Gov. Scott Proposes Nearly $200 Million Investment for Adopted Children and Families
Nov. 2, 2017 Release from Governor’s Office TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced he will propose nearly $200 million for families who adopt children from foster care. This funding will continue critical post adoption services for more than 37,000 children. Since taking office, Governor Scott has championed investments for the adoption of more than 20,000 children from Florida’s child welfare and foster care systems. Over the past year, more than 3,600 children were adopted in Florida, the highest year for adoptions in eight years. This week, Governor Scott also proclaimed November as Florida Adoption Month. Governor Scott said, “Every November, we take time to recognize the many families across the state who have opened their hearts and homes to adopt children in need. This Florida Adoption Month, I am proud to propose a nearly $200 million investment as part of my 2018-2019 recommended budget to support children adopted from foster care. Every child deserves a loving family and adoptive parents have a unique opportunity to help change a child’s life for the better. We are grateful to the families who have provided homes for the more than 20,000 children adopted from Florida’s child welfare and foster care systems over the past seven years and will continue to do all we can to encourage families to consider adoption.” DCF Secretary Mike Carroll said, “Being adopted into safe homes with loving families changes the lives of children and also transforms the forever families they join. Continued support after adoption enables more families to open their hearts and homes to children who are available for adoption.” More details on the Governor’s proposed budget will be made available in the coming weeks.
DCF ‘Reissues’ Child Restraint Seat Memo
On Tuesday (Oct. 24, 2017) DCF redistributed to all of its regional offices a 2016 memo outlining the proper use of and legal requirements for child restraint seats when transporting children. The memo can be seen/downloaded here. The content of the memo follows: SUBJECT: Use of Child Restraint Seats When Transporting Children PURPOSE: The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information concerning the proper use of car seats for children transported by the Department of Children and Families and Community-Based Care Lead Agencies or their subcontracted case management organizations. Staff must follow Florida Statutes while transporting children. In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics provides guidance on best practices for the safe transportation of children and can be a valuable resource. BACKGROUND: In recent years, Florida has seen changes to the state’s laws regarding requirements for the use of car seats. Currently section 316.613, Florida Statutes, requires the following: Children 5 years of age and younger must be safely secured by the proper use of a crash-tested, federally approved child restraint device. Children birth through 3 years of age must be secured in a separate carrier or a vehicle manufacturer’s integrated child seat. Children 4 through 5 years of age must be secured in a separate carrier, an integrated child seat, or a child booster seat. Though advisory in nature, the American Academy of Pediatrics’ car seat safety recommendations are listed below: Infants and toddlers should ride rear-facing until they are at least 2 years old. Young children should ride in car safety seats with a harness until at least age 4, including recommendations for children to ride in a. seat with a 5-point harness up to the highest weight or height allowed by the manufacturer. School-aged children should ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until at least age 8 or until the seat belt fits correctly. Children should ride in the rear seat until age 13. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has an excellent resource page on its website for child and motor vehicle safety, which provides instruction on many child car seat safety-related areas as well as best practice guidelines, and can be found at the following link: https://www.flhsmv.gov/safety-center/vehicle-and-child-safety/child-safety/ The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hosts a website that provides instruction on many child car seat safety-related areas, including choosing car seats and proper installation, as well as best practice guidelines. The website can be found at the following link: https://www.safercar.gov/parents/CarSeats/Right-Car-Seat-Age-Size.htm Assistance and training on the proper installation of child safety seats is provided at many county health departments and law enforcement agencies throughout the state. The links below provide locations for those certified to inspect for the proper installationof child safety seats and to provide instruction on proper installation: http://www.safercar.gov/cpsApp/cps/index.htm http://cert.safekids.org/ ACTION NEEDED: Please distribute this Informational Memo to both child protective investigators and Community-Based Care Lead Agency staff. Staff are responsible for ensuring the safety of children while transporting them and must follow all state laws regarding the transportation of children. CONTACT INFORMATION: Should you have questions about this communication, please contact Amy Hand, Office of Child Welfare, at 850-717-4491, or via e-mail at amy.hand@myflfamilies.com.DOC102317DOC102317
Share your QPI Stories to celebrate 10 years! (+Survey)
We received this email from Celina Granato (The Executive Administrator for QPI) and we were asked to share it! … Please consider taking part if you are in one of our many QPI communities. Dear National QPI Network, Just a reminder that we want to know your thoughts, and maybe hear a story or two, about how QPI has impacted your system. Click this link to reflect here! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TenYearsQPIandYou You can email photo(s), too! Big Thank You from your National QPI Team! ———- ORIGINAL EMAIL ———- From: Celina Granato <cgranato@qpiylc.org> Date: Fri, Sep 15, 2017 at 4:24 PM Dear QPI Network, The Quality Parenting Initiative (QPI) is preparing for their 5th National Conference in early 2018 when we will also turn 10 YEARS OLD! In ten years, QPI has expanded from three areas in one site to more than 70 sites in ten different states and we’re still growing. Many voices have been brought to QPI over the years, and we want to capture your thoughts, remarks and observations! Whether you have been with QPI since inception or you are a newer addition to the QPI Family, we ask that you please share commentary or a short story at the link provided about how you, youth and families, and/or your system of care has been impacted by QPI. By sharing your remarks, you give us permission to display them at the QPI National Conference, as well as our website(s). You may also share with us more than once! Please distribute this email to all of your system partners and request respondents to provide their comments at this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TenYearsQPIandYou We hope you are able to attend the National Conference which will be held January 16th and 17th, 2018 with us in New Orleans, LA. Registration will be available mid-October, so prepare to come celebrate with us!
