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Donations are used to support Colorado's adoptive families.
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| Help COCAF While You Shop!
Use AmazonSmile when you shop Amazon, and support COCAF at the same time! Shop at AmazonSmile and 0.5% of your eligible Amazon purchases can be donated to the nonprofit of your choice - including COCAF. Your donations help adoptive families in Colorado find the services they need to keep their families safe, healthy, and thriving. Click here to start shopping.
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| CLASSROOM |
TRBI Caregiver Training: Intro & Overview
Friday
May 5, 2017
9:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Adoption Exchange
14232 E Evans Ave
Aurora, CO 80014
Transracial Adoption Bootcamp:
Race and Resilience
Saturday
May 6,2017
Noon - 5:30 p.m.
So Now You Are a Guardian or Thinking of Becoming a Co-Guardian
Wednesday
May 10, 2017
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
DDRC
11177 W 8th Ave
Lakewood, CO
Trauma-Informed Practices: Morgan County
Monday & Tuesday
May 15 & 16, 2017
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
FREE
East Morgan County Public Library
500 Clayton
Brush, CO 80723
Plan for the Future for a Person with Disabilities
Tuesday
May 16, 2017
4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
DDRC
11177 W 8th Ave
Lakewood, CO
Trauma-Informed Practices: Bent County
Monday & Tuesday
June 12 & 13, 2017
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
FREE
Bent County/Las Animas County Center
1214 Ambassador Thompson Blvd
Las Animas,
CO 81054
Trauma-Informed Practices: Otero County
Tuesday & Wednesday
June 13, 2017 1:00 - 5:00 p.m.
&
June 14, 2017 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
FREE
Otero Jr College
Conference & Banquet Room
1802 Colorado Ave
La Junta,
CO 81050
Trauma-Informed Practices: Prowers County
Thursday & Friday
June 15
& 16
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
FREE
Lamar Community Building
Dance Room (English)
Multipurpose Room (Spanish)
610 S 6th ST
Lamar,
CO 81052
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Webinars
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While You Wait
Tuesday & Wednesday
June 6 & 7, 2017
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
For more info, call
1-800-451-5246
Adoption Options Orientation
Wednesday
June 21, 2017
6:30 p.m.
Trauma-Informed Care
In English
Wednesday
July 26, 2017
9:00 a.m. - noon
Trauma-Informed Care
In Spanish
Friday
July 28, 2017
9:00 a.m. - noon
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C.A.S.E. Webinars
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Click here for more information for any of the C.A.S.E. webinars.
Why and When to Address Racial Identity: Parenting Tasks in Transracial Adoptive Families
Thursday
April 20, 2017
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
What is Attachment-based Parenting?
Thursday
May 18, 2017
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
We are still Family: Supporting Relationships Between Separated Siblings
Thursday
June 15, 2017
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
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| CONFERENCES |
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49th Annual Autism Society National Conference
July 12-15, 2017
Milwaukee, WI
NACAC Annual Conference
Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in Children (ATTACh)
Annual Conference
October 12-14, 2017
Denver Marriot Tech Center
Denver, CO 80237
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Sensory Friendly Films
AMC Theatres (AMC) and the Autism Society have teamed up to bring families affected by autism and other disabilities a special opportunity to enjoy their favorite films in a safe and accepting environment on a monthly basis with the "Sensory Friendly Films" program.
Participating theatres:
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
Tuesday, May 9
Saturday, May 13
Alien: Covenant
Tuesday, May 23
A Wimp Will Rise
Saturday, May 27
Captain Underpants:
The Epic First Movie
Saturday, June 10
Wonder Woman
Tuesday, June 13
Cars 3
Saturday, June 24
Transformers: The Last Night
Tuesday, June 27
Despicable Me 3
Saturday, July 8
The House
Tuesday, July 11
Spider-Man: Homecoming
Saturday, July 22
War for the Planet of Apes
Tuesday, July 25
The Emoji Movie
Tuesday, August 8
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2017 Heritage Camp Schedule
Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families have been offering culturally rich summer camp experiences for adoptive families since 1991. Click here for more information.
