Friends of the League

 Newsletter

April, 2012

Issue II

Welcome
Hello, Friends of the League;

 

Get your green ribbon in support Children's Mental Health Week May 6-12 and join CLM's member organization Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL) in promoting dignity, acceptance and social inclusion for all children and youth! 

 

May is National Foster Care Month...You Can Change a Lifetime!

Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved - as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways. President Obama has also issued a Proclamation on National Foster Care Month!

 

Also, CWLA has re-structured it's membership rates and categories, which affords EVERYONE an opportunity for participation and leadership in establishing best practices and engaging in policy development and related activities. For more information view the flyer or email them directly for more information.

 

Please remember that if you have an event or other listing you would like to see on CLM's website to send information to Erin (erin@childrensleague.org).

 

Thank you -

Barbara, Erin and Christine

In This Issue
Welcome
CLM Information
State Information
National Information
In the News
Webinars
CLM Member Spotlight
Job Opportunities
Calendar
Quick Links
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter
 View our profile on LinkedIn

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phone - 617.695.1991

fax - 617.695.0202 

11 Beacon St., Suite 820
Boston, MA 02108

CLM Information

FY13 House Budget

Thank you to Rep. Khan who worked on CLM's budget priority Online Mandated Reporter Taining (OMRT) and thank you to all the advocates who contacted your Representatives in support of this. While the House did not approve this budget amendment CLM will continue to work towards OMRT implementation in the Senate budget. Please visit CLM's FY13 State Budget page for more information on other member supported initiatives. 

 

CLM Expands Executive Committee

On April 23, the Board of Directors of the Children's League of Massachusetts unanimously voted to expand its executive committee from 10 to 15 members. This move is meant to strengthen the Executive Committee, and make it more representative of the Board of Directors as a whole (ie, diversity of services provided, geography, and agency size).

Read More

 

CLM Endorsements

Homeless Youth 

CLM has voted to endorse H.3838, which seeks to reduce youth homelessness and its adverse effects by funding a continuum of housing and support services geared specifically for unaccompanied homeless youth. The goal of these efforts is to improve housing and residential stability, reduce the risk of harm and improve educational, physical and mental health outcomes for this population.

 

Representatives Khan and O'Day scored a major victory for homeless youth on Wednesday, as language from H.3838 was adopted into the House budget, making way for a special commission focused on improving services for unaccompanied homeless youth under 22 years of age. The commission would study and make recommendations on improving access to services for unaccompanied youth under 22 years old, with the goal of ensuring a comprehensive and effective response to the unique needs of this population.

Read More

 

Campaign for our Communities

CLM voted to endorse the Campaign for our Communities, who's model legislation, An Act to Invest in Our Communities, would raise $1.37 billion dollars by restoring the income tax rate to 5.95% while increasing the personal exemption to hold down increases for low and middle income families, and raising the tax rate on investment income to 8.95%, with an exemption for low and middle income seniors.

Read More

State Information

Special Education Report Released

A recent report reviewing special education in the Commonwealth, prepared by Dr. Thomas Hehir and his associates for the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, was released earlier this week. The report identifies ways to promote stronger outcomes for students with disabilities. View the letter from Commissioner Chester. View the complete report.

"However, there appear to be some disturbing trends among low-income students and students of color. Low-income students are far more likely to be eligible for special education services than other students and once they receive services, are more apt to be educated in separate settings. This is particularly alarming given evidence that separation from the mainstream is associated with poorer standardized test performance for students with disabilities."

 

Report on Child Deaths and State Secrecy

A nationwide survey ranking how states report the deaths and near-deaths of children due to abuse and neglect has given Massachusetts a letter grade of C, saying the state could do more to make public how the tragedies occurred, to help combat the problem. The report, "State Secrecy and Child Deaths in the US,'' was released at a congressional briefing, found that Massachusetts made only minor improvements since a similar study was done in 2008, after new reporting requirements went into effect. At that time, the state received a D-, and only 10 states fared the same or worse.

