Home Resources and Helpful Tips

IYI Library Has Free Resources, Direct to You

The Virginia Beall Ball Library at the Indiana Youth Institute is home to a wide variety of books, DVDs and digital materials—all available to borrow for FREE.

Adult and Child staff has partnered with the Indiana Youth Institute library, and in the near future, you will receive information about a library account that has been created specifically for you. You will be able to log in and browse the catalog to request materials that will be mailed directly to your doorstep at no cost to you, with a postage-paid return envelope included! Your library account will also give you free access to great digital content—both eBooks and audiobooks are available to download anytime, anywhere.

Materials from the Subject Guides, such as Resources for Foster & Adoptive Parents, can be requested by clicking on a title, logging in and placing a request. If you are looking for free access to resources that will help you complete training for licensing requirements, the library has created a link to nearly 60 titles in the library catalog that are listed on the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) approved Alternative In-Service Training List. You can always contact IYI’s librarians at or 1-800-343-7060 if you need any help finding resources and for answers to your questions.

Register for college fair by August 7

The Center for Leadership Development is hosting a College Prep Fair on Saturday, August 22. The event is open to students in 8th-12th grades. Typically a cost of $15 per student, Adult and Child Center will cover the cost of foster youth currently receiving services through us.

Register your student on or before August 7 by emailing .

College Prep Fair at Center for Leadership Development is August 22

College Prep Fair at Center for Leadership Development is August 22

Expert Advice: Summer Camp for Special Needs Kids

Jenni Newbury Ross, Executive Director for PALS Programs, recently posted “Your special needs child can feel free and bloom at summer camp.” In this article, she offers guidance on how to select a summer camp, including “do’s” and “don’ts” like:

Do: 

  • focus on age-appropriate options
  • understand the camp’s vision
  • contact the camp before applying
  • prepare your child for the experience
  • encourage your child to try new things

Don’t

  • allow location to limit your options
  • be afraid of high tuition costs
  • misrepresent your child’s needs
  • forget to give your child space to grow
  • underestimate your child’s capabilities

A helpful article for anyone considering summer camp options!

CAFE Indy offers programming for teens

CAFE Indy, a resource for families on the Far Eastside of Indianapolis, is offering after-school programming for teens, including:

  • Cooking Classes on Thursdays, 5-7 p.m. – open to boys and girls, ages 11-18
  • Basketball – open to boys ages 13-18
    Details: Boys can play basketball on Tuesdays and Thursdays this week (1/6 and 1/8). During the week of January 12th, CAFE Indy will work to secure coaches and  draft teams for another basketball tournament this semester.  After teams are selected boys will practice either Tuesdays/Thursdays or Mondays/Wednesdays and play games against each other on Saturdays until they have all played each other, ending with a tournament on a Saturday (date TBD).

Learn more at: http://www.cafeindy.org/youth-programs, or call Lisa Curran at 890-3288 ext.115 for more information.

 

The List: Ongoing Training Opportunities for Licensed Foster Parents

Adult and Child Center provides frequent classroom-style trainings for licensed foster parents (see the schedule here). There are several other options for foster parents to complete their annual training requirements. This document provides a brief outline of several opportunities to complete the required annual training, including: alternative training (often completed on your own schedule, at the library or at home); workshops (in-person trainings offered in a group setting), and individuals instruction (one-on-one training from an Adult and Child staff member).

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.”

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