs & Empowering Principles- Addressing physical needs
Saturday
August 18, 2018
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Boulder County Dept. of Housing & Human Services
515 Coffman, Rm 112
Longmont, CO 80501
TBRI® -- Empowering Principles- Addressing physical needs & Correcting Principles - Addressing fear-based behaviors
Saturday
August 25, 2018
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Boulder County Dept. of Housing & Human Services
515 Coffman, Rm 112
Longmont, CO 80501
Powerful Tools for Kinship Caregivers
Fridays (7 weeks)
September 7 - October 19, 2018
10:00 a.m. - noon
Longmont Hub
515 Coffman St
Longmont, CO
Contact Boulder County Housing and Human Services at [email protected] for more info.
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TBRI® Caregiver Training
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Intro & Overview
July 20, 2018
September 21, 2018
November 2, 2018
Connecting Principles - Addressing Attachment Needs
August 3, 2018
Empowering Principles - Addressing Physical Needs
October 19, 2018
Correcting Principles - Addressing Fear-Based Behaviors
June 15, 2018
December 7, 2018
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TBRI® Caregiver Training OUTSIDE of the Metro Area
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Flagler
June 4, 2018
Intro & Overview
Flagler
June 5, 2018
Connecting Principles -- Addressing Attachment Needs
Flagler
June 6, 2018
Empowering Principles -- Addressing Physical Needs
Flagler
June 7, 2018
Correcting Principles -- Addressing Fear-Based Behaviors
Greeley
June 14, 2018
Intro & Overview
Greeley
June 18, 2018
Connecting Principles -- Addressing Attachment Needs
Greeley
June 19, 2018
Empowering Principles -- Addressing Physical Needs
Greeley
June 20, 2018
Correcting Principles -- Addressing Fear-Based Behaviors
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WEBINARS
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Navigating Family Connections for Children Being Raised Outside their Birth Family
Tuesday
July 24, 2018
11:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Using Facebook Groups to Provide Family Support After Placement
Thursday
July 26, 2018
1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
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| CONFERENCES |
Finding Health: The Intersection of Disability & Nutrition
July 28 & 29, 2018
Double Tree Denver - Aurora
13696 E Iliff Pl
Aurora, CO 80014
Click here for more info.
NACAC Annual Conference
August 7-10, 2018
St Paul, Minnesota
Strengthening Colorado Families & Communities Conference
September 26-28, 2018
Vail Marriot
715 W Lionshead Circle
Vail, CO 81657
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Sensory Friendly Films
AMC Theatres (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program.
Participating theatres:
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Tuesday
July 10
&
Saturday
July 14
Mamma Mia Here We Go Again
Hotel Transylvania Summer Vacation
Saturday
July 28
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Saturday
July 14
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FREE RESOURCES
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Looking for books or movies about adoption? Or how to deal with school-related adoption issues?
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It seems there is no shortage of issues lately that directly affect children, the most current one being the unethical and immoral imprisonment of immigrant children by the US government.
COCAF believes no child should be removed from their parents unless there is evidence of harm or overwhelming evidence of imminent harm to the children. We are all too familiar with the lasting traumatic effects of forcibly removing children from their primary caretakers, and to see our government purposely causing trauma to these children is unthinkable - and yet, it happened.
Our foster care system is not equipped to properly care for these children, and there is no reason why these children need to be in foster care. Please contact your elected federal representatives and tell them that these children - all of them - must be returned to their parents now. Go to www.callmycongress.com for contact information for your representatives.
Enjoy the rest of summer!
Colleen Tarket,
COCAF Board of Directors
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Life After High School Online Training Series Helps Young Adults Prepare for the Future with I/DD
Have questions about transition?
Wondering what transition is?
Is college a good choice for my student? Who can help my student find a job? How do we help students find what they want to do when they graduate? Life After High School Trainings can help!
Visit www.jeffcotag.info to view Life After High School trainings online. JeffcoTAG is a redesigned website featuring a learning series that includes video vignettes, slide presentations, handouts, and web links to resources.
