Live Blog from DCF Child Protection Summit in Orlando!
Ever wonder what happens at DCF’s Annual Child Protection Summit? Tune in to our live blog of the event starting with a QPI “adjunct” session Monday prior to the Summit. (Aug. 28) Tweets about from:FloridaFAPA #LiveDCFSummit, OR #DCFSummit
Proposal Adds Support for Pro-Bono Attorneys for Dependency Cases
From the Florida Bar News: The Florida Statewide Guardian ad Litem Program is supporting the “Pro Bono Matters Act of 2018,” newly filed legislation by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, and Rep. Frank White, R-Pensacola. The measures, SB 146 and HB 57, would help special-needs children in dependency court by giving more support to pro bono attorneys who want to help them. Under the bill, the Justice Administrative Commission would provide pro bono attorneys due-process funding for costs associated with the representation. “This bill is simple and makes good sense,” said White. “The state already pays for due-process costs for special-needs children who are represented by state-funded attorneys on a registry. If we can encourage attorneys to take a case pro bono by paying for due-process costs, the state saves at least $1,000 per case.” As part of its push to find attorneys to represent special-needs children pro bono, the GAL program is also working with The Florida Bar Foundation, which just launched a new website to match Floridians in need with attorneys who might take their cases on a volunteer basis. Florida Bar Foundation CEO Bruce Blackwell said both the Foundation and the GAL program will gain by their partnership, with Bean’s bill as a catalyst. “This bill will help the Foundation, through our new website, recruit dedicated attorneys to accept cases to provide holistic representation for children with special needs,” Blackwell said. “By removing barriers, such as costs associated with handling pro bono cases, volunteer attorneys can focus on providing critical legal services, which will benefit not only the youth, but their entire local community.” “Guardian ad Litem’s collaboration with The Florida Bar Foundation’s ‘Pro Bono Matters’ initiative demonstrate some of the best of Florida’s child advocates: a focus on the unique needs of each child and the ability of public-private partnerships to meet those needs,” Bean said. GAL Executive Director Alan Abramowitz said the collaboration would help his program locate pro bono attorneys for children within the 15-day window that Florida law permits. “By creating a process to find a pro bono attorney within 15 days, this law will help us find more pro bono attorneys wanting to make a difference in the lives of children,” Abramowitz said.
Trans-racial foster, adoptive parent study seeks participants
Are you currently fostering a child of a different race or culture than you? Have you adopted a child (or in the process of adopting) a child of a different race or culture? If so, you may be eligible to participate in an online study (including an online parenting course.) The study involves an online instructional course for transracial foster and adoptive parents (parents only, not the children). The procedures include collection of participant e-mail addresses (kept confidential), informed consent, pre-course measure, participation in a 2-hour online course, a post-course measure and a follow-up phone interview for those interested. (Participants will be assigned to the study course or a control course.) Participants will receive a $20 visa gift card. Deadline to participate is Nov. 22. Total time to complete the study and course is approximately 3 hours. If you are interested in participating, contact Jordan Montgomery at 850-661-6454 or jem14e@my.fsu.edu
How to Speak Child Welfare (AKA Acronyms gone WILD!)
