Support Group Newsletter

Transcription

1 M A R S H A L L C O U N T Y Support Group Newsletter Volume 1, Issue 4 December 2012 Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma December 11, PM New Hope Church 3901 S. Center Marshalltown, Iowa 2 hours foster parent training credit Child care provided (free will donation accepted to cover expense) This month, we will begin our Trauma Training. Starting with Modules 1&2 where we will learn about the essential element of trauma-informed parenting and begin to explore trauma through the eyes of a child. Learn what the word trauma means, the different types of trauma as well as common ways that children respond after a traumatic experience. This series has 8 modules. You don't have to attend all 8 sessions, but it would be beneficial if you did. For questions contact: Mindy Oswalt/IKN or moswalt@yss.ames.ia.us Inside this issue: Respite 2 Training Requirements 3 Support 3 Changing One Little Life by Valerie Busic 4 4 Training 5 We too often love things and use people, when we should be using things and loving people....anonymous

2 Respite Respite is a temporary planned break from your foster child to reduce stress or it can be used as a planned vacation for foster parents. Respite offers birth children of the foster family quality time with their parents. It also gives foster children a break. Foster families are eligible or up to 24 days of respite per placement per calendar year. Respite does not have to be an overnight stay. Any partial day counts as a day for respite purposes. DHS, IKN, and foster parents all play an important role in the respite role. As of August 1, 2011, IKN and DHS have implemented the following protocol. Please be sure to follow this when setting up respite. If you have any questions, please contact your IKN support worker. PURPOSE: Iowa KidsNet is the primary support to resource families, which includes assistance with respite referrals. Iowa KidsNet is responsible to assist foster parents with arranging respite care as part of ongoing supportive services. IKN Support-Referral Specialist are responsible for providing this assistance to resource families, for their assigned families. Only a licensed foster parent can provide respite. Families are eligible for up to 24 days for respite per placement per calendar year. DHS placement workers are responsible to reimburse respite care providers through the FACS system. The payment rate respite providers receives is daily rate the child receives in the current home placement. ANY CHILD PLACED THROUGH FOSTER CARE RESPITE IS COUNTED AS A PLACEMENT FOR THE RESPITE HOME. PROCEDURE: Foster families have three options to locate respite. A. The IKN Support-Renewal Specialist can provide support and assist in locating respite B. Respite care can be arranged between foster families (placements must remain within licensing capacity ) C. DHS placement and/or licensing worker can provide support and assist in locating respite care. (if the family contacts DHS,DHS will work jointly with IKN Support-Renewal Specialist to locate respite options.) Note: Resource families must contact the child s DHS placement worker to inform then of the dates they will need respite, provide the name of the respite family and to get approval for the respite. This needs to be done as far in advance as possible. 2. If IKN customer service is the first to receive a respite care request, the Service Area Leader/Designee will be notified immediately and assigned an IKN Support-Renewal Specialist for assistance. 3. Prior to making a respite placement, records must be accessed to ensure the family has capacity to take another child. If the placement will put the family over licensing capacity, a variance must be approved by the Department. (IKN and DHS will complete the variance according to local protocol.) 4. Upon being given the name, the resource parent will contact the proposed respite family to work out details of the respite care. 5. Once arrangements have been finalized, Iowa KidsNet customer service needs to be notified. The DHS placement worker will be responsible for notifying the IKN customer service either by phone or of the respite arrangements upon approval. 6. Fill out the respite form on and give it to respite family along with title XIX card. Make sure enough clean clothes. For infants and toddlers too many diapers and wipes are better than not enough. Have the child pick out a special toy or stuffed animal to help them at bedtime. 7. When you have finished using respite or call your worker and tell him/her the exact days of respite, the name of the child, your name, address and phone number in case your worker needs to contact you. This also serves as a friendly reminder to the worker they can now issue payment to your respite provider. Page 2 SU PPOR T GR OUP NEWS LE TT ER