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Young Adult Legal Advocacy Program
Youth who have experienced foster care, homelessness, or other trauma face many obstacles as they transition to adulthood. The Young Adult Legal Advocacy Program works to remove barriers by providing assistance on civil legal matters that frequently impact these populations. The goal is to provide young people who have experienced homelessness, foster care, or other trauma the legal advocacy they need to move past obstacles and successfully transition into adulthood.
The Young Adult Legal Advocacy Program provides free legal and clinical support to help these young adults navigate the transition to adulthood, including:
- Obtaining birth certificates and state/other identification documents
- Expunging a juvenile record
- Securing public assistance/government benefits
- Addressing landlord disputes
- Providing training, consultation and resources for youth and young adults, as well as professionals who work with this population
For more information, contact:
Lauren Rafter, Staff Attorney
Shaffer Fellow
303-302-9914
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TRBI® & Trauma-Informed Classrooms
TBRI® & Trauma-Informed Classrooms is a 1-day seminar designed to equip educators to help children from 'hard places' of abuse, neglect, and/or trauma.
Join us before the start of the school year to learn how to disarm fear, optimize learning, and facilitate healing for vulnerable children in the classroom. This 1-day training will include an overview on the impact of trauma and sessions on the Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) Empowering, Connecting, and Correcting Principles as they relate to a school setting. Our goal for TBRI® & Trauma-Informed Classrooms is to equip educators to meet the needs of every child in his or her classroom.
TBRI® & Trauma Informed Classrooms will include information that applies to a wide variety of ages. This training can benefit teachers of children and youth of all ages.
Live Stream:
August 7, 2018
8:00 am - 3:00 pm MST
The Adoption Exchange Live-Stream Locations and Registration Link for your Area
:
Arapahoe County Department of Human Services - 14980 E. Alameda Dr, Aurora, CO 80012 (Training room: Littleton Room) Click here for Aurora.
If you are not able to attend at one of these locations, you can follow the link below and register to live-stream from wherever is convenient for you. There is a cost associated if you do so independently. Information regarding the seminar as well as a link to the TCU website is provided here.
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Implicit Bias: How history and cultural stories impact foster & adopted youth
This 3-hour training is to provide the opportunity for participants to begin to understand their foster and adopted children's cultural stories and appreciate how it may influence all aspects of their lives, create their identities, social values, and build or hinder their ability to build essential relationships. The participants will learn how to become culturally aware of self and others; identify barriers that could interrupt relationship development in culturally different families and to recognize the importance of relating to others in a culturally respectful, responsive and sensitive manner. Participants will begin to understand and practice cultural humility, which in turn will help build culturally mindful foster and adopt parents and allow for courageous conversations.
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CO Department of Human Services (CDHS) Summer Planning Tour
What would you change if you were the leader of CDHS?
What's going right in your community that could go right in Colorado?
What does your community need from human services?
Each summer, CDHS conducts a series of town hall meetings across the state to solicit feedback, comments and suggestions to help inform the Department's direction and priorities for the coming year.
COCAF interacts with CDHS all year long identifying issues for pre- and post-adoptive and kinship families - this is your chance to voice any concerns or issues you have regarding your family, and Colorado's permanency families.
Please consider attending one of the remaining meetings to present any comments you may have on adoption and kinship issues. The remaining meetings include:
Archuleta County - Tuesday, July 24, 2018, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
La Plata County - Wednesday, July 25, 2018, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Mesa County - Thursday, July 26, 2018, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Moffat County - Friday, July 27, 2018, 9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
For information on the CDHS Town Hall meetings, click here.
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Post-Adoption Support Critical
COCAF has always advocated for continued support services after the adoption is finalized. Families who do receive comprehensive support after the adoption appear to have better outcomes.
The Quality Improvement Center for Adoption and Guardianship Support and Preservation has published a report that support's COCAF's assertion that this continuum of support is necessary for families to succeed. Click here to read their report.
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Ultimate Adoption Resource List
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ICAV Perspective Paper: Would We Adopt via Intercountry or Transracial Adoption, Why, Why not?