 

Mass Would Feel Impact of Block Grant Loss

The US House of Representatives, Ways and Means Committee, voted last week to eliminate the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) - a major source of funding for child abuse prevention, protective services, foster care and adoption. In fact, Massachusetts spends approximately $6.6 million from the SSBG for in-home services. Congress needs to hear from all of us in order to understand the grave consequences of this action and to reverse their decision. Please take action today to support this funding for services in the Commonwealth.

National Information

Five States to Improve the Use of Psychotropic Medication
On April 12, the Center for Health Care Strategies Inc. (CHCS) announced that Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Vermont will participate in a new three-year initiative to improve the use of psychotropic medication among youth and children in foster care. Recent legislation requires welfare and Medicaid agencies to collaborate on the oversight and coordination of health care services for foster children. Funded through the Anne E. Casey Foundation, the initiative will strengthen interagency partnerships, foster data sharing, coordinate oversight and quality assurance, and help coordinate care. After studying the initiative, CHCS will disseminate the results to help guide other states.

 

ACF Releases IM on the Monitoring and Oversight of Psychotropic Medications 
 
The Administration for Children and Families sent an Information Memorandum (IM) to State and Tribal entities responsible for administering or supervising the IV-B and IV-E programs. The IM serves as a resource to States and Tribes as they develop protocols for the appropriate use of psychotropic medications in their IV-B plans, which will be required for their Annual Progress and Services Reports due by June 30, 2012.

Read More

 

Improve Outcomes for Children Receiving Child Welfare Services
The Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) is promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and youth who have experienced maltreatment and trauma and are receiving child welfare services. To focus on social and emotional well-being is to attend to children's behavioral, emotional, and social functioning-those skills, capacities, and characteristics that enable young people to understand and navigate their world in healthy, positive ways. This approach can significantly improve outcomes for children while they are receiving child welfare services and after their cases have closed. Read Information Memorandum: Social and Emotional Well-Being for Children and Youth Receiving Child Welfare Services.

 

Advocates Push for Prevention of Child Abuse Fatalities
 
Senator John Kerry's (D-MA) office hosted a Congressional briefing and press conference sponsored by the Children's Advocacy Institute and First Star to release the second edition of a national report on the deaths of children as a result of child abuse.  The briefing included panelists from the Children's Advocacy Institute, Senator Mary Landrieu's  (D-LA) office, Blessed Haven, Inc., First Star, and the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths.
Read More

 

House Committees Move on Damaging Cuts to Vulnerable Populations
 T
wo House Committees passed measures that would devastate programs serving vulnerable children and families. The Agriculture Committee, tasked with finding $33.2 billion in savings over ten years, approved a draft budget reconciliation bill that would cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Ways and Means Committee, required to find $53 billion in spending cuts over 10 years, approved a repeal of the Social Services Block Grant by a vote of 22-14.  

Read More

 

Second Chance for Early Learning Challenge Grant Runner-Ups
 
The Obama Administration announced funding for a second round of Early Learning Challenge Fund (ELCF) grants from the U.S. Department's of Education and Health and Human Services collaborative Race to the Top (RTT) incentive fund. The set aside for the ELCF is $133 million and state applicants who just missed receiving awards in the first round are eligible to apply for up to 50% of the potential award amount in that last round. 

Read More

 

Grants to Improve the Well-being of Young Children Through Systems Collaboration
 
The Children's Bureau recently announced discretionary grants for Early Education Partnerships to Expand Protective Factors for Children with Child Welfare Involvement. Authorized by the Adoption Opportunities Program (P.L. 111-320), these grants fund demonstration projects to improve the socio-emotional and behavioral well-being of young children who are in or at risk of entering foster care or are receiving post-adoption services.
Read More 

 

Child Mental Health Initiative Evaluation Findings: Report to Congress 2006-2008

Presents program evaluation findings of a federally-funded initiative that supports systems of care for community-based mental health services for children, youth and their families. Reports on FY 2006-2008 data that track characteristics, use, and outcomes.