REVISED: February 2023 Child welfare is a difficult place to spend your time … it can almost simultaneously provide you with the most rewarding, frustrating, exciting and depressing experiences you have ever felt. One frustration shared often — even by “seasoned” foster parents — is that it seems like everyone in child welfare talks funny (and writes even worse!) The worst offenders seem to just vomit alphabet soup every time they open their mouth. (Keep in mind, they accumulate these acronyms over a period of time immersed in the system, how’s a foster parent supposed to keep up?) In our effort to help Foster and Adoptive Parents navigate the system, we’ve compiled a list of more than 550 acronyms that we have accumulated that may help you better understand what your CM means when they say that “The ICPC will be requested by CLS (or SAO/SAG) at the JR unless the GAL or AAL object.” … OK? If you have any additions, click here. To download this list as a PDF, click here. 0-1 • A • B • C • D • E • F • G • H • I • J • K • L • M • N • O • P • Q • R • S • T • U • V • W • X • Y • Z 0-1 120, 120 Hearing – Chapter 120 of the Florida admin code that deals with due process rights with decisions made by agents of the state 4C – Community Coordinated Care for Children (Community Services Council in Orlando, Contracts with ELCs in Orange, Osceola counties to oversee VPK, Headstart and School Readiness) 504 (Plan) – educational plan developed for child with disability that includes accomodations (federal law) 65c-10 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child protective investigations (DCF is rulemaking authority) REPEALED, Replaced by 65c-29 65c-11 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child protective services (DCF is rulemaking authority) REPEALED, Replaced by 65c-29 65c-12 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding emergency shelter care (DCF is rulemaking authority) REPEALED 65c-13 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) for foster parent licensing (DCF is rulemaking authority) REPEALED 65c-14 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child-caring agency licensing (DCF is rulemaking authority) Mostly REPEALED, some parts transferred to 65C-46 65c-15 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child-placing agencies (DCF is rulemaking authority) 65c-16 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding adoptions (DCF is rulemaking authority) 65c-28 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding out of home care (DCF is rulemaking authority) 65c-29 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding child protective investigations (DCF is rulemaking authority) 65c-30 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding general child welfare provisions (DCF is rulemaking authority) 65c-35 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding psychotropic medications for children in out of home care (DCF is rulemaking authority) 65c-41 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding extended foster care (DCF is rulemaking authority) 65c-42 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding Road to Independence (DCF is rulemaking authority) 65c-45 – Florida Administrative Code (rules) regarding levels of licensure (DCF is rulemaking authority) A A/N – Abuse and/or Neglect AAL – Attorney ad Litem (Note: plural is “Attorneys as Litem” … possessive is “Attorney ad Litem’s”) AARC – Adoption Application Review Committee ABA – American Bar Association ABA – Applied Behavioral Analysis ACCESS – Program used by Economic Self-Sufficiency program to allow customers to connect with their public assistance info ACE/ACES – Adverse Childhood Experiences ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act ADD – Attention Deficit Disorder ADHD – Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ADJ – Adjudication ADM – Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Office ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution ADS – Affidavit of Diligent Search AES – Adoption Exchange System AFCARS – Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (national data collection) AG – Office of Attorney General (acts as CLS in some counties) AHCA – Agency for Health Care Administration AIDS – Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ALJ – Administrative Law Judge AP – Absent Parent (Not recommended, careful with context can mean “adoptive parent” or “alleged perpatrator”) AP – Adoptive Parent (Not recommended, careful with context can mean “absent parent” or “alleged perpatrator”) AP – Alleged Perpetrator (Not recommended, careful with context can mean “absent parent” or “adoptive parent”) APD – Agency for Persons with Disabilities APE – Adapted Physical Education APHSA – American Public Human Services Association APPLA – Another Planned Permanent Living Arrangement APS – Adult Protective Services ARIS – Abuse Reporting Information Services ARS – Adoption & Related Services ASA – Assistant State Attorney ASFA – Adoption & Safe Families Act ASL – American Sign Language AT – Assistive Technology ATC – Adoption Tax Credit ATTY – Attorney B BA – Behavior Analyst BA or BA-52 – Baker Act (Involuntary Commitment for mental health; up to 72 hours) BASP – Behavior Analysts Services Program BBCBC – Big Bend Community Based Care BD – Behavior Disorder BD – Bio Dad or Birth Dad (informal, generally on social media discussions between foster parents) BFP – Brevard Family Partnership (CBC Circuit 18) BIA – Bureau of Indian Affairs BIP – Batterers Intervention Program/Plan BM – Bio Mom or Birth Mom (informal, generally on social media discussions between foster parents) BSHCN – Federal Bureau of Special Health Care Needs BSIU – Background Screening and Investigation Unit BSW – Bachelor’s of Social Work C C-# – Judicial Circuit (i.e. C-6 or C6 = Circuit 6) Florida has 20 judicial circuits, most consist of multiple counties. CAC – Community Advisory Committee on Special Education CAC – Children’s Advocacy Center. In many counties, provides forensic examinations and interviews for allegations of child abuse, and provides therapy for sexually abused children and non-offending parents. CAM – Child Advocate Manager (part of the GAL office) CAP – Corrective Action Plan CAPTA – Child Abuse Prevention Treatment Act CASA – “Court Appointed Special Advocate” (Florida uses term Guardian Ad Litem (GAL) CASE – Community Alliance for Special Education CATT – Child to Adult Transition Team CBC – Community