Adult Adoptee Retreat:
Registration March 8 - July 1
Camp dates: July 20-30 in Denver, CO
African/Caribbean:
Registration Feb 20 - May 8
Camp dates: June 8-11 in Denver, CO
Cambodian:
Registration March 1 - May 12
Camp dates: July 13-16, Fraser, CO
Chinese:
Registration Mar 15 - July 30
Camp dates: September 1-4 in Fraser, CO
Chinese II:
Registration Mar 1 - June 20
Camp Dates: July 20 -23 in Denver, CO
Domestic Adoption:
Registration March 8 - July 3
Camp dates: August 3 -6 in Denver, CO
Indian/Nepalese: Registration March 1 - May 5
Camp dates: July 6 - 9, Fraser, CO
Korean: Registration Feb 20 - April 21
Camp dates: June 15-18 in Fraser, CO
Latin American: Registation Feb 20 - April 21
Camp dates: June 22 -23 in Fraser, CO
Russian/Eastern European/Central Asians (REECA):
Registration March 1 - May 10
Camp dates: July 20-23, Fraser, CO
Southeast Asian/Pacific Islander (SEAPI):
Registration March 8 - May 12
Camp dates: July 13-16 in Estes Park, CO
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FREE RESOURCES
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Looking for books or movies about adoption? Or how to deal with school-related adoption issues?
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Free Overnight Camp for Foster & Kinship Kids
Every foster or kinship child, ages 6-12, can experience a 5-day overnight camp for free. Your children may also be eligible to participate in a year-round mentoring club. Registration generally begins in March, but call to inquire ASAP.
Arvada: Arvada Covenant Church - Camp #005-June 19-23
5555 Ward Road, Arvada, CO 80002
Camp Directors: Will & Mikki Le Vett, Phone: (303) 422-1235
Englewood/Denver: The Sacred Grace - Camp #066-June 19-23
3220 S Acoma Street, Englewood, CO 80110
Camp Director: Nate Galuzzi, Phone: (303) 422-3777
Littleton: Waterstone Community Church - Camp #234-June 5-9
5890 S. Alkire Street, Littleton, CO 80127
Camp Director: Maryann Jennings, Phone: (303) 520-5370
Parker: Southeast Christian Church - Camp #272-June 5-9
9650 Jordan Road, Parker, CO 80134
Camp Director: Kim Webb, Phone: (303) 841-9292
Windsor/Weld County: Timberline Church - Camp #334-June 26-30
360 Crossroads Blvd, Windsor, CO 80550
Camp Directors: Pat & Kathy Seeboth, Phone: (970) 686-8494
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SUMMER CAMP
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ABLE to Sail is a 4-day summer day-camp youth empowerment experience at Union Reservoir
Monday-Thursday
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
June through August
Or call: 720-233-8969
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Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has declared May Mental Health Awareness Month.
Mental health is one of my hot buttons. The word "mental" insinuates that a person has some sort of rational control - but this is not true. The brain is just like any other organ - a heart, lungs, kidneys, pancreas - any organ can be affected by disease. No one tells someone with diabetes to just get their pancreas together. Or someone with asthma that they really can breathe if they just focus. Brain diseases are not a matter of someone trying harder to fit into the world. Brain diseases are real and need medical attention.
Until we - the general population - stop talking about mental health like it's some degenerative act and start treating it with the seriousness and compassion that we treat someone with congestive heart failure or renal failure, then people with brain diseases will not seek the medical attention they need.
The change starts with us. Think about how you talk about things like ADHD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. And more importantly, think about how you talk to people who have brain diseases - and make sure you treat them with the same level of respect and compassion that you would treat an asthmatic, diabetic, or any person with a chronic, life-altering disease.
May Spring Bring Blue Skies and Children's Smiles!
K. Colleen Tarket,
COCAF Board of Directors
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Mental Health Conversations
Mental Health Colorado is the state's leading advocate for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. They have been hosting a series of Community Conversations across the state to learn more about the mental health needs facing Coloradans and their families.
What are the barriers to mental health care in your community?
What's working? What's not?
There are two Community Conversations remaining: La Junta
and Steamboat Springs.
Please consider attending to express any concerns - as adoptive and kinship parents - that you have experienced in accessing mental health services for your children!
WHERE:
Woodruff Memorial Library, 522 Colorado Ave, La Junta
WHEN:
Thursday, May 4 from 5:15 pm to 6:45 pm
WHERE:
Steamboat Springs Community Center, 1605 Lincoln Ave, Steamboat Springs
WHEN:
Tuesday, May 23 from 5:15 to 7 pm
These events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
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Adoptee Relationship Techniques for Teens
Helping teens who were adopted effectively communicate their needs and have better relationships.
