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Register by December 3 for “The Talk”

Health Care Education & Training, Inc (HCET) is providing a 2-hour training entitled “The Talk”: Talking to Teens about Sex and Contraception on December 5, from 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m.

The training is open to youth workers, parents, foster parents, caregivers, educators, and health care providers. The goal is to provide participants with the tools to comfortably and effectively communicate with young people about sexuality. (More information here: The Talk-Talking to Teens about Sex and Contraception)

  • Date/Time: December 5, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  • Where: Indianapolis Public Library, Haughville Branch, 2121 E Michigan St., Indianapolis
  • Cost: $25
  • Registration required by Dec 3: www.hcet.org

RSVP for Our Holiday Party!

This holiday season, we’re celebrating with our foster families!
In lieu of gift cards this year, we are holding a Foster Family Holiday Party on Saturday, December 6, from 2-5 p.m.

Hosted by Englewood Christian Church, located at 57 N. Rural Street, Indianapolis, IN

Make plans to bring your family!
RSVP by December 1: 317-893-0207 or ; Please give the total number of children and the total number of adults attending.

Please note: This invitation is for all foster families and household members.We cannot accommodate extended family members.

Welcoming a New Foster Child: MedCheck is Convenient Option for Physicals

Welcoming a foster child involves more than a commitment to care for the child; it also means you will be busy with the necessary paperwork and appointments as the child gets settled in your home and at school. Along with intake appointments, enrolling in school, visitations and court hearings, the State of Indiana requires that the child have a physical scheduled within 10 days and completed within 30 days.

Adult and Child has contracted with MedCheck (operated by the Community Health Network) to provide physicals for newly placed foster children, in an effort to make this convenient for you.

MedCheck offers:

  • six locations throughout the Indianapolis area (including offices in Greenwood, Anderson, Noblesville, and Carmel)
  • daily access to physicians (open 7 days/week)
  • extended hours (standard hours are 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.; some locations are open 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.)
  • online scheduling through WebAhead, also available on your smartphone

 

Webinar: Preparing for Your Student’s Special Education Case Conference

IN*SOURCE is providing a webinar for parents on how to prepare for a special education case conference.

When: Monday, Oct. 27, 7-8:30 PM

Where: Online/ at the location of your choice!

How: Register online by Friday, Oct 24

About the webinar (from IN*SOURCE): 

Case conferences can be confusing and stressful for parents. This webinar helps parents identify issues of concern, organize documents, prepare information, and communicate effectively during the case conference. This webinar will help parents become their child’s best advocate and build positive relationships with school personnel.  This workshop is free and is open to the public.  Presented by Cathy Boswell, IN*SOURCE Regional Program Specialist

Please register online (see below) by Friday, October 24, 2014; register early as space is limited. If fewer than 3 people are registered by 4:00 p.m. EDT on Friday, October 24, 2014, this webinar may be cancelled.

For more information, please contact Cathy Boswell at (219) 552-1992.

Medicaid Coverage Available to Foster Youth through 26 years old

Did you know: the Affordable Care Act includes Medicaid coverage for youth who “aged out” of foster care, up to age 26?

According to this report:
“Effective January 1, 2014, all states must extend Medicaid coverage to age 26 for all youth who are enrolled in Medicaid and in foster care on their 18th birthday, or enrolled in Medicaid when they aged out of foster care if over age 18.
Youth who aged out in the past several years and are not yet age 26 are covered immediately, and youth currently in foster care are covered when they age out. This provision is intended to ensure these young people can have health insurance without interruption until they are age 26, and parallels the provision currently available to many youth of coverage to age 26 on a parent or guardian’s health plan.”

Free Training Resources at IYI Library

Foster Parents: are you looking for training resources, outside of in-person classes? Be sure to check out The Virginia Beall Ball Library, a service of the Indiana Youth Institute.

The library provides FREE resources, including: books, eBooks, downladable audiobooks, special reports, journals, videos, DVDs, and CDs. The library is located at 603 Washington St., on the 8th floor (just one floor above our foster care team!).

Library resources specific to foster parents are available at: http://www.iyi.org/resources/doc/IYI-Bibliography-Resources-for-Foster-and-Adoptive-Parents-May2014.docx.pdf

 

Mark Davy, Foster Care Licensing

I am honored to work with foster families as the foster home licensing specialist for Adult and Child Center. Prior to joining Adult and Child, I worked with the Indiana Department of Child Services for 6 years. In addition to working as a Family Case Manager in Morgan County, I worked as a Foster Care Specialist licensing foster homes and a Foster Care Consultant providing broad foster care program guidance.

It takes a special person and family to foster a child; I have continually been amazed at the resiliency and dedication shown by foster families. I have no doubt this will only continue as I get to know all of those who foster in the Adult and Child family.

About me: I live on the south side of Indianapolis with my wife Jenny, our 2 year old son Caleb and our two Basset Hounds, George and Bo. In my spare time I enjoy doing almost anything outdoors: camping, backpacking, kayaking (my wife not so much).

– Mark Davy

Help Your Student Plan for Life After High School

High school is a time of exploration, learning and growth. It is an opportunity for teens to think about life after graduation, and to prepare for their future career.

Preparing for a post-secondary career is a challenge for students living in foster care. They often drop out of school; those who do receive a high school diploma are less likely to go on to postsecondary education. Both of these outcomes limit their employment options.

 

Did you know:

*Only 58% of Indiana’s foster children will graduate from high school by age 19. (Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative)

*Less than 50% of Indiana’s foster children will be employed at the age of 24. (Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative)

Resources are available to help you provide career guidance for the teens in your care.

It is critical that foster children are supported in their educational goals, and are supported in making plans for life after graduation. Talk with the people supporting you and your foster children – including the Adult & Child Therapeutic Foster Care staff, and school guidance counselors. The Indiana Youth Institute has also provided some great guidance on how to help any teen prepare for post-secondary success. It’s an excellent resource for any adult involved in a middle or high school-age student’s life.

Download the Indiana Youth Institute’s “Quick Guide” today! 

 

Also explore: postsecondary preparation resources available in the IYI library; Trip to College; Drive of Your Life

Comcast Offers Low-Cost Internet

Comcast is offering Internet Essentials, a low-cost internet and computer solution to provide an equal opportunity for every child.

Comcast offers $9.95 monthly internet services and laptops at a subsidized rate for use of the whole household.

The program is available for K-12 students who are eligible for reduced or free school lunch programs.