texas foster family association

Texas Foster Family Association twitter.com/TxFosterFamily www.wintergrowth.org www.tffa.org www.facebook.com/texasfosterfamilyassociation

T h e M iss io n of T F FA : M ot ivat i n g , E d u c at i n g a n d S u p p o rt i n g Fo s te r / A d o pt ive Fa m i l ies i n Tex a s

Page # 1Join us for the Texas Foster Fam

ily Association 2014 Training C

onference /Dallas, Texas

September 26-28, 2014

F.O.C.U.S.

July/August 2014

The voice for ALL Texas Foster/Adoptive/Kinship ParentsTexas FosTer Family associaTion

The

www.tffa.org

TFFA’s Conference - September 26-28, 2014You can get 20.5 Hours / 2.05 CEU of Training Credit•Resumes.................................Pages6-7 •Intensive/Keynote.................Page8 •AtAGlance............................Page9 •Sessions.................................Pages10-12

Texas Foster Family Association

Roy Block - Executive Director at 210-394-7933 Irene Clements - TFFA President) at 512-775-9781

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Teenagers in foster care need to know what rights they have. Writing for teenagers in foster care about those rights is, to say the least, challenging. The writer must be thoroughly familiar with the law, be succinct, and be deeply in touch with the gamut of emotional aspects of the lives of their audience. The successful writer cannot be judgmental or patronizing and must be keenly aware that teenagers are in constant motion--alternating between feeling vulnerable and invincible, inconsequential and essential. The perspective needs to be honest and real-life. It is no easy task to convey adult information and wisdom. It requires the writer to get into the teenage mind artfully, and offer just the right combination of substance and style. This article briefly identifies and reviews some of the recent legal materials written specifically for teenagers in foster care.

1. Legal rights of teens in & out-of-home care (January, 2011). Youth Law Center. http://www.ylc.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/teenmanual2011.pdf

2. A teen’s legal guide to foster care in Oregon (2013). Youth, Rights & Justice. http://www.youthrightsjustice.org/media/2183/Teen%20Guide%202013.pdf

3. Legal rights of teens in foster care. (n.d.) The Children’s Aid Society. http://www.

childrensaidsociety.org/files/upload-docs/19-Foster_Care.pdf

4. Handbook for youth in foster care. (2010). New York State Office of Children and Family Services http://www.youthinprogress.org/documents/Youth_in_Care_Handbook_english.pdf

5. Knowing your rights: A handbook for kids in foster care. (2011). Children’s Law Center of Minnesota. http://www.clcmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/CLC-Knowing-Your-Rights.CLCMN_.2012pdf

6. Handbook for youth in foster care. (2012). Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/memos/num_memos/DSP/2012/2012-12attach.pdf

7. Your rights, your life: A resource for youth in foster care. (2011). Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Children’s Administration, The Mockingbird Society. http://independence.wa.gov/pdf/YourRightsbooklet.pdf

These, and other similar hand-books, introduce teenage readers to their rights and responsibilities, as well as mentioning such things as the structure of each department, the fair hearing/grievance procedure, skills for daily living, and a list of helpful resources. In addition, there is discussion about legal terms, confidentiality, housing or independent living, employment, education, finances, and health care options. The length, style, and content of each of these manuals are affected by how it is intended to be used, and by the audiences it targets.

The Audience Of the nearly 400,000 children in foster care on September 30, 2012, 20 % were between the ages of 10 and 14; 20 % were between the ages of 15 and 17, and 4 % were 18 or older. However, during all of fiscal year 2012, a total of 23, 439 youth turned 18, 19, or 20, and aged out of foster care (see http://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/cb/afcarsreport20.pdf). The challenges of aging out of foster care are well-documented. Too often, those who exit foster care do

Writing for Teenagers in FosterCare About Their Legal Rights

By Daniel Pollack & Katie Elias







so without the family and social networks that so many young people rely on, and are expected to make it on their own. Whether foster youth are just curious or are usually in the process of aging out of foster care, it is clear that good information about their own legal rights is critical to their well-being.

The Manuals The manuals reviewed here range in length from a simple two-page pamphlet (#3), to an 82-page, detailed handbook on various facets of foster youths’ lives (#4). Some seem geared toward younger audiences (#5, #6), some are more technical, focusing on the procedural details of the courts (#1, #2), while others strike a balance between readability and honesty about the difficult situations in which foster teens may find themselves (#4, #7). All address foster youths’ basic rights and needs: a contact caseworker, safety, medical care, school attendance, etc. Some include rights regarding quality of life--to be treated with dignity and respect, to be given fair rules, to be involved in major decisions about their own lives, etc.

All provide helpful contacts and a space for other important numbers. Washington State’s booklet, among others, has a deeper level of inter-activity. It is located on a website dedicated to independence for youth in foster care (independence.wa.gov). The web site is an engaging tool that has videos, resource tabs, and easily accessible contacts where visitors can direct

questions. Most of the manuals take a stance of encouraging self-advocacy, but also lay out the responsibilities of other professionals: social workers, lawyers, courts, foster families, among others. A manual’s tone may relate to how well these contacts and networks actually function on behalf of foster youth.For instance, New York’s handbook is divided into clear sections with titles like “Everyday Life,” “Big Questions,” and “Legal Issues”; it uses boxes to set off useful information, and it includes helpful quotes from other foster youth about their experiences of the system and of using the manual itself.

