In This Issue...

Brand-New Professional Development Training Series Kicks Off

Facility Schools SOS Program Set to Launch

Better Together 2024: CAFCA Conference Recap

Sponsor Spotlight: OMNI Family of Services

and MORE!

CAFCA Launches New Professional Development Training Program That Comes to You

September marked the launch of CAFCA's newest addition to its program line-up, which benefits anyone working in the child welfare arena who is seeking to advance their career or simply sharpen their skills.

The Professional Development Training Series, or ProDev, kicked off with the September training session, Supporting Caregivers in Understanding Dysregulation, presented by Maggie McEachern of Fireside Therapy, LLC. The demand and need for such training was clearly demonstrated by those wanting to attend, as the event reached capacity only three days after registration first opened.

The free monthly training series will feature different topics each month, presented by professionals who are at the top of their game. Training sessions will take place on the third Wednesday of each month from 1p - 2p on the Zoom virtual meeting platform, and in the comfort of your home or office.

Upcoming training sessions include Tips & Tricks for Safety Across a Continuum of Care for October and Babies & Toddlers & Pre-schoolers...OH MY! for November. No training session will be offered in December due to the onset of the holiday season. Training will resume in January, with Fostering Adolescent Skills Through Mentoring.

Space is limited for each workshop. To learn more about the program or to register for an upcoming workshop, click here.

TRAINERS AND PRESENTERS NEEDED! You can't have a professional development training program without trainers. To keep this series ongoing, we'll always be needing trainers to present workshops on topics in which they have an expert level of knowledge. Past training experience is preferred, but not essential. If you're interested in being a workshop presenter/trainer, send us an email here.

2024 Conference Soars Above Expectations

We couldn't have asked for better weather; we couldn't have asked for better views; and we couldn't have asked for a better gathering of individuals dedicated to improving the lives of countless trauma-affected children and families.

By every measure, Better Together 2024: The CAFCA Annual Conference was a wonderful success, as more than 100 professionals came together for a day of discovery, education, collaboration and celebration at the beautiful Mount Vernon Canyon Club in the hills outside of Golden, Colorado.

This year's event featured not one but TWO guest speakers---keynote speaker, Lisette Burton, from the Association of Children's Residential & Community Services in Milwaukee, WI, and our lunchtime speaker, Kathy Snyder, of the Midland Area Wellbeing Coalition in Midland, MI. We are grateful to both for providing such compelling presentations.

Those attending were excited to select two breakout training workshops from the six that were offered, featuring a wide variety of topics. Special thanks to all of our workshop presenters.

The CAFCA Conference wouldn't be complete without the annual presentation of the Excellence Awards, given to individuals in the child welfare arena who have gone above and beyond the normal duties of their job. In addition to honoring the recipients of this year's awards, we paid tribute to our Legislator of the Year, Colo. Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, and our recipient of the Career Achievement Award, given to Dr. Hildegard Messenbaugh, founder of Third Way Center. We also recognized our Community Partner of the Year, Fostering Healthy Futures.

The day ended with a relaxing champagne and yoga session out on the deck in front of what appeared to be a hand-painted sky. We couldn't have asked for a better day. Thanks to everyone who attended the conference. We look forward to seeing everyone at next year's event.

SOS Program Could Be Game-Changer for Colorado's Facility Schools

It was born from a mandate in a piece of legislation requiring the Colorado Dept. of Education (CDE) to issue a grant that would be the impetus for creating a program to assess the needs of Colorado Facility Schools and then create or discover ways to meet those needs through shared services or costs with other facility schools. Whoa! Its description alone is a mouthful. And it came with high expectations and lofty goals, since the Shared Operational Services (SOS) program needed to be built from the ground up, be fully operational within six months and become self-sustaining within two years. If all THAT doesn't make your palms sweaty, we're not sure what will.

It seemed an almost-impossible task initially, but the CAFCA team who had been awarded the grant faced the challenge head-on and, with the help of the SOS Advisory Committee, began the building process almost immediately. And today, the program is just one step away from its debut.

Through the utilization of a cooperative purchasing model, the SOS program will help facility schools acquire the goods and services they need for their day-to-day operations at prices discounted from what they had paid in the past. It will also help them acquire services that were hard to come by in the past and that many had to simply go without. And the program offers all of this at significant savings for the schools.