Hosted by AllHealth Network (Inverness), 155 Inverness Dr West, Englewood CO 80112
Mondays starting May 8, 4:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Adopted teens only, ages 13-18.
Open to current AllHealth network clients. If you are not already a client, call 303-730-8858 to complete the intake paperwork.
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Starting the Adoption Journey
For those just starting the adoption journey, you might consider taking The Donaldson Adoption Institute's three-part online curriculum: Openness in Adoption: What a Concept!
This 7-hour course covers exploring, experiencing, and living openness in adoption.
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Consultants for Children Spark Club Summer Club
Spark Club is a social skills club for children with developmental disabilities and autism. The club builds social skills, community safety skills, and supports academic goals during the school break. Each child works with a behavioral trained technician and works on social and life skill goals from their current treatment plan. The group is designed for kids aged 4-15.
To register for the group go to
https://sparkclubs.com/
or call 720-272-1289. Spark Club is held at Consultants for Children, Inc., Lakewood Office, 265 S. Harlan St., Lakewood, CO.
Session 1 will be May 30th through July 7th from 9am to 2pm.
Session 2 will be July 10th through August 18th from 9am to 2pm.
Consultants for Children accepts Medicaid.
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How TANF Is Failing Our Poorest
From the Colorado Center on Law & Policy
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is the block-grant created by Congress in the 1996 welfare reform legislation. Designed "to end welfare as we know it," TANF replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) which had provided cash assistance to the nation's neediest families since 1935.
The
TANF block grant amount has not changed since 1996 and states have considerable flexibility on spending those dollars.
As a result, TANF provides far less assistance to far fewer struggling families today than before the program was reconstituted as a block grant. Recent analysis by the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities examines this dramatic decline. In Colorado, for every 100 families in poverty, less than 20 receive cash assistance from TANF-down from 66 families out of every 100 in 1996.
The number of families living in poverty in Colorado has increased over the past 15 years, while TANF caseloads have remained mostly flat over that same period. Today, we have twice as many Colorado families living in deep poverty - families with incomes below $2 per person per day - than we did in 1996. TANF reaches only a fraction of those needy families and those who do receive TANF cash assistance receive too little to be lifted out of poverty. In fact,
TANF benefits today
fall short of lifting families out of poverty in every state.
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Domestic Adoption Camp - Sign Up Now!
Come join "the family" at the 7th Heritage Camp for Adoptive Families' Domestic Adoption Camp 2017
August 3-6 at Regis University. The theme this year is Family Tree: Mighty Strong. The concept of a family tree is so central to family life. While family trees are an important source of interest and pride in most families, they can be somewhat challenging to navigate for adoptees and adoptive families.
Campers will examine that issue together in the camp environment to assist each other in addressing it. A favorite inspirational poem entitled, "The Mighty Oak Tree," has been chosen to convey the fortitude of our families. We, as individual family units and as a wider adoption community, are "mighty strong" in triumphing over any and all trials we may face.
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Summer Camps
Salvation Army Aurora Summer Camp
The fee is $35 per child per week. This day camp runs from 7:30am to 6pm. Ages 6-12 are welcome. Summer Camp starts on June 5th and ends on August 11th. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Call 303-364-1965 or 720-285-2027 to register.
Salvation Army High Peak Overnight Camp
Cost for the camp is $35 per week per child. All meals will be provided. Transportation will be provided both to and from camp. To register for camp call 720-285-2027 or email Demarius Parmer at Demarius.Parmer@usw.salvationarmy.org
Camp sessions are as follows:
June 12-17
- Rocky Mountain Youth Camp #1 (ages 7-12)
-Wilderness Camp#1 (ages 13-17)
June 26-July 1
- Rocky Mountain Youth Camp #2 (ages 7-12)
-Wilderness Camp#2 (ages 13-17
JA Business Week Overnight Camp
June 11 to 16, kids grades 9-12
Johnson & Wales University
7150 E Montview Boulevard, Denver, CO 80220
Business Week, presented by Arrow Electronics, Inc., is a knowledge-building, confidence-boosting, network-growing, college-application standout of a summer experience. Students will stay in the dorms on the beautiful campus of Johnson & Wales University in Denver, giving them a sneak peek into college life. JA Business Week is open to students who are currently in grades 9-12. Students attending for the first time will work on designing a new cell phone case and marketing plan for OtterBox, an electronics accessory company headquartered in Fort Collins. Returning students will work as consultants for Arrow Electronics.