Next StepsIt would be helpful to hear from youth who have used these documents to see what worked for them. The Casey Young Adult Survey (2008) makes several recommendations for information emancipated youth might need upon exiting foster care. Some of the greatest needs identified were related, but not exclusive to legal rights within the foster system, including creating a written transition plan; compiling a file of

important personal documents and phone numbers;information about addiction and substance abuse; obtaining a high-school diploma or GED; and,

advocating for mental health services.In general, those resources that acknowledge each youth as a whole person seem to be most accessible and useful, in part because they communicate that someone really cares about that youth’s legal rights.

Daniel Pollack is professor at Yeshiva University’s School of Social Work in New York City. He can be

contacted at [email protected], (212) 960-0836.Kate Elias is a social worker and editor in

Seattle and currently works at a youth and community development nonprofit agency.Reference Notes

1. Hook, J., & Courtney, M. (2011). Employment outcomes of former foster youth as young adults: The importance of human, personal, and social capital. Children and Youth Services Review, 32(10), 1855–1865.2. http://www.casey.org/ Resources/Publications/ CaseyYoungAdultSurveyThreeYears.htm



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TFFA Board of Directors* Indicates Voting Member

Executive Director - Roy Block*President - Rhonda Loth

*1st VP - Jennifer Studdard*2nd VP - Kellie Pittman

*Treasurer - Dwight Steiner*Secretary - Sharon Medford

*Parliamentarian - Charlie Walker

Regional Foster Parent Representatives*Region 1: Connie Scarborough

*Region 2: Becky Sanford *Region 3: Daphne Hunter*Region 4: Maud Wright*Region 5: Mike Williams*Region 6: Steve Gundling*Region 7: Dorothy Place

*Region 8: Melissa Leopold*Region 9: VACANT

*Region 10: Nancy Placencia*Region 11: Patricia Arroyo

Committee Chair*Communication - Kent Farr

*Conference - Melissa Leopold*Editor - Carolyn Walker

*Education/Training - Marlene Steiner*Finance - Mike Williams

*Membership - Dorothy Place*Public Policy/Legislative - Irene Clements

*Recruitment/Retention - Terri Jaggers*Scholarship - Jennifer Studdard

Agency RepresentativesArrow - Donald Shuffield

Bair Foundation - Rose AhernBuckner - Sherri Tucker

DePelchin - DeJuana JerniganGrace Manor - Noel Wilkins

LSSS-FIT - Alissa Muir

CPS StaffState Office - Terri Parsons

Program Admin Rep - Debra PohlmanState Division Administrator - Jackie Hubbard

Region 1 - Sheryl RussellRegion 2 - VACANT

Region 3 - FAD, Barbara WellsRegion 3 - Natalie Witherspoon

Region 4 - Kristi StephensRegion 5 - Miriam Stephenson

Region 6 - Tonya Clay Region 6 - Glenda Martin

Region 7 - Ann RutenRegion 8 - Linda Edwards

Region 9 - VACANTRegion 10 - Diana LopezRegion 11 - Conny GarzaRCCL - Hector Beltran

To get more contact information visit our website - tffa.org


THE Voice For All Texas Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Families

2013 CONFERENCE• Resumes .................................. 6-7• Intensive/Keynote .................. 8• Conference At A Glance......... 9• Sessions/Trainers.................... 10-12• Forms Online.......................... 13• Hotel Information................... 13FEATURES• Right of Teens ........................ 2-3 • Board of Directors ................. 4• Website Articles ..................... 14-15• Foster Parent Poem................ 16• Fill My Cup ............................ 17• Tech Tip .................................. 18-19

ADVERTISEMENT• DFPS ....................................... 4• Foster Care Clinic ................. 5

RECENT ARTICLES ON THE TFFA.ORG WEBSITE• Tantrums• Juvenile Arthritis• Survival Guides for Theme Parks• Are You Recharging Yourself?• Give Your Child a History• Co-sleeping• MEMO from DFPS for Youth• Preventing Sex Trafficking• Signs your child is mature enough for a cellphone

F.O.C.U.S.

Our Thanks to this Partner!

TFFA is partially funded by the Department of Family & Protective Services.







Thank you,

foster parents

On behalf of the Foster Care Clinic at Children’s Medical Center, we want to thank our Texas foster parents for nurturing, encouraging and nourishing the spirits of our children in foster care!

Helping Children HealChildren’s is dedicated to serving children in foster care and meeting their special health and medical needs.

The Foster Care Clinic at Children’s provides comprehensive health care services to children who are in the custody of Child Protective Services (CPS) and living in kinship, foster, adoptive or group homes.

Services include medical homes, mental health support and pre-adoption assessments, in addition to psychosocial support, education and advocacy in coordination with CPS.

To find out more and schedule an appointment, visit childrens.com

Children’s Medical Center DallasARCH Center1935 Medical District DriveDallas, Texas 75235214-456-6500

Children’s Medical Center at Legacy7601 Preston RoadPlano, Texas 75024469-303-4300

ARCH130417_Foster Care Ad-TFFA_v7.indd 1 4/22/13 9:47 AM



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Position Desired: 1st Vice President Date Resume Received: July 7, 2014Name: Jennifer Studdard Address: 9211 FM 711 /Center 75935 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 936-275-3547Age Range of Children You Care(d) For: AllAre You Currently Licensed As A Texas Foster Parent? NoIf you are no longer fostering, was your home closed in GOOD standing? YesWhy Do You Want This Position?: “I currently was elected to the position of 1st Vice President last year when I was elected by my peers to be 2nd Vice President on the TFFA Board and I have fully enjoyed every moment of it. I would like to continue my role as 1st Vice President of the TFFA Board and serve the Foster/Adoptive Parents of Texas; my work has just begun. I enjoy every moment with all the parents that I have met and with all the TFFA Board of Directors.”What Qualification Do You Have to Hold This Position? “My husband and I started fostering in 2001 and adopted all five children that came into our home in 2003. In 2004 we decided to close our home (in good standing) since we were not able to take more children to foster. I served as Regional Representative from Region 5 in February 2002 until October 2005. In October 2005 I was asked to serve as the Scholarship Chair and serve in that position to date. I was elected to 2nd Vice President in 2011 and served until 2013. Because of a vacancy I was (per the bylaws) moved to the position of 1st Vice President last year. I am a hard worker and a dedicated person. I love people, I love what I do and I love what TFFA stands for and I would like to continue to serve as 1st VP for the families of Texas on the TFFA Board of Directors.”What are your Volunteer Experiences? TFFA Region 5 Representative 2002-2005; TFFA Scholarship Chair 2005-present; 2nd Vice President 2011-2013; 1st Vice President 2013-present;