This paper documents the feelings of 24 intercountry/ transracial adoptees. Their brutally honest comments may surprise many.
Please note: The paper does not indicate how the adoptees were selected for this report, and whether or not other adoptees responded but were not included in the paper, so the published responses may have been specifically chosen to make the author's point.
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Broncos Bunch Movie Night
Friday, July 13, 2018
Doors open at 6:30, movie at 7:30 p.m.
Mile High Stadium, Denver, CO
Come see the movie Coco at Mile High Stadium! Tickets are $5 per person.
Free Summer Event!
Rebound Colorado, a teen substance use disorder treatment agency, is hosting this free summer event to bring awareness to mental health and substance use recovery services for youth and young adults in the Denver metro area. This action-packed day includes a free obstacle course challenge, raffle, and delicious food. Participants will take on a professionally designed obstacle course! Register for your free tickets online by clicking here.
DCAC Golf Fundraiser
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Raccoon Creek Golf Course - 7301 West Bowles Avenue,
Littleton, Colorado 80123
Join the Denver Children's Advocacy Center for a day of fun and fundraising with golf, food, margaritas, games, contests, fun prizes, and more.
What time?
Registration - 12:30 p.m. | Shotgun Start - 1:30 p.m.
Cost?
$150 per player
Questions?
Please contact Meghan Parman, Development Associate, at [email protected] or 720.974.7231
Art from the Heart to Benefit the Denver Children's Advocacy Center (DCAC)
Thursday, September 13, 2018, 5:30 p.m.
Space Gallery, Denver, CO
Art from the Heart 2018 will be hosted on Thursday, September 13th at the beautiful and unique Space Gallery in Denver's Santa Fe Art District. The event will include live
music, strolling dinner, delicious drinks, a live auction, and more. The 2018 event honoree is Lucy Ana Aviles Walton, a longtime supporter, volunteer, and friend of DCAC.
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Support Groups
Sometimes our children provide us with challenges that we're just not quite ready to handle. And sometimes support groups can help us find the answers we need, or at least make us feel okay about the unique challenges we're facing. Here are some support groups that might be helpful.
Boulder Valley Christian Church
Support group for foster and adoptive moms
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to noon
Facilitated by Lisa Firle, MA., LPCC
Boulder Valley Christian Church, 7100 S. Boulder Road, Boulder.
Parents of Children with PTSD
First Friday of the month, 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.
464 Inca St, Denver, CO 80204
$25 per person or $40 couple
Some scholarships are available.
For more information, contact Jan Tomski at
[email protected]
or by phone at 303-881-7630.
Adult Adoptee Support Group
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sondermind, Suite 12, 100 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO 80302
Cost $25-$35
Jefferson County Kids Group
Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian, 11500 W. 20th Ave, Lakewood
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m..
RSVP to Mindy Beckler at 303-432-5205
North Adams Grandfamily Support Group
Third Thursday of the month 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Zion Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall, 14th & Skeel, Brighton, CO RSVP to Elaine Riedl at 303-912-8337.
Fathers Forever
2nd & 4th Thursdays
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Resilience Center,
1298 Peoria St,
Aurora, CO 80011
For more information, contact Don Reynolds (720-353-6103) or Aaron Lockwood (303-901-4486).
Grandparent & Kinship Support Group
2nd & 4th Wednesdays
9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Aurora Mental Health Center, Viewpoint Office, Lotus Room
11059 E Bethany Dr., Aurora, CO 80014
For more information, contact Aline Ratliff (303-885-5163).
Foster Care & Adoptive Parents Support Group
Last Sunday of every month from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Discovery Church,
2605 W 144th Ave, Broomfield, CO 80023
Online Support Group for Adoptive, Foster, & Kinship Parents
Second Tuesday of the Month
Morning session 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Evening session 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Session includes a short presentation followed by a discussion.
Email Deb Felio at
for the toll-free number and access code.