The camp normally costs $550, but there are large SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE.
Contact Ginny Reece at 303-260-6285 or
Greece@JAColorado.org
http://www.jabusinessweek.org/about-ja
DU's Engineering Summer Day Camp
Students entering 9th-11th grade will learn the fundamentals of design, math, and engineering through fun activities like building robots that play soccer and constructing towers out of marshmallows. There is a co-ed and female only option, scholarships are available at http://ritchieschool.du.edu/engineering-summer-day-camp/ or contact Yvonne Petitt at 303-871-2107 for more information. July 10th-14th (Women's and Men's Camp) / July 24th-28th (Women's Camp)
Click here for more information on the Engineering camps.
DU's CodeART Summer Day Camp
Students entering 9th grade-11th grade will learn computational art-making and programming by creating two-dimensional art works. Students should have a desire and the curiosity to learn how to code and interest to make computational art. Contact Susan Bolton at 303-871-2458 for scholarships. June 12th-16th (Women's Camp) / June 19th-23rd (Women's and Men's Camp).
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NACAC Conference Registration Open
Join the NACAC conference in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 20 to 22 (preconference session July 19). Registration is now open and early-bird registration rates are available until June 12.
The NACAC conference is the most comprehensive adoption conference in North America and if you have been touched by adoption or foster care, you will want to attend!
Keynote speakers are:
- Heather Forbes, LCSW, Helping Children Love Themselves: Overcoming Their Negative Belief Systems
- Young Adult Panel moderated by Michael Sanders, Unpacking the "No" to Adoption
- Barry Chaffkin, Families Matter
The conference includes more than 80 workshops on topics such as adoption support and preservation, recruitment and pre-adoption services, advanced issues in adoption and therapeutic techniques, and more.
Click here to download the complete registration booklet.
The conference will be held at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel in downtown Atlanta (210 Peachtree St NW, Atlanta, GA 30303).
Discounted guest rooms are $169 per night (plus tax and a $5/night state hotel fee).
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EVENTS
Tiny Tots Family Music Fest
Saturday, May 13, 2017,
9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Stanley Marketplace
2501 Dallas St, Aurora, CO 80010
The music fest will include a bounce house and face painting as well!
Tiny Tots tickets are $12/person, but financial assistance and FREE tickets are
available if you call (303) 355-7855 or email
The Silent Princess at the Bitsy Stage
May 5 - June 11, 2017
1137 S Huron St, Denver, CO 80223
Watch a FREE play at the Bitsy Stage. This play will be an adaption of a Turkish folk tale that will discuss the themes of silence and discover how conversation can break down many barriers. To reserve tickets go to www.bitsystage.com.
Konstantin Dimopoulos' "The Blue Trees" Family Fun Day
Sunday, May 21, 3017
Skyline Park 16th St, Denver, CO
Family Fun Day, giving families a FREE opportunity to color 200 child-sized trees, participate in environmentally friendly educational activities, and enjoy kid-friendly entertainment.
The Denver Children's Advocacy Center's (DCAC) Breakfast Open House
Thursday, June 8, 2017 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
2149 Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80211
FREE to all. Stop by, enjoy breakfast, and tour DCAC's child-friendly campus.
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Support Groups
Sometimes our children provide us with challenges that we're just not quite ready to handle. And sometimes support groups can help us find the answers we need, or at least make us feel okay about the unique challenges we're facing. Here are some support groups that might be helpful.
Boulder Valley Christian Church
Support group for foster and adoptive moms
Tuesdays, 10:00 am to noon, beginning Feb. 7, 2017
Facilitated by Lisa Firle, MA., LPCC
Boulder Valley Christian Church, 7100 S. Boulder Road, Boulder.
Parents of Children with PTSD or Dissociative Disorder
Starts November 4, 2016
First Friday of the month
Denver Therapy & Consultation Group
2133 S Bellaire, Ste 11
$25 per person or $40 couple
Some scholarships are available.
For more information, contact Jan Tomski at
jantomski@msn.com
or by phone at 303-881-7630.
