Clean – A critical look at the nation’s approach to drug treatment [ .75 Hr ]

A Father Tells The Story Of His Son’s Struggle To Stay ‘Clean’.

Natonal Public Radio’s Terry Gross interviews author David Sheff.

“The view that drug use is a moral choice is pervasive, pernicious and wrong,” writes [...]]]> New Training Topic!

Clean – A critical look at the nation’s approach to drug treatment [ .75 Hr ]

A Father Tells The Story Of His Son’s Struggle To Stay ‘Clean’.

Natonal Public Radio’s Terry Gross interviews author David Sheff.

“The view that drug use is a moral choice is pervasive, pernicious and wrong,” writes David Sheff in Clean, a critical look at the nation’s approach to drug treatment. Sheff argues that we should not wait for “rock bottom” — that addiction should be treated promptly, just like any other disease.

The interview is online and lasts 34 mins.   Members receive three-quaters of an hour training credit.

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We’ve received a number of inquiries asking about the old photo we’ve posted below our site’s logo at the top of page.

It’s from the Library of Congress public domain photo collection and is entitled:

“Group made orphans by Cherry Mine disaster where 400 men were entombed, Nov. 13, [...]]]> Yes, that’s a photo of orphans!

We’ve received a number of inquiries asking about the old photo we’ve posted below our site’s logo at the top of page.

It’s from the Library of Congress public domain photo collection and is entitled:

“Group made orphans by Cherry Mine disaster where 400 men were entombed, Nov. 13, 1909, Cherry, Ill.”

What a difference a hundred plus years makes! Foster care as we know it today, didn’t exist then. If the children in that photo didn’t have any family, many of them were destined for work house type orphanages.

The work you do as foster parents today has eliminated the orphanages those children would have faced.

We’re come a long way!

To see the full photo in the Library of Congress online collection, go to:
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/ds.01289/

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This training is listed in the list of topics available when [...]]]> New Training Topic!

Back to School: Teaching “non-cognitive skills” = 1 Hr Training Credit

This informative one-hour training is an audio broadcast from This American Life and focuses on the  emerging importance of  “non-cognitive skills” in public education.  Qualities like tenacity, resilience, impulse control.

This training is listed in the list of topics available when you click on TRAINING LOGIN in the Menu at the top of the page.

With budget cuts, the number of caseworkers has declined while each caseworker’s case load has increased. It’s not unusual for [...]]]> Every foster child has a caseworker. Your relationship with caseworkers is vital to your success as a foster parent.

Caseworkers are mandated to physically see each child under their supervision at least once a month.

With budget cuts, the number of caseworkers has declined while each caseworker’s case load has increased. It’s not unusual for a caseworker to have 40 or more children they are responsible for.

Multiply that figure by the number of court reviews, parent visitations, emergencies, writing up 90-day reviews on each child, foster home visits, court hearings, etc., and you’ll see that being a caseworker is a thankless job – not unlike the feeling foster parents often get!

Maintaining a good, respectful & helpful relationship with caseworkers pays off when you have a problem.

The key to a good working relationship with your caseworker is to maintain communication about your foster child. In most cases, a simple, concise weekly update by email is sufficient. This serves two important purposes: One, you have a dated written record and two, the caseworker has a dated written record.

Click Here to see if your agency has signed on to our Half-Off Membership program.

ICE stands for “In Case of Emergency”.

If you or one of your kids have a cell phone, chances are in case of an emergency, it would be next to impossible for a nurse, EMT, police officer or Good Samaritan to [...]]]> No, not ice for the picnic cooler.  But ICE in your cell phone directory.

ICE stands for “In Case of Emergency”.

If you or one of your kids have a cell phone, chances are in case of an emergency, it would be next to impossible for a nurse, EMT, police officer or Good Samaritan to determine who to contact from your phone directory.

Most first responders and emergency room personnel are now trained to look for ICE in cell phone directories.  The best way to list your emergency contacts is like so:

ICE – Bob

ICE – Mom

Keeping ICE in you cell phone can make all the difference in time when minutes count!

So . . . “Got ICE?”

A recent article in The Source (published in St. Thomas, The Virgin Islands) highlights how Federal and local budget cuts threaten a successful aging-out program for foster children ages 18 to 21.

According to The Source article, “The V.I. [Virgin Island] program was in line with those [...]]]> Even “paradise” has foster kids who age out.

A recent article in The Source (published in St. Thomas, The Virgin Islands) highlights how Federal and local budget cuts threaten a successful aging-out program for foster children ages 18 to 21.

According to The Source article, “The V.I. [Virgin Island] program was in line with those of several states, whose groundbreaking programs for the foster leavers are being set up under the federal Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, which, in 2008, significantly reformed national foster care policies.”

To read the article, click here.