Region 5 Council Vice President 2008-present; Girl Scout leader 1978-2012; Boy Scout leader 2007-2009; PTO President 2009-2013.What Awards & Recognitions Have You Received? Foster Family of the Year - TFFA; Presidential Award

Position Desired: ParliamentarianDate Resume Received: July 1, 2014Name: Charlie Walker Address: 3115 CR 3306/ Jacksonville 75766 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 903-586-7103Age Range of Children You Care(d) For: AllAre You Currently Licensed As A Texas Foster Parent? NoIf you are no longer fostering, was your home closed in GOOD standing? YesWhy You Want This Position?: “I want to continue working with the TFFA Board of Directors as together we work to make the Texas foster care system the best it can be.”What Qualifications Do You Have to Hold This Position? “I have held this position for several years.”What Are Your Volunteer Experiences?“I am the safety officer for my local volunteer fire department. I have been in a leadership position with TFFA for several years. I have been a leader in my church as an Elder for 17 years. I was the President of our local foster parent association (when we were fostering). I am a self-employed business owner.”

What Awards & Recognitions Have You Received? “I have received several through TFFA for appreciation of my efforts.”

Resumes....Received by the July 10th deadlineThis year we elect 1st Vice President, Parliamentarian,

and EVEN numbered Foster Parent Representatives

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Position Desired: Region 2 Foster Parent Representative Date Resume Received: June 20, 2014 Name: Becky Sanford Address: 120 S. Valley Drive/Electra 76360 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 940-781-9081Age Range of Children You Care(d) For: Infants, Small Children, YouthAre You Currently Licensed As A Texas Foster Parent? YesWhy You Want This Position?: “I want to take the concerns and comments of Region 2 Foster/Adoptive Parents to this state level; I want to make a difference in the lives of foster children, and to promote change at the legislative level for foster/adoptive families and the children in our care. I want to be a voice for foster children and foster/adoptive families.”What Qualifications Do You Have to Hold This Position? • Foster Parent for 38 years• Current Region 2 Foster Parent Representative• Past Foster/Adoptive Parent Advisory Council

Representative• Certified PRIDE trainer• I am a ‘stay-at-home/on-the-go’ mom!• Past Board member of Wichita County Child Welfare

Board• Past Board member of Archer County Child Welfare

BoardWhat Are Your Volunteer Experiences?“I have held all officer positions in Wichita County Area Foster Parent Association.”

Position Desired: Region 4 Foster Parent Representative Date Resume Received: July 7, 2014Name: Maud Wright Address: 12796 Ridgeview Street /Tyler 75709 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (903) 539-4124Age Range of Children You Care(d) For: AllAre You Currently Licensed As A Texas Foster Parent? YesWhy You Want This Position?: “I want to work with the foster families in my region to help them

develop their skills so they can help the children in their care.”What Qualifications Do You Have to Hold This Position? “I have served in this position for many years and would like to continue to serve.” What Are Your Volunteer Experiences?“I was a public school teacher and enjoy working with children of all ages.”What Awards & Recognitions Have You Received?What Other Information About Yourself Do You Want to Share? “I retired from the school system in 1992. I work with my regional foster parent association and participate in the regional events for our families.”

Position Desired: Region 6 Foster Parent Representative Date Resume Received: July 5, 2014Name: Steve Gundling Address: 5211 Shady Oaks /Friendswood 77546 E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 281-682-5414Age Range of Children You Care(d) For: AllAre You Currently Licensed As A Texas Foster Parent? YesWhy You Want This Position?: “I want to be able to improve the fostering experience of the foster families in the Houston area. Also, I want to help encourage establishment of local foster parent associations.”What Qualifications Do You Have to Hold This Position? “My wife, Kathy, and I have fostered in Texas since 1977. We have cared for all ages and levels of children. I feel that I can relate to most any experiences and problems a family could encounter.”What Are Your Volunteer Experiences?“I have assisted in our church youth group, volunteered in Cub Scout and PTA leadership, and I have been a YMCA soccer and basketball coach.”What Awards & Recognitions Have You Received?What Other Information About Yourself Do You Want to Share? “We have adopted five of our foster children.”

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Intensive Speaker: Russell RogersSession: The Power of saying ‘YES’Every decision we make in life has impact. Some are small and temporary. Others are huge and eternal. When we say “YES” to a foster child, only God knows the extent of the impact we can have on changing the world! This session invites you to ‘Join the adventure’ and realize the Power of saying “YES”! ________________________________________

Keynote Speaker: Dominic Carter When Dominic Carter tells his remarkable heart-wrenching

life story on overcoming child abuse, it will leave you feeling empowered to overcome any obstacle. Independent reviews of his speech around the country have ranged from “Powerful and Inspiring,” to “encouraging,” “rousing,” and “Dominic was engaging and found the way to interact with his audience even though he is talking about something as painful as child abuse,” and his experience in Foster Care. Dominic grew up poor, in the notorious Housing Projects of New York City, with no father, and a mother who was diagnosed with “Chronic Paranoid schizophrenia.” Yet, Dominic went from a childhood of sexual and physical abuse to a meaningful career in television attending social events at the White House and interviewing the late Nelson Mandela. Dominic Carter has had tremendous highs and lows. His own demons almost destroyed him. In the end, Journalist Dominic Carter recounts how he survived to become the successful journalist that he is today. Dominic Carter’s book, “No Momma’s Boy,” is a true account of someone who has been keeping life long secrets of abuse at the hands of his mother.

