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Justin Slaughter
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Webinar: Fostering Connections and Health: Oversight and Connections of Health Services (Sept 21st)
[From Fostering Connections Resource Center, September 10, 2010]
Join the Webinar on Oversight and Connections of Health Services Enacted in Fostering Connections Act!
When: Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Time: 2-3 p.m. EDT
The Fostering Connections Resource Center and the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) invite you to a webinar on federal and state policies intended to promote better health outcomes for children and youth in foster care and transitioning out of foster care. The webinar will focus on policies enacted in the Fostering Connections Act, which requires improved coordination and oversight of health care services, including mental and dental health needs, and calls on state child welfare agencies to increase oversight of prescription medications for foster children.
Reserve your seat in the webinar today:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/411699512
Fostering Media Connections Launches New Website
[From Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance, September 7, 2010]
Fostering Media Connections this week launched its new website. The site includes complete media coverage of foster care issues, and is the home for journalist Daniel Heimpel’s nationwide efforts to “further change the foster care narrative, and thus drive public and political will behind improving outcomes for foster youth.” FMC describes its primary goal as “to speed the state-by-state implementation of” the Federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. This law is the foundation of California’s AB12.
Alameda and L.A. Title IV-E Waivers Extended
[From Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance, September 7, 2010]
Alameda and Los Angeles Counties received word they are granted a 10 month extension of the new flexible funding, the Title IV-E Waiver Capped Allocation Demonstration Project, previously slated to expire on July 31, 2012.
With a capped allocation of title IV-E funds, California is allowed to use federal funding originally allocated exclusively for foster care to establish a new array of services to prevent out-of-home placement or facilitate permanency–i.e. early intervention services; crisis intervention services; intensive child welfare services; and services that expedite and support permanency–with the expectation that the costs of these services will be offset by subsequent savings in foster care expenditures (Children’s Bureau 2010).
With the extension, Alameda County’s Waiver will continue through April 30, 2013. The extension is meant to provide additional time for the state to prepare an application for a full 5 year renewal of the Waiver, as well as to continue the Waiver as advocates from California and around the country pursue more extensive federal finance reform.
Service Providers/Youth: Gateway to College is accepting applications for the Spring 2011 semester
[From Jeanne Batallones, Gateway to College, September 7, 2010]
Gateway to College is a program at City College of San Francisco that serves students between 16-20, who have dropped out of high school in San Francisco or are behind in credits for their age or grade level. Students take courses that help earn credit towards their high school diploma and a college degree or certificate, at the same time.
All interested applicants must attend one mandatory Information Session and complete the application (see below).
All students interested in applying to the program must attend one Information Session and ARRIVE ON TIME. During the session, we will provide program details and administer a 20-minute reading assessment.
[All Gateway classes will be held at the Ocean Campus for their first semester. Upon successful completion of their first semester, other CCSF campuses will be open for Gateway students to enroll.]
Questions? Please call Jeanne at (415) 452-5774.
Community Walk In Lake Merced For Suicide Prevention (Sept 26th)
[From California Coalition for Youth, September 7, 2010]
Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults (10-24). Help work towards preventative action plans for California’s youth.
Where: Lake Merced, San Francisco, CA
When: Sunday, September 26, 2010
The Out of the Darkness Community Walks benefits the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), including money for vital research and education programs to prevent suicide and save lives, increase national awareness about depression and suicide and provide support for survivors of suicide loss.
To register for this event click here.
Questions? Ask Valerie Kovacovich by phone at 925-804-6494 or email vkovacovich@afsp.org
*Online registration closes at 11:45PM the day before the walk. However, anyone who would like to participate can register in person at the walk!
Legislature Unanimously Improves L.A. County Child Abuse Information Database
[From Century City News, August 25, 2010]
The Legislature has approved Assembly Bill 2322, legislation by Assembly member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) that would help ensure the safety of children who are the subject of child abuse investigations. The bill passed on a [...]
Special Training on Foster Youth Employment (Sept 2nd)
[From the Alameda County Foster Youth Alliance, August 23, 2010]
The Foster Youth Alliance, along with Pivotal Point Youth Services, invites you to a very special training led by Larry Robbin, a nationally recognized expert in youth employment: Helping Foster Youth Build Job Search Skills.
When: Thursday, September 2nd, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: CSUEB Oakland Professional Development and Conference Center
1000 Broadway, Suite 109
This training will be for management and staff of employment programs serving foster youth as well as other programs serving foster youth. Mr. Robbin will lead participants in developing tools to help foster youth improve their job search skills. No matter what type of program you work in, if you work with foster youth and want to help them get jobs, don’t miss this training! Free to FYA member agencies; $25 fee for participants from non-FYA agencies.
REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED, and space is limited so rsvp today by clicking here. Registration at the door on a space available basis only. For more information, email mclemmons@fosteryouthalliance.org or call 510-667-7640.
Free Photography Classes for Former and Current Foster Youth
[From A Home Within, August 2010]
Do you love photography? Are you in foster care or have you been in the past? Are you 15 years old or older? Then this program is for you!
When: Every Tuesday, 4:00 – 8:00PM (Beginning October 5th)
Where: A Home Within, 2500 18th St. San Francisco
Fostering Art will provide all equipment, assistance with transportation & dinner during class. All new students are required to have an interview before they are accepted into the program. Interview begin September 1st.
To apply: contact Amanda Herman at 415.652.1434 or email aherman@ahomewithin.org
AB 12 Passes State Senate! Now Goes to the Governor’s Desk
[From the John Burton Foundation, September 7, 2010]
AB 12 passed out of the California State Legislature last Monday. The John Burton Foundation is now making a full court press to encourage Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the bill by the September 30th deadline. There are a range of strategies being employed and we need you to help. Here is what you can do…