In This Issue...

It's Conference Time!

All About the 2024 CAFCA Annual Conference

New Programs Launched at CAFCA

and MORE!

It's Conference Time!

One woman who attended last year’s CAFCA conference summed it by saying, “If you only attend one conference each year, make it this one because nothing else even comes close!”

Better Together 2024: The CAFCA Annual Conference brings together as many as 200 top professionals within the field of child welfare, as well as leaders, decision-makers and other stakeholders in government, academia, and philanthropy for day of discovery, education, enlightenment and celebration of the work being done every day on behalf of countless children and families throughout Colorado. This year’s event features:

6 breakout workshop sessions on a wide variety of relevant topics
Keynote speaker Lisette Burton, JD, Chief Policy & Practice Advisor at The Assoc. of Children’s Residential & Community Services (ACRC) in Milwaukee, WI.
Lunchtime speaker Kathy Snyder, Director of the Midland Area Wellbeing Coalition in Midland, MI.
CAFCA Excellence Awards, which recognize individuals and groups who exemplify greatness in their service for children and families. Make a nomination here.
Legislator of the Year Award to Sen. Barbara Kirkmeier for her dedication and commitment to improving the lives of trauma-affected individuals.
Lifetime Achievement Award to Dr. Hildegard Messenbaugh (founder of Third Way Centers) for her unwavering dedication to trauma-affected children
Bubbly & Yoga - trauma-informed yoga class where guests can unwind as they sip on champagne while learning special techniques designed to help those in high-stress careers.

Better Together 2024 happens Thursday, August 29 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at the incomparable Mount Vernon Canyon Club in Golden, CO, Complimentary breakfast and lunch are included with the cost of registration. Everything you need to know about the conference is here, including registration links and links to make a nomination for the Excellence Awards.

Two Are Better Than One

We’ve always been told that two is better than one, and that’s the premise for the 2024 CAFCA Annual Conference, with this year’s event offering two featured guest speakers.

Keynote speaker Lisette Burton, JD, is the Chief Policy & Practice Advisor for The Assoc. of Children’s Residential & Community Services (ACRC) in Milwaukee, WI. She also builds coalitions and strategic partnerships and she utilizes her experience and skills to provide expert-level guidance, policy analysis, practice support, facilitation, strategic planning, and consultation services to ACRC’s membership and non-member systems, agencies, and associations.

Lunchtime speaker will be Kathy Snyder, Director of the Midland Area Wellbeing Coalition in Midland, MI, where she does consulting, facilitating, presenting, training, curriculum development, and a variety of other collaborative endeavors. In addition to over 25 years of experience in public education, she holds master’s degrees in both counseling and applied positive psychology, and is certified in Creating Positive Change, Bounce Back Better Resilience, Flourishing Skills Group, Psychological Safety, Inclusion and Diversity, PERMAH Organizational Survey, and Coaching and is trained in Design Thinking, Motivational Interviewing, Appreciative Inquiry.

For more information on the conference, or to register, click here.

CAFCA Rolls Out New Programs

The planned growth and expansion of CAFCA is well underway, as evidenced by the inception of several new programs. Following the successful launch of the Facility Schools Shared Operational Services (SOS) program earlier this year, CAFCA is launching the new Professional Development Training Series (PTDS), a monthly offering of workshops designed to help professionals in the child welfare arena to advance their careers or simply hone their skills.

The series features virtual sessions on a variety of topics relevant to the field of child welfare, presented by top industry professionals in an hour-long format on the Zoom platform. Sessions will take place on the third Wednesday of the month, from 1pm to 2pm. Classes are free of charge and open to the public.

The series kicks off on September 18 with Supporting Caregivers in Understanding Dysregulation: The Mountain Metaphor, which will provide a framework for understanding emotional dysregulation using a visual metaphor (the mountain). Using this metaphor, caregivers can assess where their child is in the process of dysregulation and what types of strategies they might use to support them at each stage. The presenter for this session is Maggie McEachern, LCSW, of Fireside Therapy, LLC.

More information about the series including upcoming sessions can be found here, as well as information on how to register.

Nominate Someone Deserving Today!

Of all the various components that make up the CAFCA Annual Conference, the CAFCA Excellence Awards are at the top of the list for many attendees. It's an opportunity to recognize your peers, your colleagues, perhaps a member of your staff---or even an entire team for going above and beyond the normal call of duty. It's an award for those who show a sense of passion and dedication in their daily work. And this is our time to honor them.

There are four categories for nominations. They are:

Excellence in Direct Care
Excellence in Education
Excellence in Community-Based Services
Team Excellence

The awards will be handed out during the lunch portion of the conference, but we can't give out awards until we have nominations. So, how 'bout it? Let's get started with those nominations. It only takes about 5 mins of your time, and you'll be doing something pretty special. To nominate someone, simply click the button below and you'll be all set!

Nominate Someone Today!

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.

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www.VoiceForCOKids.org