Results from an in-depth testing phase of the program confirmed the hope that SOS would deliver in a budget-friendly way. In fact, it proved successful by all measures, providing a savings of 15% for one of the schools serving as test subjects, and a whopping 30% for the other. That was the proof that was needed to bring the project to fruition and offer this unique program to all of the state’s 33 facility schools.

Although participation in the SOS program is not mandatory, it is hoped that it will become standard protocol for facility schools moving forward, and that all facility schools will realize the benefit of subscribing within the first two years of operation. Beginning in October, the CAFCA team overseeing the program will be contacting each school individually to demonstrate the program and its benefits, with the hope of being fully operational for all schools by the start of 2025. If you have questions or need more information, click here.

Be Better Every Day Than You Were the Day Before

In this edition of Show & Tell, we’re spotlighting a business that happens to be one of our Tier One sponsors, Omni Family of Services. Omni serves people in vulnerable circumstances — specifically, families in crisis and people struggling with behavioral health — connecting them with programs, services, and training to bring health and healing. They offer services in foster care, adoption, outpatient mental health, and community-based family support. Additionally, Omni Family Institute strives to improve outcomes for those impacted by the child welfare system, through evidence-based trainings and models of care. Starting with their anchor model, Together Facing the Challenge gives agencies and caregivers practical parenting techniques that adapt to the realities of day-to-day practice, alongside ongoing coaching that supports them through their caregiving journey. Omni's work advances hope and healing to improve lives, empower people, and strengthen communities. They operate from a company philosophy that asks you to be better every day than you were the day before. They focus on investing in this industry and completely supporting dedicated foster families.

"We are deeply committed to providing excellent care because we know the impact it makes---not only in the lives of the people we serve, but in their communities and for future generations of their families," said Gwen Koenig, Chief Growth Officer. "And we know the impact that is made by supporting organizations like CAFCA. That is a top priority for us."

CAFCA is proud to have the support of Omni Family of Services, and we are grateful to align with a company doing such important work. You can find out more about Omni here.

About the October 'Better Together' Meeting

There is always a sense of importance with our monthly 'Better Together' member Zoom meetings, but the October meeting carries an extra level of importance. Our guest will be Ben Teevan of Cavan Consulting---and the lobbyist for CAFCA. Ben will help us all better understand upcoming ballot initiatives and he'll provide legislative updates for the congressional year ahead. Please mark your calendars for Thursday, October 17 from 9:30 to 10:30. You can access the Zoom meeting using the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89840920493. See you there!

Why CAFCA Sponsorships are IDEAL for Your Business

Partnerships between businesses and non-profits offer many benefits for both parties, and the rewards far outweigh any drawbacks. Here are just some of the many benefits of sponsorships:

With a corporate sponsorship, your company and brand receive increased visibility and recognition by aligning with a cause that is likely near and dear to the hearts of your target audience.
By partnering with a charitable cause that aligns with the interests and preferences of the target demographic, brands can create more meaningful connections.
A sponsorship showcases your commitment to social responsibility and community impact.
It demonstrates a sense of purpose, which resonates with consumers who prioritize socially responsible businesses.
It improves staff morale and satisfaction when they know their employer is engaged with the community on a charitable level.
Sponsorships contribute to increased brand equity, customer loyalty, and positive word of mouth.

Sponsorships also provide lucrative tax benefits for your company, engaging team-building opportunities for your employees, and lasting connections with the cause you choose to support. The bottom line is that corporate sponsorships are truly win-win opportunities for everyone.

Here at CAFCA, our completely redesigned sponsorship program features new perks and benefits and more sponsoring opportunities/levels to meet any budget. You may want to consider an event or "Focus" sponsorship which, as the name implies, focuses on one particular event. Or you may want to spread your support throughout the year through either a Principal Partnership or a Strategic Partnership.

One of the best opportunities to get involved is with the CAFCA Annual Conference, happening in August. It offers four different sponsor levels ranging from $500 to $5,000, with a return on your investment that is impressive, to say the least. Find out more here or you can contact Dave via email here.

P.O. Box 653 | Evergreen, CO 80437-0653 | 720.560.3810

www.VoiceForCOKids.org