News
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Alameda
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Contra Costa
A note from the Child and Family Services Director, Linda Canan.
The times, they are a-changin.’ A while back, when we decided that “change” would be our topic for this newsletter, we had no idea of the changes our department would be experiencing. I think most of you know by now that our Department Director, John Cullen, began his new position on March 2 as the…Read more.
Half a century later, some things haven’t changed: A tribute to Johnnie Thompson. My spirit seemed to float on a little cloud as I listened to Johnnie Thompson talk about her fifty years of experience as a foster parent. While I looked around her living room, she told proud stories and reminisced fondly about some of the over 200 children that had been…Read more.
The Bay Area Heart Gallery: Connecting Hearts…Building Families. When you hear how many children are in foster care, you may be startled by the surprising figures. Here’s the breakdown: nationally, 500,000 children are in foster care; in California, 83,234 children are in foster care; and in the Bay Area, 10,250 children are in foster care. Surprised? Wait. Nearly half…Read more.
California Permanency for Youth Project (CPYP). In the fall of 2005, Contra Costa County Children and Family Services became one of thirteen California county child welfare agencies to join the California Permanency for Youth Project (CPYP). CPYP started in January 2003 as a result of a five-year grant awarded by the Stuart Foundation. This grant has…Read more.
Extracurricular activities for foster children: A change in the regulations. Assembly Bill (AB 408) is a new law that entitles foster children to participate in age-appropriate extracurricular enrichment and social activities. It also states caregivers shall use a “reasonable and prudent parent standard” in determining whether to give permission for a child residing in foster care to participate in these…Read more.
Foster Parent Liaison: A resource for foster parents. The Foster Parent Liaison is a resource for all county-licensed adoptive, concurrent, and/or emergency foster parents. The Foster Parent Liaison is available to provide assistance to you regarding issues involving a child in your care, or your experiences as a foster/adoptive parent. Questions and concerns about working with the many…Read more.
MIND MATTERS: Ask Dr. Ross. We shrinks – psychiatrists, therapists, counselors – are in the change business: we try to help individuals change the way they feel, the way they think, and the way they behave. We want to help people feel happier and more confident; to think more logically and with greater insight; and to act…Read more.
Occasional short-term babysitter: The reasonable and prudent parent standard. Foster parents have waited a long time for the implementation of new regulations that would allow them to use occasional, short-term babysitters to provide care for their foster children. Foster parents don’t have to wait for these regulations anymore. As of January 2006, caregivers can arrange for occasional, short-term care…Read more.
San Mateo (SMC)
Face of Foster Youth: Bay Area Heary Gallery Exhibit Launched. The faces of foster children and youth will be on exhibit throughout the Bay Area in an effort to increase awareness of the thousands of children and youth waiting for adoption and permanent connections with loving families and caring committed adults. Alameda County is the first Bay Area County to…Read more.
President of SMC Foster Parent Association Testifies at State Capitol. The County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) invited three counties, including San Mateo County to testify on AB 2481 (Evans) at the Assembly Human Services Committee Hearing on April 25, 2006. AB 2481 is a bill which would increase much needed cost of living adjustment to foster home rates and fund additional recruitment and…Read more.
New Differential Response Liaisons. San Mateo County is one of eleven counties redesigning its child welfare system in order to improve the lives of children and families with a three-pronged strategy in prevention, protection, and permanence. One of the three strategies in implementing improvements in the Child Welfare System is Differential Response which…Read more.
Above and Beyond Recognition. Charlene Shores has been recognized for work done “Above and Beyond.” Charlene is a Shelter Care Counselor at the Children’s Receiving Home. Charlene was nominated by Ellen Bucci, Social Worker Supervisor, for her energy, passion and deep concern for the youth at the Children’s Receiving Home. Ellen stated that the…Read more.