FSFAPA statement on the arrest of Dustin Gregory Todd in todler’s death
The death of any child is a tragedy. To learn that the death of 13-month-old Mackenzie Fewox was allegedly at the hands of her caregiver, Dustin Gregory Todd, is extremely troubling for all of us at the Florida State Foster Adoptive Parent Association. In the coverage of Mr. Todd’s arrest, he is often incorrectly identified as a “foster parent.” This is a mischaracterization of his relationship to to the child. Mackenzie was placed in the home because of a relative relationship to another member of the household, this is known as a “relative placement.” Mr. Todd was not a licensed foster parent, the home was not a foster home. In Florida, all foster parents must be licensed. The process to become a foster parent includes several weeks of specialized training; extensive local, state and federal background checks (including fingerprinting and reference checks); personal interviews; medical clearance; financial review and home safety inspection(s). To maintain licensure, foster parents must participate in continuing education and renew their medical clearance and home inspection(s) annually. (Background checks are renewed at regular intervals.) The Florida State Foster Adoptive Parent Association is dedicated to the continuous improvement of the child welfare system. FSFAPA provides support and high-quality training for caregivers and advocates for families across the state. * * * * * * There is a need for foster homes in nearly every corner of the state. Do you have what it takes? https://floridafapa.org/become-a-foster-parent/
RESOURCE: State Parks Release FAQ on New Foster/Adoptive Family Pricing
Our friends at Silver Spring State Park have pointed out that there is a new FAQ available on how the park service is going to apply the new legislation that gives discounts to Foster and Adoptive families. We have posted this on our Resources Page (and will update as necessary) but here is the link. https://floridafapa.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/FAQ-Foster-Adopt-Discounts-SSSP.pdf
Live Blog from FSFAPA Conference!
To see videos of some of our sessions, visit QPIFlorida.com We’re trying something new here: live coverage of the conference on Twitter and FloridaFAPA.org! If you want to join the conversation, join us on Twitter, to just follow the updates, you can see them here! Tweets about from:FloridaFAPA #FSFAPAconf
Notes for those headed to Orlando Conference
Thank you for registering for the 2017 Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association Educational Conference. We are so excited to have parents from around the state gather in Orlando for a weekend of training, connections, and encouragement. Please check out this link to the conference program so you can begin to plan which workshops you wish to attend. You will also receive a hard copy of the program when you check in. The Marriott Renaissance Orlando at Sea World is a large venue and a map of the hotel is included in the program. Here are a few details that we thought might be helpful to know before you arrived: the Resort fee is not included in your room rate – you have the option to add it at check in Complimentary guest room internet is included for Marriott Rewards members paying for their own rooms 50% discount on self parking for guests Registration for Adults is by the Oceans meeting rooms Registration for child care is on the second floor Registration for tweens is the Grouper Room Second floor Registration for NexGen & Inspiring Self Success will be at the Coral Ballroom We look forward to meeting you! Please don’t hesitate to reach out to a FSFAPA board member if you have a question or concern. Safe travels, and we will see you on Friday!
Lauren & Tony Dungy in new GAL PSA
Pro Football Football Hall of Fame member tony Dungy and his wife, Lauren, have several adopted children and are current foster parents in Hillsborough County. They filmed a Public Service Announcement promoting the Guardian Ad Litem Program recently. The spot was paid for by the nonprofit Voices for Children Tampa Bay. Please share this!
Foster Care Alumni Scholarships Available for 25+
Announcement from the Foster Care Alumni of America: Over the past several years, legislative actions have improved access to education for young alumni, but there is still a gap for older alumni of care. We recognize there are many strong alumni leaders who still need financial support to continue their education. At Foster Care Alumni of America, we believe in all people in and from foster care, which is why we launched a scholarship program last year to bridge this access gap. This scholarship serves our alumni members aged 25 and older who wish to pursue higher education. Last year the scholarship was awarded to Alex McFarland, a graduate student pursuing a degree in Veterinary Medicine. We are pleased to say that applications are available now to apply for the 2017-2018 FCAA Scholarship! To apply or to learn more, please visit the Foster Care Alumni of America website HERE.