Thursday, October 30, 2014

REMINDER: Training- Dealing With Temper Tantrums

Training in the Salem Office:

Dealing With Temper Tantrums
Thursday, 6:30 to 8:30 (please take note of time change) Daniela Morse

Daniela, is very knowledgeable and as a foster parent herself, understands, the behaviors of foster children we welcome into our homes each day.


Please call Nancy Lyons at 978-531-3278 or 978-825-3807 or e-mail geminilyons@gmail.com or call June Littlefield 978-278-5412. We look forward to seeing you!!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

SAVE THE DATE!!

More info to follow- Not taking RSVP’s now… but SAVE THE DATE!

 

Our Annual Foster family Christmas Party Dec 6th 1-3 in Salem

Sponsored by the Local Rotary Clubs!

 

Check out our blog!!!   http://capeanndss.blogspot.com/

 

Carla King

Foster Parent Recruiter

Department of Children and Families (formerly known as Dept Social Services)

Cape Ann Area Office

45 Congress Street, bldg #4

Salem, MA 01970

978-825-3862   direct DCF ext 33862

 

 

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Anyone need a stroller? portable high chair?

I have one on hand.

Im getting my cellar worked on and need them out, but the good news is that in the future I can store things for foster parents as needed!

Right now I have a Graco stroller.  Gray tones, looks like it’s on good shape.  Someone just dropped off at my house….

I also have a high chair that attaches to a table from another foster parent.

 

Let me know if you can use one or both of them.

They are located in Danvers.

 

Check out our blog!!!   http://capeanndss.blogspot.com/

 

Carla King

Foster Parent Recruiter

Department of Children and Families (formerly known as Dept Social Services)

Cape Ann Area Office

45 Congress Street, bldg #4

Salem, MA 01970

978-825-3862   direct DCF ext 33862

 

 

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Children's Halloween House Tour

Children’s Halloween House Tour

24 Chester St, Danvers

Friday, Oct. 24, 5:30 – 7:30

Costumes are welcome!

And there will be lots of photo opts

 

Vampire blood and cookies will be provided

 

This is our second year hosting this event; we had lots of great comments from those that attended last year and are looking forward to coming again.

 

We will be accepting donations for

Breast Cancer

 

 

Check out our blog!!!   http://capeanndss.blogspot.com/

 

Carla King

Foster Parent Recruiter

Department of Children and Families (formerly known as Dept Social Services)

Cape Ann Area Office

45 Congress Street, bldg #4

Salem, MA 01970

978-825-3862   direct DCF ext 33862

 

 

Halloween Event at the Cape Ann Y!

 

 

HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN!!!!!

 

 


 

 

--

Brian Flynn

Senior Program Director

Cape Ann YMCA

71 Middle Street, Gloucester MA 01930

(P) 978-559-3004 (F) 978-283-3114

The Y: We're for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Important announcement from DDS for families

 

  

Autism Support Center,

a program of Northeast Arc

Volume 23  Issue 4

Dear Michael,

 

MESSAGE TO FAMILIES OF YOUNG CHILDREN WITH AUTISM FROM DDS

 

Open Enrollment for the Autism Waiver Program Coming Soon

November 7, 2014 - November 21, 2014

  

The Autism Division of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) runs a Autism Waiver Program that provides one-to-one interventions to help children with autism who exhibit severe behavior, social and communication problems through a service called Expanded Habilitation, Education (intensive in-home services and supports, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis, Floor Time and Communication models).This service occurs in the child's home or other natural settings under the supervision of trained clinical staff and is available for a total of three years. The waiver also provides related support services such as community integration activities and respite. At the conclusion of the three years of the intensive in-home services, a child may access ongoing supplemental services (respite and goods and services, etc.) that meet the child's needs and help with the transition out of the intensive Autism Waiver Program-until the child's 9th birthday.

 

At this time the program serves approximately 300 children a year. While the program is near capacity, there is a high rate of turnover in the program every year; therefore, we run a waiting list of applicants to fill any open slots.

The Autism Program also maintains reserved capacity for children who are age 3 and transitioning out of Early Intervention. This means that the Autism Division reserves 20 statewide slots for children who are age 3. These children will still need to meet all relevant financial and clinical eligibility standards required for entry into the Program.

