November 2023 Issue 68

National Adoption Day

National Adoption Day, observed on the Saturday before Thanksgiving each year, is a heartfelt celebration of love, family, and the unique bonds created through adoption, particularly in the context of foster care. This special day brings to the forefront the remarkable journeys of countless children who have found safe, permanent homes and the loving dedication of the foster parents and adoptive families who welcome them with open arms.

National Adoption Day, celebrated in the United States since 2000, is a day to recognize and applaud the transformative power of adoption, specifically within the foster care system. This annual event serves as a reminder of the importance of providing stable and loving homes for children who have faced adversity, displacement, and uncertainty in their young lives.

If you are subscribed to this newsletter, you likely already understand the importance of adoption through foster care. However, there is a much larger portion of our communities that do not have that knowledge. Here's how you can help:

• Stories of Adoption: Sharing personal adoption stories is a powerful way to inspire and educate others. Many families choose to tell their stories during this month to help prospective adoptive parents understand the beauty of adoption. Adoption through foster care is particularly intimidating, but putting a face and a family to the process may help people to see that it's not an insurmountable challenge. The Children's Bureau Learning & Coordination Center has developed several captivating social media messages to help build awareness and engage the public.
• Fundraisers and Donations: Arizona has a plethora of agencies and organizations that support foster care, either by supporting the families through licensure or providing them with tangible items and services. Consider making a financial contribution (or asking your family/friends/community) to a Qualifying Foster Care Charitable Organization and receive a credit on your Arizona State Tax Return. You can also donate money or material goods to one of DCS's partnering foster care organizations.
• Volunteer: Throughout the year, DCS holds events for children in foster care that are legally available for adoption. In an effort to find permanent homes for these children, their profile is shared on the Children's Heart Gallery, and these events contain a photo shoot and interview amid a day of fun and pampering, thanks to local photographers and hair stylists. Volunteers are needed for both of those jobs, as well as chaperones to guide the children between each station.

If you are post-adoption and need assistance with subsidy, AHCCCS, or any other DCS-related issues, please contact your subsidy worker:

• Phoenix Adoption Subsidy Program (Apache, Coconino, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Yavapai) 602-771-6470
• Tucson Adoption Subsidy Program (Cochise, Gila, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, Yuma) 520-885-8002

Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the vast tapestry of Indigenous cultures, languages, traditions, and contributions that enrich the nation's history and its diverse population. It serves to increase awareness, foster appreciation, and build bridges of understanding among all Americans. During this month, events, educational programs, and cultural celebrations take place to showcase the profound legacy of Native Americans.

For Native American children in foster care, maintaining connections to their cultural heritage is essential for several reasons:

• Cultural Identity: A strong cultural identity provides a sense of belonging, self-esteem, and pride. By staying connected to their Native roots, children in care can develop a positive self-image and a deeper understanding of who they are.
• Healing and Resilience: Many Indigenous communities believe in the healing power of cultural practices and traditions. Engaging in ceremonies, storytelling, and traditional arts can help children in care cope with past traumas and build resilience.
• Community Support: Native American communities often serve as a source of support and strength. By maintaining connections, children in care can access a network of people who understand their unique experiences and can offer guidance and mentorship.
• Legacy and Heritage: Preserving cultural connections ensures that the rich legacy of Indigenous traditions and knowledge is passed down to future generations. It keeps the flame of tradition alive, celebrating the contributions of Native American ancestors.

To keep children in DCS care connected to their Native American heritage, it is essential to implement thoughtful and culturally sensitive strategies:

• Cultural Competency Training: Foster care professionals and caregivers should receive cultural competency training to better understand the specific needs and challenges faced by Native American children in foster care.
• Culturally Relevant Education: Ensure that children in care have access to culturally relevant educational resources that include Native American history, language, and traditions.
• Access to Elders and Knowledge Keepers: Children in foster care should have opportunities to interact with tribal elders and knowledge keepers who can impart traditional wisdom and cultural knowledge.
• Celebrating Cultural Events: Participate in community celebrations, powwows, and cultural events that allow children in care to immerse themselves in the traditions and rituals of their heritage.
• Connecting with Tribal Resources: Foster families should work closely with tribal authorities and organizations to access support, resources, and cultural guidance for the children in their care.

There are several resources to help support Native children in DCS care, such as:

• Official Native American Heritage Month website
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration American Indian and Alaska Native Culture Card (download)
• Phoenix Indian Center
• Arizona Department of Economic Security Office of Tribal Relations Resources
• Heard Museum
• DCS Program Policy: Chapter 6: Indian Child Welfare Act
• ICWA FAQ

Initial Placement Information

When a child initially comes into DCS care, there are often a lot of unknowns. The primary focus is getting the child out of an unsafe situation and locating a safe, stable home. Sometimes, the process moves quickly, but there are procedures in place to ensure that the caregiving family is receiving the tools and resources to best care for the child.