With a mother who once tried to strangle him as a toddler and tried to commit suicide several times, his gut wrenching story will leave you motivated and inspired. Many can associate with Dominic Carter’s story in some part, which can make a lot of difference for anyone who seems to be giving up on life. Whether you are going through a difficult situation or have been going through it for a long time now, you can overcome the resentment, guilt and hopelessness. As a survivor of child abuse and foster care, his motivational story can help you to start living positively. Anything is possible when you are determined to excel. Reading Carter’s book or listening to his story can certainly unlock the hidden potential in you or the child you care for with a similar background! Session: Recovering from the shame, the guilt, and the embarrassment. I have been running my entire life, I am finally free: Abused Children are often incapable of expressing their emotion, and suppressed feelings are real. TV Journalist Dominic Carter puts a “human face,” on the problem, as a child victim himself. The learner will be able to better understand the complexities of a child forced to cope with Sexual Abuse, Child Abuse, Foster Care, and having a parent suffering from severe Mental Illness. They will have a better understanding of why it is often times, so difficult to communicate/reach victims of Child Abuse. Dominic Carter had been handed a virtual round-trip ticket to the victim train, yet Dominic refused to get on board. Session attendees will leave feeling good about themselves, and more importantly, feeling good about their professional work with children.







2014 TFFA Annual Conference - At A Glance

Friday, September 26, 2014Intensive ....................................................................8:00 AM - 5:00 PM: Russell Rogers [8 Hours/ .8 CEU]

Mini-Intensive .....................................................................................6:30 PM - 9:30 PM [ 3 Hours/ .3 CEU]• John DeGarmo, PhD - Keeping Foster Kids Safe Online • Mike Foster - Ethics & Professionalism• Kellie Pittman [TX #190 - CERTIFIED Trainer] - CPR/ First Aid

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Opening Session ................................................................................8:00 AM - 10:00 AM [1 Hours/ .1 CEU] Keynote Speaker : •Dominic Carter Business Meeting : 9:00-10:00 AM

Session 1 ..........................................................................................10:15 AM - 12:15 PM [ 2 Hours/ .2 CEU]• Danielle Doolittle /Terri/ Dad :• Gloria Fobbs : Self Care

Lunch ..........................................................................................................................12:00 NOON - 2:00 PM Includes Awards Presentation/ One meal ticket accompanies each registration [additional tickets can be purchased at the Registration table]

Session 2 ..........................................................................................2:15 PM - 3:45 PM [1.5 Hours/ .15 CEU]• Gloria Fobbs : Stress Management• Dr. Shilba Trivedi : Reactive Attachment Disorder• Wayne Hux & Kimberly Clayton : CAPE Training - Part 1 Session 3 ........................................................................................ 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM [ 1.5 Hours/ .15 CEU]• Kelly Broadaway : Traumatic Informed Behavioral Interventions• Sarah Moore : In’s and Out’s of Pee and Poop• Dr. Shilba Trivedi : Autism• Wayne Hux & Kimberly Clayton : CAPE Training - Part 2

Sunday, September 29, 2014

Session 4 ........................................................................................8:00 AM - 9:30 AM [ 1.5 Hours/ .15 CEU]• Gary Bluff : Redesign• Dr. Partap & Dr. Santa Sosa : Toxic Stress in Young Children

Session 5 ......................................................................................9:45 AM - 11:15 AM [ 1.5 Hours. .15 CEU]• Natasha Owoseni : Integrating Foster Children ALS- Associates of Liberal Studies, BBA, Bachelor in Business Management• Ealom : Parents Working Together to Reunify• Rob Rodriguez : • Kellie Pittman : CPR/First Aid Closing ..............................................................................................................................11:30 AM - 1:00 PM



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Trainers /Session Descriptions

Intensive: •Russell Rogers .......................................................................................................... [8 Hours/.8 CEU] Dallas Baptist University degree - MLA in Pastoral Counseling; Executive Director of “Casey’s Heart”; Senior Pastor of Trinity Life Baptist Church in Garland, TX; Vice Chairman of the State of Texas Advisory Committee Promoting the Adoption of Minority Children

Mini-Intensives : .......................................................................................................................[3 Hours/ .3 CEU] •Dr. John DeGarmo : Keeping Foster Kids Safe Online This session focuses on the many dangers currently associated with foster children and online technology. Social networking is also a main focus of this session. During the presentation, foster parents will be informed of the dangers associated with online technology, as well as be equipped with strategies designed to better protect the foster child. Participants will study the many dangers of online technology. These dangers include sexting; child pornography; child grooming; child trafficking; internet predators; cyber bullying; tracking through internet; online hoaxes; online recruitment into harmful organizations; access to inappropriate material; addictive behaviors; social networking; inappropriate and unsupervised contact/communication with birth parents and biological family members. Participants will be equipped with strategies designed to better aid foster children as they face these dangers and horrors. These strategies include establishing rules/policies/expectations; examining and using protective software; learning how to block inappropriate material/content; learning how to block contact from undesired and inappropriate outsiders; protecting personal information and contact information; learning the importance of “netiquette”; how to screen harmful sites; understanding the legal implications of online use; and how to disclose information/express oneself in a safe and appropriate manner.