 

The Autism Waiver serves children up until their 9th birthday, with an autism spectrum disorder who meet the eligibility criteria for the Waiver Program. All waiver services require that the child continues to meet the financial and clinical eligibility requirements for the Waiver Program.

 

Eligibility: the following requirements are necessary for participation in this program:

1.       The child must have a confirmed diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, subject to verification by the Department of Developmental Services.

2.       The child has not yet reached his/her 9th birthday. Children birth through age 8 may participate.

3.       The child is a resident of Massachusetts.

4.       The child meets the level of care required for services in an Intermediate Care Facility for persons with an Intellectual Disability (ICF/ID) as assessed by DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES.

5.        The family chooses to have the child receive services in the home and community.

6.       The child must be able to be safely served in the community.

7.        The child must have a legally responsible representative able to direct the services and supports of the Waiver.

8.       The child must be found by the MassHealth agency to be eligible for MassHealth Standard coverage, based on family income. For families who have not yet applied for MassHealth, this must be done at the time of the filing of the Waiver Program Eligibility Request Form.

9.       Below is the maximum Income Guidelines for MassHealth Standard at 150% of Federal Poverty Level. In order to participate in the Autism Program, your family income must fall below the levels on the list*:

 

Family Size

Monthly

Yearly

2

$1,976

$23,604

3

$2,474

$29,688

4

$2,982

$35,784

5

$3,489

$41,868

6

$3,997

$47,964

*If your child is under age one or has a specialized medical condition such as blindness, deafness or a debilitating chronic medical illness the standards are different from those listed above; please contact the Autism Division for clarification in these cases.

 

Additional Information:

The Autism Division of DDS has the family related Waiver Program Application Forms available in multiple languages. Please go to the DDS website or call one of the seven DDS funded Autism Support Centers for a copy in Arabic, French, Haitian-Creole, Khmer, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Somali, Thai and Vietnamese. This notice and other waiver information is available on the DDS web-site at www.mass.gov/DDS under 'Autism Spectrum Services' and at the DDS funded Autism Support Centers. For additional information about the Autism Waiver Program or if you have questions, please call 888-367-4435 or email AutismDivision@state.ma.us

 

How to Participate in the Eligibility Process:

ONLY ONE APPLICATION PER CHILD-Multiple Forms Will Be Discarded

 

Submit the Application Form: By Mail

  • All Applications must have a Postmark/Date Stamp between November 7, 2014- November 21, 2014
  • Please complete the form in Pen and Print Clearly
  • Please Mail Form To: (The Autism Division is not able to accept hand delivered forms)

 AUTISM DIVISION of DDS

Att. Autism Waiver Program Open Enrollment

500 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118

 

Applications are available here on the ASC website. 

 

Please contact ASC if you need additional information- asc@ne-arc.org or 978-777-9135

 

 

  

Sincerely,
Autism Support Center

A program of Northeast Arc

  

 

 

Opportunity to provide services

Service Providers Needed for the Autism Waiver Program

 

The Autism Division of the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) runs a program that serves children (under age 9) who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The focus of the program is to provide in-home services that address the key issues of autism, including social, behavioral, and communication deficits.

 

The Autism Division currently has a Master Provider List for the Autism Waiver Program and we want to expand our base of providers.

Requirements: Looking for Senior Therapists, Therapists, and Direct Support staff providers who are qualified in 1:1 interventions such as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and Floor Time.

For additional information, please contact the Northeast Arc's Autism Support Center staff:  Allie Keough, 978-624-3721; Whitney Posada, 978-624-2305;

or Scott Buchanan, 978-624-2347.

 

 

 

New to ASC?

  

If you haven't registered with the Autism Support Center, please call us at 978-777-9135 any weekday.  We have important information for you!  

 

 

Connect with us!

  

Be sure to check out ASC's website!  And while you are there, explore the wonderful things happening at Northeast Arc.  Click here for the agency CALENDAR

  

  

                                 Like us on Facebook

Save These Dates!