One of those resources is the Initial Placement Information, which includes:

• DCS Contact Information (DCS Specialist and Supervisor);
• Information about the child (which may be minimal);
• Visitation and contacts;
• Health/physical impairments/conditions (if known);
• Behavioral/emotional/psychological/psychiatric information (if known);
• Educational needs (if known);
• Instructions on accessing the Guardian provider portal;
• Notice to Provider (educational, medical);
• Notice of Rights for a Child in Out-of-Home Care; and
• Resource items: Behavioral Health Services for Children in Foster, Kinship, and Adoptive Care; Crisis Services for Children in Foster, Kinship, and Adoptive Care

The complete Placement Packet can be obtained through the Guardian Portal. Additional items that may be found in the Portal include but are not limited to:

• Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan New Member Packet;
• Child's (temporary or permanent) Mercy Care DCS CHP member identification card;
• Available immunization record;
• Copy of a minute entry setting future hearings;
• Case plan; and
• Copy of the most recent Foster Care Review Board report.

For questions regarding the Initial Placement Information, Placement Packet, and policy information on placing children in out-of-home care, you can view Chapter 4, Section 6 of the DCS Program Policy Manual.

DCS Immunization Policy

If possible, (the DCS Specialist will) request parental consent prior to immunization. All children in DCS out-of-home care must be immunized except when:

• a parent objects based solely on religious grounds, or
• the immunization is medically contraindicated.

If a parent objects to the immunization of the child, (the DCS Specialist will) determine the basis of the objection:

If the parent objects on any grounds other than religious grounds, the child may be immunized unless medically contraindicated.

If the parent objects to immunization based upon religious grounds:

• the assigned Specialist will consult the DCS CHP Chief Medical Officer to determine if this child’s specific need for immunization is greater than that of the average child;
• the assigned Specialist will consult the assigned Assistant Attorney General (AAG) before proceeding with the immunization; and
• if it is determined that the child will not be immunized, the assigned Specialist will direct the out-of-home caregiver to not have the child immunized.

DCS Program Policy, Chapter 3, Section 7.1 Medical Services for Children in Out-of-Home Care

Reminder: Social Security Number Requests

Tax season is coming up quicker than any of us want it to, so start preparing now! Ask the DCS Specialist for the social security numbers of the children in your care to ensure that you have the information before taxes are due!

Per DCS Policy Chapter 4: Section 6: If requested for a lawful purpose, the Department shall provide a foster parent or kinship caregiver with the social security number of a child in the foster parent’s or kinship caregiver’s care within 90 days of the foster parent’s or kinship caregiver’s request (verbal or written).

If a child does not currently have a SSN assigned, the request to have one assigned by the Social Security Administration can take around 60 days. However, if the child also does not have a birth certificate, that will need to be requested and received before the SSN request can be submitted. An in-state birth certificate should only take about 30 days to process and receive, unless the child was not born in a hospital or is a foundling. That process can take much longer, depending on the information that is available. The timeframe for out-of-state birth certificate requests varies by state and can take several months.

Per DCS Policy Chapter 4: Section 6: Within 30 days of the child entering out-of-home care, the Department shall request a birth certificate for a child who is in the custody of the Department and in out-of-home care, unless the child is returned to the custody of the child’s parent within that 30-day period.

If you have requested the social security number and have not received it within 60 days of the initial request, please follow up with the DCS Specialist. If the process is not moving along as it should and you feel the need to elevate the issue, please follow the Complaint Management Procedure as outlined in DCS Policy Chapter 7: Section 17: Complaints should be resolved among those most familiar with the situation and who have the ability to resolve the complaint. Case-related complaints should be first addressed with the DCS Specialist and may be elevated to the DCS Specialist's Supervisor if not satisfactorily resolved. After attempting to resolve the complaint with the DCS Program Supervisor, the complainant may elevate the concern to the Program Manager. After attempting to resolve the complaint with the Program Manager, the complainant may elevate the concern to the Office of the Ombudsman through the Online complaint form (www.azdcs.gov), by telephone (602-364-0777 or toll-free at 877-527-0765), or by email Ombudsman@azdcs.gov. If you need the contact information for the DCS Specialist or Supervisor, it is listed in Guardian under your Service Approvals. Warmline can also assist in providing the information or facilitating communication: 877-543-7633 option 3.

Therapeutic Foster Care Info Sessions

Free Course: Navigating the Maze of Special Education

Mentor Program

Arizonans for Children have mentors available for kiddos between the ages of 5-18 with an open DCS case in Maricopa County. Children can be in any placement setting, including licensed, kinship, and congregate care. Children cannot have a current safety plan due to behavior, as volunteers are not professionally trained to manage that level of need. Anyone on the child's team can complete the application, as long as they have sufficient information on the child's case.