•Mike Foster : Ethics & Professionalism •Kellie Pittman : CPR/First Aid [TX License #190 - CERTIFIED Trainer] This CPR and First Aid training offers the most up to date guidelines for adults, children, and infants that are for use by lay persons. This course is accepted by DFPS for foster/adoptive parents, by private agencies, is accepted for licensed day care workers. Certificates of course completion are $30.00. Certification cards with workbook to take home are $35.00 Cards/certificates will be mailed to those paying by check. Those paying cash will receive their certification on site.

Opening Session : Keynote Speaker: •Dominic Carter ...........................................[1 Hour/.1 CEU] see page #8

Session 1:...................................................................................................................................... [2 Hours/.2 CEU] •Danielle Doolittle, Terri and Jerry : Danielle grew up in Houston, knowing she was adopted. Although she felt fulfilled as she danced for the Houston Ballet and played sports, there were nagging unanswered questions that prevented Danielle from being truly happy. At age 20, she decided to find answers and she set out to find her birth parents. Since it was a closed adoption, she was prepared to spend months or even years searching for them. However, God in his infinite wisdom had other plans and reunited her with her birth family in only 4 days. Danielle was not only united with her birth parents, Terri Torres and Jerry Mantooth, but also her five new sisters. Danielle will take you through her journey of growing up adopted with the trials and tribulations of finding balance between an adopted and a birth family. Her birth parents, Terri and Jerry will join her to share their story of giving up their daughter for adoption. They will share heart wrenching emotions of what they went through as very young kids going through a very adult situation.Foster parents, adoptive parents and case workers are encouraged to come listen and ask questions as these three people take you through their ups, downs, struggles, triumphs and the many joys which made their reunion a success.Thirteen years from the day they found each other, they continue to learn and grow together as a blended family. •Gloria Fobbs : Self Care: Preventing Compassion Fatigue & Secondary Traumatic Stress It’s easy to lose track of your own needs when caring for children who have experienced trauma. But not taking care of yourself not only sets a bad example for your child(ren), it also sets you up for compassion fatigue. When the stress of parenting affects our mental and physical health and impairs our ability to parent effectively, we are suffering from compassion fatigue. Learning how to take care of yourself is one of the most important skills you can develop as a caregiver. By







modeling how we take care of ourselves, we can help our child(ren) learn how to take good care of themselves. The Goals and Objectives of this training will help you:1. Identify the warning signs of compassion fatigue,2. Be able to describe secondary traumatic stress and its symptoms,3. Be able to identify the consequences of not taking care of oneself,4. Understand the importance of committing to the practice of self-care, and5. Develop a self care plan.

Session 2 :......................................................................................................................................... [1.5 Hours/ .15 CEU] •Gloria Fobbs : Stress Management Stress is your mind and body’s response or reaction to a real or imagined threat, event, or change. The threat, event or change are commonly referred to as stressors. Stressors can be internal (thoughts, beliefs, attitudes, or external loss, tragedy, or change). Foster Parents, due to their unique role of being the primary caregiver for traumatized children, have more stressors than your usual family. This type of stress is called Secondary Traumatic Stress, or STS. After completion of this training, attendees will be able to:1. Define Stress and Secondary Traumatic Stress2. Describe ways in which Secondary Traumatic Stress affects foster parents and their families3. Describe the symptoms of Secondary Traumatic Stress4. Identify ways to reduce and manage stress •Dr. Shilba Trivedi : Reactive Attachment Disorder De mystifying “RAD” involves taking a close look at the symptoms/behaviors, prevalence of this disorder in order to distinguishing it from other conditions as well as treatment implications and prognosis of the child. •Wayne Hux & Kimberly Clayton, BS Ed. : CAPE Training (Part 1) CAPE Training explores topics such as:1. Culture of Foster Care2. Adolescent Development3. Appreciative Inquiry4. Live Skills Partners5. Community Resources This workshop will also tell about BCFS HHS and the programs to assists youth in care. This workshop is just hitting the highlights of CAPE. The CAPE curriculum is a 20 hour curriculum that is free to all who would like to take it. BCFS has several Transition Centers across Texas. The presenters will give all who attend information about the Centers in their area.

Session 3 : ........................................................................................................................................[1.5 Hours .15 CEU] •Kelly Broadway : Trauma Informed Behavioral Intervention: Do you have children and/or foster children who don’t seem to respond to typical rewards and consequences. During this session we will discuss the effect that trauma and neglect have on development and brain growth. This presentation covers stressors, coping skills, and success strategies. Kelly Broadaway has been a licensed therapist for 20 years. She is an adoptive mother and was a therapeutic foster mother for 7 years. •Sarah Moore, RN, PNP, PNP-BC, CPNP-AC, NNP : The In’s and Out’s of Pee and Poop : Expectations of normal patterns and troubleshooting issues from toddler to school age children. Fostering children of various ages can be a challenge and when foster parents have taken on a toddler to school age child with urinary/stooling challenges the stress level significantly increases. The focus of this lecture is to break down the developmental tasks that are necessary in potty training, to provide age related expectations, to review common barriers to potty training, to discuss red flag warnings that require escalation in evaluation, and a review list of various community resources for families struggling with potty training issues. •Dr. Shilba Trivedi : Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)-The Uniqueness of ASD Each individual with ASD is very unique. Learn to identify the “red” flags and understand the severity levels that can help in individualized evaluation and treatment.

Continued...