 

 

 

October 23

Friends Workshop

 

 

 

Quick Links

Northeast Arc

Autism Support Center

  

 

ajlogo    

 

Contact Us

Co-Directors:

 

Gloria Ricardi Castillo

978-624-2301

gcastillo@ne-arc.org

 

Susan Gilroy

978-624-2302

sgilroy@ne-arc.org

 

Brokers/Coordinators:

 

Scott Buchanan

978-624-2347

sbuchanan@ne-arc.org

 

Whitney Ryan Posada

978-624-2305

wryan@ne-arc.org

 

Alexandra Keough

978-624-3721

akeough@ne-arc.org 

 

 

Forward this email


This email was sent to michael.kochansky@state.ma.us by sgilroy@ne-arc.org |  


Autism Support Center, Northeast Arc
| 6 Southside Road | Danvers | MA | 01923

 

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Comedy Fundraiser for BCLC

This looks like a fun night to support BCLC J

 

From: Pam Caldwell [mailto:pcaldwell@bclckids.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 2:31 PM
To: King, Carla (DCF)
Subject:

 

 

 

Pamela Caldwell

FDC Program Director

Beverly Children’s Learning Center, Inc.

978-927-1269 Ext. 206

978-927-1774 Fax

www.bclckids.org

 

Beverly Children’s Learning Center, Inc. Internet E-mail confidentiality statement:

The information  contained in this transmission (including attached files) is CONFIDENTIAL and is intended only for the person(s) named above.  If you received this transmission in error, please delete it from your system and notify us immediately.  If you are not an intended recipient, please note that any use or dissemination of the information contained in this transmission (including attached files) and the copying, printing, or re-transmission of that information is strictly prohibited.

 You can notify us of a transmission error by return email or by fax at 978-927-1774

 

Fall Festival this weekend in Danvers

Great event for families.! Minimal cost (info attached)

Sat Oct 25th 5-7pm

Guided trails with decorated pumpkins as well as face-painting crafts and more!

We will have a informational booth there! Stop by and see us!

 

Check out our blog!!!   http://capeanndss.blogspot.com/

 

Carla King

Foster Parent Recruiter

Department of Children and Families (formerly known as Dept Social Services)

Cape Ann Area Office

45 Congress Street, bldg #4

Salem, MA 01970

978-825-3862   direct DCF ext 33862

 

 

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

MAFF Fall Newsletter

 

In this issue: Sexting: What Foster Parents Need to Know, Upcoming Events, Adoption Tax Credit Information 

View this email in your browser

 

Sexting: What Foster Parents Need to Know

 

Sexting—or sending a sexually explicit message, photo, or video through a text message or email—is becoming increasingly common among teenagers. Could it be happening in your house?

It's more prevalent than you may think. According a recent study, 57 percent of teenagers have been asked to send a naked photo of themselves to another while 28 percent of teens have sent a naked photo of themselves to another. Experts have seen sexting begin with children as young as nine years old.

"For today's foster youth, sexting is a normal part of their everyday life. It is today's form of flirting.  For other children, it is a way of having fun.  Some may send sext messages to another due to what they perceive is peer pressure, while others do it to improve their social status.  Then, there are those children who sext in order to hurt or humiliate another as a form of bullying," said Dr. John DeGarmo, foster parent and author of the book Keeping Foster Children Safe Online.

While sexting may seem harmless to a teenager, it can have long-term consequences. Once a photo is sent, the sender has no control over where it goes. It can be passed along to other teenagers or posted more publicly on the internet. Even if an image is deleted from social media sites or timed photo messaging applications like Snapchat, it may have already been copied or saved. This opens children up to bullying or blackmail from peers, embarrassment, and the attention of sex offenders searching the internet for photos. Images could resurface in the future, when a young adult applies for a job. Sending explicit photos of underage children is also illegal, and teenagers can be prosecuted for this offense. 

"It's important for foster parents to talk with children about what is and is not appropriate to send to others. Make sure they understand the consequences of sexting and know that they can talk to you if they ever feel scared or uncomfortable," said Michele Benkis, Director of the Kid's Net Program.

Kid's Net will be holding trainings covering sexting and other internet safety topics this fall and winter. Contact your regional Kid's Net Director if you are interested in this training.