PAXIS Institute Training

PAXIS Institute is proud to partner with AHCCCS to provide fully-funded trauma-informed evidence-based PAX Tools trainings across Arizona!

What is PAX Tools?

PAX Tools is a collection of evidence-based behavior strategies for families and communities! PAX Tools provides a unified approach to behavior throughout communities and allows young people to experience nurturing environments supported by caring adults in community settings and at home.

PAX Tools:

• Can be integrated into daily interactions with young people.
• Serves as trauma-informed strategies for use with all children.
• Allows children and adults to co-create nurturing environments.
• Equips children with positive behavioral skills they can use for a lifetime.

Click below to register for an upcoming training!

• November 9th 6pm-8:30pm MST
• November 14th 6pm-8:30pm MST
• December 12th 6pm-8:30pm MST
• December 20th 6pm-8:30pm MST

For more information, email info@paxis.org or visit www.paxarizona.org!

Foster Cooperative

Foster Cooperative is an open-sourced online community powered by Foster Arizona for anyone helping children and youth facing adversity to find connections, peer support, quality resources and training, community events, and innovative communication methods to be empowered with tools needed to succeed.

Arizona State Parks - Free Passes

Foster families can receive a free pass to 30+ Arizona State Parks and Trails! Email engage@azdcs.gov and include the caregiver's full name and mailing address.

Boys & Girls Clubs - Free After School Programming

Free Virtual Reading Program

ASA Now

ASA Now is a non-profit organization that ADVOCATES for, SUPPORTS, and ASSISTS children and families impacted by foster care. We are passionate about providing support to families and professionals by restoring hope and empowering them to better serve these children in need.

Services we offer include tutoring & extracurricular activities, food pantry, clothing, and meeting basic necessities. Other services include life skills for youth, respite care, therapeutic programs, family activities, peer-to-peer support groups, education and training on utilizing Jacob's Law to obtain behavioral health services, providing resources to families and caregivers to successfully navigate the foster care system, raising awareness, recruiting new foster families, and advocating for families and their children.

Arizona Helping Hands

The Foster Alliance provides essential needs for children in foster care in an effort to help every foster child feel safe and loved. Our programs provide beds, clothing, hygiene items, birthday packages, backpacks filled with school supplies, licensing safety items, foster footlockers, and more. Our services are open to kinship and foster families with a current Notice to Provider.

Arizona Association for Foster and Adoptive Parents

AZAFAP wants to support you and the children in your family (foster, kinship, adopted, biological). We are a non-profit, statewide organization that serves families who adopt children and provide foster and kinship care. Working in partnership with child welfare professionals and the community, our purpose is to support, educate, empower, and provide a unified voice for Arizona’s foster and adoptive families, with the goal of increasing the well-being and stability of Arizona’s most vulnerable children. AZAFAP’s programming is open to all foster, kinship, and adoptive families in Arizona. Basic membership is free and includes a subscription to our monthly newsletter with information and resources, our online support groups, and some of our training. Premier membership is available for an annual fee of $75 for two-parent families and a discounted rate of $50 for single-parent families. Premier members are eligible to participate in all program activities. Our programming includes Family Connections events like camps, picnics, and staycations, Family Support Services such as training, Children’s Basic Needs with new shoes, jackets, toys, bikes, and Community Awareness events. Join us today before the Family Camp registration opens! Visit www.azafap.org/membership for more information.

Sign up on our Event Calendar! If you aren’t a member yet, check out our free membership so you can sign up! Ever need adult conversation during the week? We also have weekly drop-in chats on the calendar on Tuesdays and Fridays!

Christian Family Care Training

Helen's Hope Chest

At Helen's Hope Chest, our mission is to engage the community to provide for the basic needs of children and teens in foster and kinship care. Helen's provides more than just clothes for kids in care. It is important that every youth who comes through our door feels a sense of confidence, acceptance, and dignity. Our boutique environment allows kids to choose their favorite items and feel like they are in a regular store, all at no cost to the foster/kinship family.

Families with a current foster or kinship placement are encouraged to call us at 480-969-5411 to schedule an appointment.

A Mighty Change of Heart

A Mighty Change of Heart provides FREE duffle bags to foster children with new, age-appropriate items inside: 2 outfits, shoes & socks, underwear, a book, diapers/wipes, hygiene items, and more. These bags have the children’s names embroidered on them and are something that they can call their very own. They have delivered over 3,500 bags across the state.

Please check out their website for more information: www.amchaz.com. If your family, business, church group, or school would be interested in holding a donation drive, please contact A Mighty Change of Heart. Items are always needed.

Aviva Children's Services - Tucson