FSFAPA Election Update
A quick reminder we are nearing the submission deadlines for the election for Secretary. To make voting as easy as possible, we have three methods for returning your ballots in a timely manner: 1. By traditional post mail. Must be postmarked no later than Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017. 2. Or, you may scan or take a snapshot/picture of the ballot (with selection and ballot number clearly identifiable) and email to the nominations chair at tmcroom@gofoster.org 3. Or, bring and submit your ballot in person at the Quarterly meeting to be held on OCT 14 at the Hilton Melbourne Rialto Hotel, 200 Rialto Place, Melbourne, Fl 32901. Please note, you must be present to submit a ballot “in person.” Ballots received by designates or couriers and not by the voter in person will not be accepted. If you do not plan to attend the meeting or can not attend the meeting, then you must post mail or email your ballot. Thank you for your votes and participation. Sincerely, Thomas M. Croom, Ph.D. CEO/President/Co-Founder, Go Foster!
IRMA: More Resources in Response to Hurricane
Here are some National Child Traumatic Stress Network resources to get you ready to be able to respond to a hurricane: Help Kids Cope is a mobile app to assist families cope with hurricanes and flooding. Download the free app today for Apple and Android devices. The app has helpful guidance on how to prepare for the storm, how to support your family during the storm, and if your family needs additional support after the storm. Simple Activities for Children Without Power or When Playing Outside is Restricted (English) Parent Guidelines for Helping Children after Hurricanes (English) or Guia para los padres para ayudar a los niños despues de un hurricane (Spanish) After the Hurricane: Helping Young Children Heal (English) Helping Young Children and Families Cope with Trauma (English) or Ayudando a Niños(as) y Familias a Enfrentarse con el Trauma (Spanish) College Students Coping after the Hurricane (English) Teacher Guidelines for Helping Children after Hurricanes (English) Trinka and Sam Children’s Booklet (English) or Trinka y Juan en un día de mucho viento y lluvia (Spanish) Trinka and Sam the Rainy Windy Day is a story developed to help young children and their families begin to talk about feelings and worries they may have after they have experienced the hurricane. A parent guide is included that suggests ways that parents can use the story with their children. Psychological First Aid Guide (English) or Primeros Auxilios Psicológicos (Spanish); Psychological First Aid for Schools PFA Handouts: o Parent Tips for Helping Infants and Toddlers(English) or Consejos para que los padres ayuden a bebés y niños pequeños después de un desastre (Spanish) o Parent Tips for Helping Preschoolers (English) or Consejos para que los padres ayuden a los niños de edad preescolar después de un desastre (Spanish) o Parent Tips for Helping School-age Children (English) or Consejos para que los padres ayuden a los niños de edad escolar después de un desastre (Spanish) o Parent Tips For Helping Adolescents (English) or Consejos para que los padres ayuden a los adolescentes después de un desastre (Spanish) E-Learning Courses: o For disaster responders, take PFA Online at http://learn.nctsn.org (English) o For community and mental health providers who plan to continue working with affected communities long-term, review Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR) and take the SPR Online course. Other Mobile Apps: o PFA Mobile and SAMSHA Behavioral Health Disaster Response SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: Call –800-895-5990 or text TalkWithUs or 66746. English speakers in US Territories text TalkWithUs to 1-212-461-4635
IRMA: Gov. Scott’s office releases comprehensive resource release
To ensure links work, and in case the Governor’s office updates any information, we are posting a link to the release from FRIDAY NIGHT. (Some local information may have updated, but this is a good “roll up” of state resources.) https://www.flgov.com/2017/09/08/gov-scott-issues-updates-on-hurricane-irma-preparedness-8/
IRMA: Sunshine Establishes Crisis Hotline
Sunshine Health Establishes Free Crisis Hotline for Hurricane Irma SUNRISE, FL – As Hurricane Irma heads toward Florida, residents are preparing for its impact. Anxiety is running high for many in the path of this very strong storm. Sunshine Health, Envolve PeopleCare™ and LifeShare have joined forced to offer a 24-hour toll-free crisis hotline at 1-877-941-8079 for anyone affected by Hurricane Irma, now and after it makes landfall in the United States. If you, or someone you know, would like to connect to a licensed professional, call 1-877-941-8079. The line is staffed by healthcare professionals who can offer one-on-one counseling as well as referrals to additional local resources. This is a free service for the community. You do not need to be a Sunshine Health member to call. Spanish speaking services are available.