Read More

 

Adoption Tax Credit Bill Introduced
 
Representative Bruce Braley (D-IA) introduced the Making Adoption Affordable Act (H.R. 4373), a tax bill to support adoptive families. This bill renews and expands the Adoption Tax Credit, making it both permanent and refundable. Currently, the Adoption Tax Credit can only be accessed to reduce taxes owed, but this bill would enable families adopting in the tax year to access the credit as a refund if they do not owe taxes. H.R. 4373 also permanently reinstates the credit at the 2010 level of $13,360.
Read More

In the News

Stepping in for Child Abuse Prevention

We see and hear about violence and acts of violence every day.  Some of these events have become so common that we no longer notice them, or are desensitized to their impact.  Occasionally, an act of violence grabs our attention, and moves us to want to do something to change the situation.

You have probably asked yourself, "When should someone step in to protect a child from violence from a parent or caregiver?"  What is your role and when are you overstepping your bounds? I heard a story recently that really made me pause and think about this very issue.

Read More

 

National Children's Memorial Flag Day

April 27, 2012 is National Children's Memorial Flag Day. Join us in this public awareness campaign effort to direct attention to the tragedy of violent child deaths as part of a national initiative to reduce child mortality. Show your support with a flag, pin, magnet or bumper sticker!

Webinars

The National Child Welfare Workforce Institute: May 2 from 3-4:15pm 
Invites you to participate in a FREE webinar New Jersey Fellows: Building Capacity in "Managing by Data" to Improve Leadership, Frontline Practice & Case Outcomes. The webinar will showcase an innovative program at the New Jersey Department of Children and Families to build capacity in the area of "managing by data" in order to support the Department's emerging quality improvement efforts, using both quantitative and qualitative data - on the ground, at the front line level, and throughout the organization.

 

Free Non-Profit Webinars:

May 2 

Building Real Teams: A Leadership Perspective
 

May 3

Nonprofit Financial Health: New Tools for Analysis 
Jump Start Your Grant Seeking
 

May 8

Everything You Wanted to Know About State Charitable Solicitation Statutes But Were Afraid to Ask

How to Blog your way to Increased Constituent Engagement and Fundraising

 

May 9
How to Get Out of the Muck and Back Into Your Mission

 

May 16
Building An Effective Marketing Communications Team

Supersize My Online Savvy: Surefire Steps to Fundraising and Social Success

CLM Member Spotlight


 

The Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) exists to find "a permanent place to call HOME" for children in foster care, including sibling groups and children who are traditionally harder to place. We do this by recruiting, educating, supporting and advocating for FAMILIES throughout the adoption process.

 

MARE and others invite all of you, the child welfare community, to a celebration for all families built through adoption to the 3rd Annual Walk for Adoption - A Walk Home on Sunday, May 20th from 9-12 at Jordan's Furniture, 450 Revolutionary Drive, E. Taunton. Join these amazing families brought together by love and join forces to support MARE's mission.

Job Opportunities

CLM's section of the Website dedicated to job opportunities within our member organizations and child welfare field. If you are a member of CLM and would like to have one of your job openings listed here and on our website, please contact Christine (christine@childrensleague.org).

 

Here is just one of the many listings ...

 

Executive Director - First 5 LA (California)

First 5 LA is a unique public/private initiative dedicated to improving the development of children from the pre-natal stage through age five. Created in 1998 pursuant to State voter approval of Proposition 10 - the California Children and Families First Initiative - it is the chosen instrument for achieving the Proposition's comprehensive child and family development goals in Los Angeles County, the largest and most diverse county in America. As such, First 5 LA operates at the true frontier of early childhood development where the nation's capacity to meet the needs of children in their most critical developmental years will be most clearly and definitively tested. Leading the organization's response to this challenge is the premier early childhood development leadership opportunity in the country.

Calendar

CLM has a wonderful, informative calendar on our Website! Please visit there for up-to-date events, trainings and meetings that relate to children and families both in the Commonwealth and nationally.

 

Here is just one of our many listings:

The Third Annual Re-Envisioning Foster Care in America Conference

A Day of Inspiration & Collaborative Social Change!
Thursday, May 31, 2012, Holyoke Community College
9-5PM with registration from 8-9AM
Location: Kittredge Center, room 303 
 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Vanessa Diffenbaugh, Acclaimed author of "The Language of Flowers" and Co-Founder of the Camellia Network

 

If you have an event you would like CLM to place on our calendar, please email requests to Christine (christine@childrensleague.org).