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•Wayne Hux & Kimberly Clayton, BS Ed : CAPE Training - Part 2

Session 4: ...................................................................................................................... ...........[1.5 Hours/ .15 CEU] •Gary Bluff : Redesign Dr. Buff is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Our Community Our Kids, a division of ACH Child and Family Services in Ft., Worth, Texas. Our Community Our Kids is the Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC) for the Texas Department of Family and Preventive Services Region 3. Dr. Buff is a licensed psychologist who has worked in children’s mental health and child welfare in the states of New Mexico, Hawaii and Texas for over 35 years. Foster Care Redesign is the initiative of the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (TDFPS) to start a new way of providing foster care service that relies on a Single Source Continuum Contractor (SSCC). TDFPS awarded the first metropolitan Foster Care Redesign SSCC for region 3 in December, 2013. Attendees will learn the basic elements of the foster Care Redesign initiative, including the goal, design and outcomes expected. Dr. Buff will present the Our Communities Our kids model for operating as the SSCC for region 3. There will be ample time for questions from attendees. •Dr. Partap & Dr. Santa Sosa : Toxic Stress in Young Children

Session 5 ....................................................................................................9:45 AM - 11:15 AM [ 2 Hours/ .2 CEU] •Natasha Owoseni : Bridging the Gap...Effective Communication in Your Foster HomeThe purpose of this training is to identify communication gaps and provide tips on how communication among families can be effective and encouraging. Many times, the transitions within foster care can potentially cause families and children to lose sight of what is important... the overall enhancing of the family unit. Effective communication is key and sharing the bond of family within the transition is possible, no matter the challenges many families face. •De Shaun Ealom, M. Ed : Parents Working Together to Re Unify Texas Department of Family and Protective Services partners with parents previously involved with Child Protective Services. These parents have been reunified with their children and are now involved with the department in the spirit of true partnership. This workshop will include information on communication, child visitation, expectation and the reunification/transition process. The attendees to this session will:1) Effectively communicate with birth parents2) Provide valuable feedback to birth parent after parent child visitation3) Approach the birth parent and ask their expectation of the foster parent the chid child is living with and,4) Participate in the reunification/transition process with understanding of their value.

•Rob Rodriguez : Founder/Director Family for Life Fatherhood: Changing the Game! Single, Foster/Adoptive Father and Founder of Family 4 Life, Rob R. Rodriguez and two of his 2 sons, Aaron Rodriguez and John Wistl deliver an interactive presentation about the joys and challenges of fatherhood. He will concentrate on ways to stay connected to your children in a fast paced world. He will provide practical real world applications that can help strengthen a father’s bond to his children. Workshop is good for all fathers and those interested in supporting fatherhood. Presentation includes a short Q&A session with his sons. •Kellie Pittman : CPR/First Aid (see page #11) Closing ...................................................................................................[11:30 AM - 1:00 PM] [.5 Hours/ .5 CEU] •Dance Revolution [http://www.dance-revolution.com] •Assistant Commissioner, Lisa Black

Continued....







TFFA 2014 Conference Hotel

Date: September 26-28, 2014 [Friday/Saturday/Sunday]

Location: Omni Park West Hotel / Dallas, Texas

Phone: (972) 869-4300

To Join TFFA (and get the discounted registration fee) visit our website...tffa.org CONFERENCE Registration Fee: Member - $149 / Non-Member - $174

Omni Park West Hotel is a Luxury Hotel With Texas Warmth The elegant Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West puts you close to the best attractions of dynamic Dallas, Texas. Located near the vibrant Las Colinas Business District, and only 10 minutes from the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, this 12- story luxury hotel invites you to experience elegance with neoclassical distinction. With exquisite European-style appointments, the Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West is framed by a luminous lake and a lush green park.

TFFA 2014 Conference Date: September 26-28, 2014 [Friday/Saturday/Sunday]

Location: Omni Park West Hotel[1590 LBJ Freeway /Dallas, TX 75234

Hotel Phone Number: (972) 869-4300 [be sure to tell them you are reserving with the TFFA Conference to get the Conference Rate]

Visit our website for these FORMS...• To Advertise in the Conference Program• To Be a TFFA Conference Sponsor• To Register for the Conference - Online or On-site ONLY• Vendor/Exhibitor Form• The TFFA Board of Directors• And much, much more



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Recent Articles from our Website5 Perfectly Understandable Reasons For Tantrums Toddlers. They’re sticky. They drip. They mess up our stuff. And they throw temper tantrums for no particular reason. Actually, that last one isn’t true. A lot of their tantrums make perfect sense. Why? Here are five reasons: 1] Infants get to do pretty much whatever they want, whenever they want. The same cannot be said...[To read the entire article, visit our website: http://www.tffa.org/2014/07/22/5-perfectly-understandable-reasons-for-tantrums/] ____________________________________________Juvenile Arthritis is One of the Most Common Chronic Illnesses Affecting Children Arthritis is a disease that mostly affects older people, right? Not necessarily. Juvenile arthritis is one of the most common chronic illnesses affecting children. In fact, nearly 300,000 youngsters nationwide have been diagnosed with the disease. The most common symptoms include joint pain, inflammation (swelling), tenderness and...[To read the entire article, visit our website: http://www.tffa.org/2014/07/17/juvenile-arthritis-is-one-of-the-most-common-chronic-illnesses-affecting-children/]

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Survival Guides for Theme Parks You may know all about strategy in terms of business dealings, football plays, or getting dinner for ten on the table. But visiting a theme park with your children? This requires another level of brain power. Rule 1: Have a plan. Check out our strategies for getting the most out of your trip and creating memories that go well beyond the thrill of a roller coaster.1. Pick your top three rides/attractions in advance. Before leaving home...[To read the entire article, visit our website: http://www.tffa.org/2014/07/16/survival-guides-for-theme-parks/] ____________________________________________