3 In Iowa, foster parents need six hours of training annually to renew their foster care license. At least three training hours must be done in a group setting. Foster parents must complete their training two months prior to licensing date. Note: Families will no longer be granted extensions or exceptions for not getting their training credit on time. If you want to receive foster parent training credit, it is your responsibility to send your training certificates to your KidsNet licensing worker within 30 days following the training. Be sure to keep the original copy for your records. PLEASE KEEP IN MIND - With the exception of CPR, First Aid and Mandatory Reporter classes, foster parents CANNOT receive training credit for any class after October 2009 that they have previously attended and used for re-licensing. On Line Training Need Support? Have a question? We are here for you! DHS has approved that foster parents may receive up to 3 hours foster care training credit for courses listed on and The foster parent will read the course material, answer the test questions, and click on submit button. A certificate will be generated immediately. The certificate will need to be sent to your licensing worker. Remember to make and keep a copy for your records. There is a charge for these trainings. Dianna Seedorff, IFAPA Peer Liaison or seedorff_ifapa@hotmail.com Mandatory Reporters Training The Iowa Department of Public Health has approved one online Mandatory Reporter Training Class for foster parents to take. Foster parents will receive 2 hours of credit for this course. The cost to take this course is $18.95 per person. PLEASE REMEMBER-IFAPA promotes this online class as an additional resource for foster parents; however, this is not connected to IFAPA. For detailed instructions on how to take this online course, visit the Mindy Oswalt, Initial & Renewal Licensing Specialist moswalt@yss.ames.ia.us Page 3

4 Changing One Little Life by Valerie Busic The phone call comes in, Do you have enough room? For another young child They need a home very soon. They come to your door, tatted and bruised, clothes are all dirty, wearing no shoes. You welcome them in with a smile on your face, they ll have to adjust at their very own pace. Their life has been a hard rocky road. Somehow you must help to lighten their load. They are going to need you to care for them now, so deep in your heart you silently vow to make their life better than. What they have now, to again make them smile, though you re wondering how. Each new day brings anger, sadness and joy. You pray that your love can help this young child. Sometimes it seems that you re getting nowhere, and wonder why God said, Send this child there. After an especially trying day, when you re sure there must be an easier way into the room, their footsteps come. With a shy hug, they whisper, I love you, Mom. With tears in your eyes, you know just what to say, you ve waited for this very day. Remember this, honey, and not matter what, you re special. I love you. You just hold on to that. And then the day comes when the answer the phone They re sending your little one back to their home. You think of he work that may be undone, when they sent then back, to the very same one. They are much different today than they were, way back when. Your hard work has paid off, you can see it in them. You hope and you pray, they ll remember your love But you can t help wonder, Will it be enough? To carry them though what may lie ahead. You try to be strong to cover your dread. Your head says you must get though the good-byes But he weight in your heart feels like part of it died. Later, you learn they are doing quite well. They come over to visit and you really can tell. Their life isn t perfect but...it s turning quite nice, So you have made a difference in a little one s life. Page 4 V OLU ME 1, ISS UE 4

5 Training Six Principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Date: Saturday, April 6, 2013 Time: 9 AM 12:15 PM Location: IA Valley Continuing Ed., Marshalltown Credit: 3 hours This training provides the framework, underlying spirit and intent around which special education services are designed and provided to students with disabilities. During this session participants will increase their understanding of the basic principles of IDIA, parent and caregiver rights regarding participation in the IEP process and options available in Iowa for conflict resolution in special education. The information will help parents and caregivers of children, prior to their third birthday, with Individual Family Service Plans, (IFSP) transitioning to an IEP, as well as parents and caregivers of children with IEP s through age 21. To register for this training call ext. 1 or register on line at You will receive an or letter from IFAPA about one week prior to your class. This reminder will include additional details on the training location. An IEP on IEP s: Parents as Partners in Process & Product Date: Saturday, April 6, 2012 Time: 1:30 PM 4:45 PM Location: IA Valley Continuing Ed., Marshalltown Credit: 3 hours This interactive workshop helps parents and caregivers understand the connections between IDEA principles, the actual process of writing your child s Individualized Education Program, and the different parts of the document itself. During this training, participants will increase their understanding of who the members of the IEP team are, how the team interacts with each other, how a team make decisions, and how to reach agreement about your child s educational program. The information will help parents and caregivers of children, prior to their third birthday, with individual Family Service Plans (IFSP) transitioning to an IEP, as well as parents and caregivers of children with IEP s through age 21. To register for this training call ext. 1 or register on line at You will receive an or letter from IFAPA about one week prior to your class. This reminder will include additional details on the training location. Page 5 M AR S HA LL CO. S U PPOR T GR OU P NEWS LE TT ER

6 D I A N N A S E E D O R F F I F A P A P E E R L I A I S O N S U N S E T L A N E E L K R U N H E I G H T S, I O W A