 

The Latest Word from MAFF

 

Dear MAFF members,

It has been a very challenging and  hopeful year for both the Department of Children and Families and Massachusetts' foster families.  We would like to express our gratitude to our former Commissioner Olga Roche and the social work staff for their dedication and support during this time and to welcome our newly appointed Commissioner, Erin Deveney.

As an organization, we are committed to continuing our efforts to improve the foster care system, to recruit, support, and honor our foster families and to support all efforts to nurture and develop strong healthy families in the context of strong healthy communities. 

As you may be aware, Governor Deval Patrick commissioned the Child Welfare League of America to examine the DCF system of care and provide recommendations for improvement.  Some changes have already been implemented!  New policies are already in place.  The legislation has expanded the DCF budget to include a raise in the foster care daily reimbursement rate and an increase in the number of social workers.  This is also the first time that the legislature has fully funded college monies for our teens. 

 I would like to thank everyone, including the legislatures, MAFF board members and MSPCC staff who teamed up with us to move these things forward. 

Special recognition is also extended to our MAFF Secretary Sue Cox and her family for spreading the word about the important role of foster parents in their community! The Burlington Union published an article profiling the Cox family's dedication to children in their care. Their story was so poignant that it inspired several people to consider becoming foster parents! You can view the article at www.mspcc.org/news

MAFF is very excited for the upcoming conference on October 24. Please see below for details.  I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Cheryl Tellier-Haddad
President, Massachusetts Alliance for Families

 

The Latest Word from the Kid's Net Program

 

Dear MAFF members,

It's hard to believe that summer is over and the kids are back to school.  By now you should have received your fall/early winter training calendar from the Kid's Net Program.  From September through January we have scheduled 218 trainings across the state on a variety of topics that you told us were important to you.  They range from Positive Parenting to Stress Reduction and everything in between.  We hope you will take a break from your busy schedule and join us to learn something new and connect with other foster parents.

We will also be offering trauma training for foster parents in the spring for the Boston and Southern Regions as part of the Massachusetts Child Trauma Project. Foster parents in the Northern and Western Regions, who received the training last spring, felt they gained an increased appreciation and understanding of the impact of trauma on the development and behavior of the children in foster care.  Your Regional Kid's Net Director will be notifying you of the schedule for these trainings.

Last spring, MSPCC's Access to Justice Fellow, Paula Mackin Esq., provided trainings on foster parents' right to be heard in court.  If you missed the training, you will have another chance to learn about this important topic at our biennial conference in October!  We are fortunate to have Judge Britt Hammond as our keynote speaker and Paula Mackin as a participant. I had the pleasure of hearing Judge Hammond speak at the New England Foster Care Association conference in Vermont and was impressed by his understanding and unequivocal support for foster, adoptive and kinship parents.  He not only traces the roots of foster parenting, but also shares his view of their current critical role in the child welfare system. This is an opportunity that you should not miss. See below for details.

On behalf of the Kid's Net staff we would like to thank you for all that you do for the children of the Commonwealth.

Sincerely,

Michele Benkis
Director, Kid's Net Program, MSPCC

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

MAFF/Kid's Net Conference
Opportunity to be Heard: Advocating for Children in your Care

WHEN: October 24, 2014, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

WHERE:
Holiday Inn
265 Lakeside Avenue
Marlborough, MA

REGISTER: Please contact your region's Kid's Net Director to register by October 15.

ABOUT: Learn about the rights of foster parents when it comes to advocating for foster children in court from Keynote Speaker Judge Britt Hammond.  

Judge Hammond will discuss the critical and evolving role of foster, kin, and adoptive families in the child welfare system and provide parents with his tips for testifying in court.  His extensive background as an attorney in the child welfare system and a juvenile court judge has made him an expert on educating caregivers about their right to be heard in the courtroom. 

The program will also include attorney Paula Mackin, who is leading MSPCC's Opportunity to be Heard Project. The conference is provided at no cost to parents by Kid's Net and DCF.

 

National Adoption Day

WHEN: November 21, 2014

WHERE: Courthouses across the state

ABOUT: Along with courts across the nation, judges throughout Massachusetts will open their courts to legalize the adoptions of hundreds of children from foster care and to celebrate all adoptive families. More information.