Are You Recharging Yourself? Special needs children are likely to be high maintenance children. Whether a disability is developmentally, neurologically or medically based, these children require significant time, attention, planning and support. They are sensitive on many fronts. Their emotions, behaviors, likes and dislikes are often [To read the entire article, visit our website: http://www.tffa.org/2014/07/11/are-you-recharging-yoursel ]







7 Ways to Give Your Child a History When a child is adopted from foster care at an older age, he needs to understand his story up to placement and the significance of his joining a new family forever. Here are hands-on activities you can use to start this conversation....[To read the entire article, visit our website: http://www.tffa.org/2014/07/01/7-ways-to-give-your-child-a-history/]

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Co-sleeping deaths in Texas are on record-setting paceHundreds of babies die in their sleep in Texas each year—suddenly, unexpectedly, and often without a clear explanation. In the first ten months of this fiscal year, Child Protective Services (CPS) has investigated 164 cases involving kids who died while sharing a bed or other sleep...[To read the entire article, visit our website: http://www.tffa.org/2014/07/01/co-sleeping-deaths-in-texas-are-on-record-setting-pace/]____________________________________________

MEMO From DFPS: For the Teen Youth in CareFederal legislation requires the resident state to develop and implement a data collection system to:• Track independent living services provided by the state in which the youth resides; and • collect data on outcome measures that may be used to assess our performance in operating...[ To read the entire article, visit our website: http://www.tffa.org/2014/06/27/memo-for-the-teen-youth-in-care/]____________________________________________

Way & Means: Preventing Sex Trafficking & Strengthening FamiliesProtecting Youth as Risk of Sex Trafficking• Requires state child welfare agencies to identify, document, and determine appropriate services for children in foster care or who are otherwise...[To read the entire article, visit our website: http://www.tffa.org/2014/06/27/11190/]____________________________________________

5 Signs Your Child is Mature Enough for a Cellphone1. You can view you child’s social media profiles. This means they have nothing to hide from you, so they don’t block you from checking on their Facebook or Instagram accounts. 2. Your child is responsible and rarely loses their belongings. A child who appreciates and recognizes the value of their belongings is mature enough to be given a phone.3. If your child...[To read the entire article, visit our website: http://www.tffa.org/2014/06/11/5-signs-your-child-is-mature-enough-for-a-cellphone/]



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4 A poem composed by Brandy, age 15, for her foster parent

Sometimes I know the words to sayGive thanks for all you've doneBut then they fly up and awayAs quickly as they come.

How could I possibly thank you enough?The one who makes me feel wholeThe one to whom I should owe my lifeThe forming of a brand new soul.

The one who's there at nightsThe one who helps me when I'm cryingThe one who's continuously an expertAt picking up when I was lying.

The one who sees me off to schoolAnd spent the days aloneYet magically produced a smileAs soon as I came home.

The one who always makes sacrificesTo always put us firstWho lets me test my broken wingsIn spite of how its hurts.

What way is there to thank you?For your heart, your sweat, your tearsFor the ten thousand things you've doneFor oh-so many years.

For changing with me as I changedFor accepting all my flawsFor not loving cause you had toBut loving just because.

Thank you for the gifts you giveFor everything you doBut thank you most of allFor making my dreams come true!!

The Texas Foster Family Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

We rely on the donation of generous people like you in order to advocate for

children and families throughout the state of Texas. We appreciate your generosity.

If you would like to make a one time donation or a donation of any amount on a regular basis, you can do that securely through our Pay-Pal donation button. That can be found on our website at

http://www.tffa.org/donate.

If you have questions, contact our Executive Director, Roy Block at

[email protected] or [email protected] or call him at

(210) 394-7033_________________________

It’s EASY and SECURE to join TFFA.

Go to: http://www.tffa.org/membership/sign-up NOW!

You can join as a Single Membership for just $15 a year

or as a Family for just $25 a year.







Fill

My

Cup,

Lord

The concept of praying for our leaders is not unique to democratic nations, and it did not begin with the United States’ National Day of Prayer. The Bible contains many commands to pray for our leaders-national and local, secular and religious.

Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2: 1-4, “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” God told the Israelites in exile to pray for Babylon: “Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7). Romans 13:1 says, “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” Paul requested prayer “for all the Lord’s people” and for himself that he would speak the gospel boldly ( Ephesians 2: 18-20).

Prayer is important. And it seems the Bible makes special mention of praying for those in positions of authority. Such authorities include government officials (international, national, and local) and pastors, church elders, school boards, school principals, employers, your local Foster Parent Association leaders, your CPA leaders, and the like.

We do not pray for our leaders simply because we are commanded to. Praying for them makes practical sense. Our leaders can affect the conditions we live in and have an impact on our families, our churches, our workplaces, our cities, and our countries. When those in authority are obeying the will of God, it is easier to “live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:2). When evil men are in authority, our prayers for them are just as needed, as illustrated by William Tyndale’s last words as he was being burned at the stake: “Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.”

Also, we do not pray for our leaders merely for our own benefit. Leadership can be a tiring task. James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Leaders carry a degree of responsibility to their followers. They are often the targets of criticism and the go-to people in a crisis. If they are leading well, they are living their lives in service. We pray for them because we recognize the greatness of their task and because we are grateful for their willingness to lead.