Tips for helping children deal with evacuation, hurricane
Our friend Graham Perkovich, Child Welfare Trainer with Sunshine Health, has pointed out some great resources (from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network) for the storm situation enveloping the peninsula. Simple Evacuation Activities for Children and Adolescents Parent Guidelines for Helping Children after a Hurricane For more resources, click below: http://www.nctsn.org/trauma-types/natural-disasters/hurricanes#tabset-tab-5 Note: Many are PDFs that are easily printable for times that POWER or INTERNET may not be available. Stay safe.
UPDATED DCF MEMO RE: IRMA & TRAVEL
FSFAPA Note: This outlines the travel order situation by judicial district, if you do not know your judicial district, click here. (Map is by judicial circuit, or you can find your Community Based Care agency.) ***Update Sept 7th at 5:00 P.M.—Circuit 10 has issued an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. ***Update Sept 7th at 3:00 P.M.—Circuit 2 has issued an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. ***Update Sept 6th at 5:00 P.M.—Circuit 20 has issued an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. The order expires on September 22nd. Also, Circuit 4 has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. ***Update Sept 6th at 2:30 P.M.—Circuit 11 has issued an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. ***Update Sept 6th at 11:00 A.M.—Circuit 17 has issued an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. DATE: September 6, 2017 TO: Vicki Abrams, Assistant Secretary for Operations CC: Grainne O’Sullivan, Statewide Director for Children’s Legal Services Rebecca Kapusta, General Counsel JoShonda Guerrier, Assistant Secretary for Child Welfare FROM: Stephanie Zimmerman SUBJECT: Caregiver Travel During State of Emergency Below is a circuit breakdown of the authority granting a caregiver the ability to travel during a declared state of emergency and the extent of that authority. Note that all administrative orders and courts orders contemplate that the caregiver must notify the Department through the CBC of the caregiver’s travel plans. Circuit 1 Standard order language permits a caregiver to remove the child from the jurisdiction with the approval of DCF through the CBC. Circuit 2 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. Circuit 3 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 4 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 5 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 6 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. Circuit 7 Court has administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 8 Standard court order language permits in-state or out-of-state travel for up to 14 days without further court order. Circuit 9 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 10 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 11 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. Circuit 12 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 13 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. Circuit 14 Standard order language permits a caregiver to remove the child from the jurisdiction with the approval of DCF through the CBC. Circuit 15 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 16 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 17 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency for Hurricane Irma. Circuit 18 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 19 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Circuit 20 Court has an administrative order permitting travel anywhere in U.S. during state of emergency. Order expires on September 22, 2017. For a PDF of this memo, please click here. (Note, not all updates are reflected on PDF.)
FSFAPA Election Update – Ballots Mailed!
Ballots for the 2017 FSFAPA Elections have been mailed to all paid, voting members. Election will be held at the October Quarterly Meeting. If you cannot attend, please return your completed ballot per the instructions printed on the ballot. Positions up for election: Secretary: Nominees – Curtis Byrd & Christina Nunez. (Ballots to be tallied Oct. 14.) Exec Vice President – uncontested: Chris Johnson retains position. Vice President – uncontested: Orlando Avila retains position. For more on how FSFAPA conducts elections, check out the bylaws page.