 

Foster & Adoptive All-Star Parent Awards

 

On June 1, the 29th Annual Foster and Adoptive Parent Recognition Awards were hosted by the Department of Children and Families, MAFF, and MSPCC in Framingham. The annual brunch celebrates the contributions of foster and adoptive parents, and recognizes individuals by region for outstanding work as foster parents and advocates.

MSPCC President and CEO Mary McGeown said, "Foster and adoptive parents fulfill an extraordinary need in communities throughout the state: stepping in when children need a home and a family in place of their own. I am so happy to honor these generous men and women for the gift of their homes and hearts."

More than 40 families were honored with Foster Parent All-Star Awards, and four families were recognized as Adoptive Parent All-Stars. The 2014 Goldie Rogers Memorial Award, named for foster parent and child advocate who died in a fire in 1989, was presented to June and Walter Littlefield of Lynn. The Littlefields have been foster and adoptive parents for 30 years, caring for more than 50 children, who are never identified as birth, foster, or adoptive—they are all just members of the family.

The Lisa Anne Jenkins Award, named for a passionate child advocate and foster parent who died at 53,  is given each year to a policy maker who exemplifies her commitment to improving the lives of children in DCF care and preventing abuse and neglect. The 2014 recipient is the Honorable Gail Garinger (ret.), the first person to hold the position of the Child Advocate for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

"This day is an opportunity to convey our profound thanks to those who provide foster and adoptive homes to children who need them," said MAFF President Cheryl Tellier-Haddad. "We recognize what an enormous commitment they make and the great good they do for others."

 

Going to 'Great Lengths' for Kid's Net

Greenfield foster mother Amy Proietti has always worn her hair short, each month using clippers to cut it herself. Now, she won't be cutting her hair for nearly two years. Why? It's not for the sake of a new look, but for that of a good cause.

"After letting my hair grow a little, one idea led to another until my wife suggested a fundraiser. Right then I knew I had to do it to raise money for Kid's Net," Proietti said.

She asked her community to donate to Kid's Net, and for each $25 donated, she promised to keep her hair growing for another week. She never imagined how successful her "Hair Raising Experiment" would be. After raising more than $2,000, Proietti has vowed to grow her hair until the end of 2015. 

"The folks at Kid's Net have been such a great support for us," Proietti said. "To know that the money is going to a cause that is very close to me, to know that it's making a difference with kids, I felt was very important."

Proetti and her wife Jessica are the proud foster parents of 2-year-old Joe, who suffers from muscular dystrophy. Joe joined their family when he was 8-months-old, forming an instant bond with their then 6-year-old daughter, Marina. The couple hopes to adopt Joe, making him a permanent member of their family, and continue to open their home to foster children for years to come. 

"People have ways of giving back, for us giving back as a foster family made the most sense. And it's been awesome," Proietti said.

 

Adoption Tax Credit Information
Information from Adopt Fund, Inc.

 

Did you finalize an adoption in 2011? Was the adopted child in the foster care system? Do you earn less than $225,000 per year? If so, you may qualify to receive a one-time federal income tax credit of $13,360 for that adoption. The adoption credit is refundable to adoptive families, even if they have no income or pay no taxes. The credit for adoptions finalized in 2011 expires in April.  Credits are also available for adoptions finalized in more recent years. To benefit from the Adoption Tax Credit, the following requirements must be met:

  • A family must have adopted a child from the foster care system.
  • The adopted child(ren) must have received a monthly post-adoption subsidy from the state after the adoption was finalized.
  • A family should have a total modified gross income of under approximately $225,000 in order to receive an adoption credit. The exact amount of income varies from year to year.

The IRS requires certain documents to review and approve the credit reimbursement:

  • Adoption Order or Final Judgment of Adoption for each qualifying child
  • A signed post-adoption subsidy agreement issued by the state or other certified document that you receive or have received confirming assistance from the state
  • Copy of last year's Federal Tax Return

For more information, please visit www.AdoptFund.com or the North American Council on Adoptable Children at www.nacac.org.

 

The MAFF Book Corner

 

Local author Irene Smalls has written a number of books focused on the special relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. These might be especially nice for kinship families to read together. 

 

 

 

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