Adoptive Parents Support Group
1st Tuesday of the month
5:30pm-7:00pm
Supervised activities and group therapy for children
Lakewood Nazarene Church
Lakewood, CO
RSVP to Family Support Specialist, Mindi Bekler, 720-251-5876
Teen & Tween Adoption Support for Parents
Potluck
2nd & 4th Monday of each month
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Resilience Center
1298 Peoria St
Aurora, C
O 80011
Young Adult Mental Illness Support Group
For ages 18-28
1st & 3rd Thursday of every month
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
1st week Classroom F-G
3rd week Classroom E
St Anthony Hospital
11600 W 2nd Dr
Lakewood, CO 80228
Contact Courtney at 720-369-2629 for more information.
Welcome Child Adoption/Foster Care Support Group
Second Sunday of the month
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Timberline Church, Room 214
2908 S. Timberline Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525
For more information contact Michele Sanner by email at
mlsanner@gmail.com or by phone at
(970) 481-5749.
Xpress Yourself Art & Play Therapy
Support groups for internationally adopted children & adolescents
CCAI
6920 S. Holly Circle
Centennial, CO 80112
Call 303-850-9998, ext 22
Called to Adopt Support Group
4th Saturday of the month, 6:00 p.m.,
Christ Community Church, Greeley, CO
The Men's Group for Adoptive Dads
Thursdays, 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.
Zoe's, 715 10th St,
Greeley, CO 80631
For more information, contact Tim Paxton at 970-691-5737 or by email at [email protected].
Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support Group
Facilitators: Sarah Ahn and Jenny Burnsed, LPC
Last Monday of every month 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Bixby School, 3750 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder
There is no fee associated with this group, though donations are gratefully accepted. Contact Sarah at [email protected] for questions.
Therapeutic Post-Adoption Support Group
2nd Thursday of the month, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Windsor Timberline Church
360 E Crossroads Blvd, Windsor, CO
Aurora Mental Health
Adoption Support Group
2nd & 4th Mondays of the month
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Aurora Mental Health
11059 E Bethany Drive, Aurora, CO 80014
Contact Sheila Reynolds 303-525-2123 or Stephanie Seriff 303-856-7698 for more information
Colorado Adams County Rainbow Center
3rd Thursday of each month, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
2140 E 88th Ave, Thornton, CO 80229
Contact: KimNichelle Rivera 303-226-5536
EMPOWER Littleton/Aurora/Englewood
1st & 3rd Thursday, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network
155 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO 80112
NAMI Connections Recovery Support Group for Adults
Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m.
ADMHN Building, 3rd floor
5500 S. Sycamore St, Littleton, CO 80120
Contact: Carol
303-790-1055
NAMI Family Support Group Teleconference
2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month
Louisville Parent Support Group
Second Tuesday of the month
7:00 - 8:30
Art Underground
901 Front Street, Louisville, CO 80027
$25 per session; reservations required.
Call 720-352-1743.
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| COCAF strives to provide Colorado's adoptive families with the information and resources they need to keep their families healthy and happy. If you have ideas for topics you think we should cover, please let us know. And if you find a good resource -- definitely let us know. Please forward your ideas or information to me at [email protected]. Materials received by the 20th of a month will be considered for inclusion in the next month's newsletter.
Wishing all families peace, serenity, and a good sense of humor,
Colleen Tarket, COCAF Board Member (and newsletter put-ter-together-er)
COCAF does not recommend or endorse any specific book, website, survey, study, or provider of services. The purpose of the COCAF e-newsletter is to provide families with potential resources. All information contained in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only and as is without warranty expressed or implied, and shall not constitute legal, medical, psychiatric, educational, or parenting advice. COCAF is not be liable for any damages arising from using the information in this newsletter, including direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and/or consequential damages. No information on this site should be considered legal advice. Laws vary by state, so you are urged to research the specific laws, and your rights, within your state. If you have specific questions regarding your rights, or the laws in your state, please contact an attorney.
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Use this area to provide your subscribers information about your organization.
We believe that all children have the right to a permanent loving family. We are dedicated to improving services for every pre- and post-adoptive family and to increasing the knowledge and accountability of public systems. We are committed to advocacy in state and local service planning and delivery, in support of all pre and post adoptive families.
Sincerely,
Deborah Cave, Executive Director
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