In This Issue...

The Buzz from The Capitol: Legislative Updates

CAFCA Executive Director Named National President

Family Navigation Pilot Launches

Denver's CBS4 Asks CAFCA to Chime in on New Legislation

Attention Workshop Presenters

CAFCA Annual Conference--Become a Sponsor!

and MORE!

Buzz From the Capitol: Legislative Updates

CAFCA Bill Watch List:

For a listing and links to all legislation that CAFCA followed this session follow this link:

https://fastdemocracy.com/shared-bills/?sharing-bill-list-id=kbfVkjYKLlix

Highlights for CAFCA member agencies include:

The State Budget includes a 2% Provider Rate Increase across the board. In addition, CAFCA actively supported several bills that provide new or increased funding for facilities serving high acuity youth (HB 24-1038); kinship foster care (SB 24-008); support for the passage of the School Finance Act (HB 24-1448); and more extremely significant funding increases in funding for facility schools, totaling a 9.1% increase from FY 23-24 and a 30.5% increase from FY 23-24 to FY 25-26.

The Facility School funding increases are detailed in the document at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_AwSSB6Mb7NHVQTR7AAAQmby2j7aj6Nn/view

CAFCA thanks lobbyist Benjamin Teevan of Cavan Consulting, LLC for ALL of his hard work and leadership this legislative session!

Dr. Becky Miller Updike (center, orange slacks), the new President of NOSAC, pictured with Executive Directors of state member chapters of NOSAC at their recent national conference in Savannah, GA. (not all state EDs represented in photo)

Congratulations, Madam President

Dr. Becky Miller Updike, CAFCA Executive Director, was recently elected President of NOSAC (National Organization of State Associations for Childrens) at the annual Spring conference in Savannah, GA. Miller Updike has previously served as Secretary and Vice President of the national organization and is honored to step into the role for a one-year term.

Membership in NOSAC is an invaluable asset for CAFCA and other state children's associations in providing frequent, essential communications with leaders of those organizations, whose work is similar to that of CAFCA. According to Miller Updike, "Learning from and with other state association leaders has been incredibly helpful in our ability to advocate at the state and federal level and also to support CAFCA members in carrying out best practices and services for children and families. NOSAC has taught me so much, and the relationships I've made continue to be incredible resources ongoing."

NOSAC is a national organization made up of State Associations who represent children as well as children services. Our purpose and mission is to facilitate networking and to share information among its member associations. On a national level, we coordinate our issues with other National Organizations and provide uncompromising leadership.

The National Organization of State Associations for Children (NOSAC) was founded in 1993 to facilitate networking and to share information among member associations. CAFCA has been an active member of NOSAC for two decades.

CAFCA Hosts Grant Collaboration to Help Promote Permanency: Family Navigation Pilot

CAFCA is working with Hope Forti of Project 1.27 to co-lead a collaboration of twelve partnering organizations providing services and supports to help strengthen foster and kin placements. The purpose of the Pilot is to navigate families through a system of well-rounded support to test whether we can improve outcomes for children in out of home placement (licensed foster, and licensed/unlicensed kinship).

The Pilot was launched this spring through two major grants totaling $300,000. Colorado Springs Health Foundation funded $150,000 toward the Pilot, and Colorado Community Health Alliance funded $150,000. Partners in the Pilot Collaboration include CAFCA, Project 1.27, Foster Source, Cobbled Streets, CASA of Colorado, Care Portal, Neighbor Program, Elevating Connections, Connect Our Kids, Flying Horse Ranch, CHAMPS, and medical partners. For more information about this grant, contact Hope Forti of Project 1.27 via email: hforti@project127.org or Becky Miller Updike of CAFCA at becky@voiceforcokids.org.

CAFCA Executive Director, Dr. Becky Miller Updike, and political reporter Shaun Boyd of Denver's CBS4 discuss the passage of new legislation that will impact Colorado's child welfare landscape significantly.

CAFCA and the Media

CAFCA Executive Director, Dr. Becky Miller Updike, was recently featured in an interview with Denver's CBS4 regarding the passage of one of our highest priority bills, HB 24-1038 regarding services for high acuity youth.

Link to that interview: https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/colorado-lawmakers-approve-millions-dollars-address-youth-mental-health-crisis/

Share Your Expertise With Your Colleagues & Peers

You've worked hard to advance your career, and you've reached some strong milestones along the way. You've experienced things many of your colleagues and peers have not, providing you with a unique perspective that sets you apart from the rest of the field. Your expertise has great value, and now, we're inviting you to share that with others in your field through the 2024 CAFCA Annual Conference.

It's our annual Call for Workshop Presenters for Better Together '24, the CAFCA Annual Conference, which will be held Thursday, August 29 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. This event, a favorite for many, serves professionals and stakeholders in child welfare, human services, state and county government, foster care and child policy advocacy. Workshops and breakout sessions are a main feature of the event, with morning and afternoon sessions of 1.5 hours each. Topics are open-ended as long as they are relevant to child welfare stakeholders, although we are especially interested in several key areas including:

Racial Justice, Diversity, Equity and or Implicit Bias
Creative Collaboration
Foster Parenting Recruitment, Retention, Stabilization, Support
LGBTQ+ Awareness, Issues, Services
Education Issues, Facility Schools, Day Treatment
And so many more.

The full list can be found here. This year's event will move back to the beautiful Mount Vernon Canyon Club just outside of Golden. To apply, click here and be sure to submit no later than 5:00 pm on Weds., July 3. More information about the conference---including keynote speaker will be made available in the weeks ahead. If you are interested in sponsorships for your business, take a look at the story below---or contact Dave at 720-284-8915 or email him at dave@voiceforcokids.org.

Why CAFCA Sponsorships are IDEAL for Your Business

Partnerships between businesses and non-profits offer many benefits for both parties, and the rewards far outweigh any drawbacks. Here are just some of the many benefits of sponsorships:

With a corporate sponsorship, your company and brand receive increased visibility and recognition by aligning with a cause that is likely near and dear to the hearts of your target audience.
By partnering with a charitable cause that aligns with the interests and preferences of the target demographic, brands can create more meaningful connections.
A sponsorship showcases your commitment to social responsibility and community impact.
It demonstrates a sense of purpose, which resonates with consumers who prioritize socially responsible businesses.
It improves staff morale and satisfaction when they know their employer is engaged with the community on a charitable level.
Sponsorships contribute to increased brand equity, customer loyalty, and positive word of mouth.

Sponsorships also provide lucrative tax benefits for your company, engaging team-building opportunities for your employees, and lasting connections with the cause you choose to support. The bottom line is that corporate sponsorships are truly win-win opportunities for everyone.

Here at CAFCA, our completely redesigned sponsorship program features new perks and benefits and more sponsoring opportunities/levels to meet any budget. You may want to consider an event or "Focus" sponsorship which, as the name implies, focuses on one particular event. Or you may want to spread your support throughout the year through either a Principal Partnership or a Strategic Partnership.

One of the best opportunities to get involved is with the CAFCA Annual Conference, happening in August. It offers four different sponsor levels ranging from $500 to $5,000, with a return on your investment that is impressive, to say the least. Find out more here or you can contact Dave via email here.

P.O. Box 653 | Evergreen, CO 80437-0653 | 720.560.3810

www.VoiceForCOKids.org