So how should we pray for our leaders? First, if we are uncertain that they know Jesus, we should pray for their salvation. But whether or not our leaders are Christians, we should pray that God will guide them as they guide us. We should pray that they be wise and discerning and surrounded by helpful advisors. We know that God has placed our leaders in authority over us (Romans 13:1), and we can ask Him to use them as He will. We should also pray for their protection. When praying for pastors or ministry leaders or the TFFA Board of Directors, we can pray for them to have strength in the midst of spiritual warfare and to remain encouraged in the Lord. We can pray for their families, who often feel scrutinized and bear an extra load.

Briefly stated, we should mention our leaders before God in prayer and ask Him to have His way in their hearts, to support those around them, and to use their leadership to benefit their followers.

How and why should we pray for our leaders?



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Just How Dangerous Is It To Share Your Information On Facebook?

By Mark O’Neill I don’t think you need me to tell you by now about the risks of revealing too much on Facebook. In light of the NSA revelations, people are becoming more security-conscious and being more careful about what

they say and reveal online. However, despite knowing the pitfalls, some people still insist on telling the whole world via Facebook what they did with their day. From a security point of view, telling everyone you ate Sugar Puffs for breakfast, or posting a photo of your belly button lint, isn’t going to get you into hot water. But the following might. ____________________________________

I’ve been guilty of this one before until someone told me to make my check-ins “friends only”. It’s perfectly normal to want to share your intrepid adventures with your Facebook followers but if you highly publicise the fact that no-one is at home, then an opportunistic burglar might come around to your house and become the new owner your TV and next-gen games console.Solution: Keep your check-ins “friends only” or limit it to family and trusted friends. Or even better, don’t do the check-in thing at all. Do you really want Facebook to have a list of all the places you’ve visited? In the “about” section, there are spaces for you to reveal all

kinds of personal information. It also invites an address and phone number to be entered. This is where you really start to get into murky waters.For a start, matching your name up to an address and phone number opens you up to all kinds of spam –Facebook is selling your name & address to marketing firms. But more importantly, revealing where you live enables weirdos, lunatics, and positively dangerous people to track you down. If they don’t like something you said on Facebook, they would just have to check your ‘about’ section to get your address and phone number. Cue heavy breathing and hang-ups at 3.00 AM.Solution: Don’t put your address and phone number on Facebook! If you MUST put something down (say for business purposes), get a post box number, and instead of a landline phone, put down a mobile or Skype phone number; one that you wouldn’t mind abandoning if people start calling you up. ____________________________________If you have been using Facebook for quite some time, then I am sure that you will have witnessed this one: Proud parents showing off their kids by posting photo after photo after photo…..Obviously it is normal to be proud of your kids (“awww, look at Calvin! He has his brother







Timmy in a headlock!”). But if the status updates are set to public, right away you are providing new material for pedophiles to drool over. Combine that with the address in your “about” section….well, you don’t need me to draw you a picture.Solution: Seriously limit the number of photos of your kids on Facebook. If you must put them on, set the status to “friends only”, and make sure you’re aware of how the site’s privacy settings work.____________________________________Oh and please don’t do what some people have been doing which is deciding to set up your kid’s Facebook account for the future, so they get the username they want. There’s plenty of time for that. Besides, Facebook might not exist when your kid turns 13.____________________________________

General Information Which Leads To Targeted AdvertisingIf there is one thing which Facebook is universally hated for, it’s advertising. Even though they are a public company which needs to make money, people still object to ads which they say is intrusive and “in your face”. Let’s look at some of the ways that are dangerous to you if you say the wrong thing on Facebook. They’re not “it will kill you” dangerous, but instead dangerous in terms of your reputation, your finances, etc.• You tell your followers that you are feeling down and possibly

depressed. Facebook sells your info to an insurance company, and when you try to apply for life insurance, you are denied. On Facebook, you get constant ads about making your peace with God, and making up your will before you go. If you were hesitating about making the final leap, ads like that might persuade you.

• You gripe that you have a bad back and you are on long term sick leave from work. Suddenly you get ads about medicine, wellness spas, etc. What’s worse is that your insurance premiums go up. Don’t believe that something like this would happen? It was strongly suspected this year that fitness tracker Fitbit was selling user information to insurance companies, who were then seeing if any of the users were customers. If so, they used the fitness information to adjust the premiums accordingly. Fitbit strongly denies the charge but who knows if they are lying or not? Now if Fitbit is suspected doing it, do you think Facebook would have any qualms about trying the same if the price was right?

Now these are three things that instantly came to mind. I am confident there are numerous others, and I am sure you can cite some in the comments.Solution: Be extremely careful what you talk about, and always keep that kind of conversation “friends only”. Even better, get off Facebook altogether and discuss your hemorrhoids elsewhere. So the moral of this story kiddies is : be careful, be suspicious, and be paranoid. Because sometimes they really are out to get you.



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Texas Foster Family AssociationReturn Address3115 CR 3306Jacksonville, Texas 75766

www.tffa.org www.wintergrowth.org [email protected]‘All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.’

The Texas Foster Family Association F.O.C.U.S. — The Voice For Texas Foster/Adoptive Families

Child abuse is a sickness that gnaws at the very fabric of our society and as with any disease, prevention is far more effective than a cure.

The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) and its many community partners (including TFFA) urges all Texans to make preventing child abuse a priority.

Together we can reduce child abuses terrible toll by listening to children, recognizing the signs of child abuse and taking action. Do NOT assume someone else will do it!

Report suspected child abuse or neglect to the Abuse & Neglect Hot line 1-800-252-5400 or online at

www.txabusehotline.org

Return Address: 3115 CR 3306 / Jacksonville, Texas 75766

NON PROFIT ORG.US POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT 88

75604

texas foster family association

Government & Nonprofit