Adult Adoptee Support Group
Every 1st & 3rd Thursday, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sondermind, Suite 12, 100 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO 80302
Cost $25-$35
Jefferson County Kids Group
Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian, 11500 W. 20th Ave, Lakewood
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m..
RSVP to Mindy Beckler at 303-432-5205
North Adams Grandfamily Support Group
Third Thursday of the month
Brighton Police Department, 3401 E Bromley Ln, Brighton, 80601. RSVP to Janet at 303-637-8113.
Fathers Forever
2nd & 4th Thursdays
5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Resilience Center,
1298 Peoria St,
Aurora, CO 80011
For more information, contact Don Reynolds (720-353-6103) or Aaron Lockwood (303-901-4486).
Grandparent Group
2nd & 4th Wednesdays
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
Aurora Mental Health Center in the Early Childhood & Family Dept.
11059 E Bethany Dr., Suite 101, Aurora, CO 80014
For more information, contact Aline Ratliff (303-885-5163).
Foster Care & Adoptive Parents Support Group
Last Sunday of every month from 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Discovery Church,
2605 W 144th Ave, Broomfield, CO 80023
Online Support Group for Adoptive, Foster, & Kinship Parents
Second Tuesday of the Month
Morning session 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Evening session 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Session includes a short presentation followed by a discussion.
Email Deb Felio at
for the toll-free number and access code.
Adoptive Parents Support Group
1st Tuesday of the month
February 3 - May 5, 2015
5:30pm-7:00pm
Supervised activities and group therapy for children
Lakewood Nazarene Church
Lakewood, CO
RSVP to Family Support Specialist, Mindi Bekler, 720-251-5876
Teen & Tween Adoption Support for Parents
Potluck
2nd & 4th Monday of each month
6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Resilience Center
1298 Peoria St
Aurora, C
O 80011
Young Adult Mental Illness Support Group
For ages 18-28
1st & 3rd Thursday of every month
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
1st week Classroom F-G
3rd week Classroom E
St Anthony Hospital
11600 W 2nd Dr
Lakewood, CO 80228
Contact Courtney at 720-369-2629 for more information.
Welcome Child Adoption/Foster Care Support Group
Second Sunday of the month
6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Timberline Church, Room 214
2908 S. Timberline Road
Fort Collins, CO 80525
For more information contact Michele Sanner by email at
mlsanner@gmail.com or by phone at
(970) 481-5749.
Xpress Yourself Art & Play Therapy
Support groups for internationally adopted children & adolescents
CCAI
6920 S. Holly Circle
Centennial, CO 80112
Call 303-850-9998, ext 22
Called to Adopt Support Group
4th Saturday of the month, 6:00 p.m.,
Christ Community Church, Greeley, CO
The Men's Group for Adoptive Dads
Thursdays, 6:00 a.m. - 7:00 a.m.
Zoe's, 715 10th St,
Greeley, CO 80631
Sensory Processing Disorder Parent Support Group
Facilitators: Sarah Ahn and Jenny Burnsed, LPC
Last Monday of every month 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Bixby School, 3750 Table Mesa Drive, Boulder
There is no fee associated with this group, though donations are gratefully accepted. Please contact Sarah at SarahA@bipr.org for questions.
Therapeutic Post-Adoption Support Group
2nd Thursday of the month, 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Windsor Timberline Church
360 E Crossroads Blvd, Windsor, CO
Aurora Mental Health
Adoption Support Group
2nd & 4th Mondays of the month
Aurora Mental Health
11059 E Bethany Drive, Aurora, CO 80014
Colorado Adams County Rainbow Center
3rd Thursday of each month, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
2140 E 88th Ave, Thornton, CO 80229
Contact: KimNichelle Rivera 303-226-5536
EMPOWER Littleton/Aurora/Englewood
1st & 3rd Thursday, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network
155 Inverness Drive West, Englewood, CO 80112
NAMI Connections Recovery Support Group for Adults
Wednesdays, 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m.
ADMHN Building, 3rd floor
5500 S. Sycamore St, Littleton, CO 80120
Contact: Carol
303-790-1055
NAMI Family Support Group Teleconference
2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month
Louisville Parent Support Group
Second Tuesday of the month
7:00 - 8:30
Art Underground
901 Front Street, Louisville, CO 80027
$25 per session; reservations required.
Call 720-352-1743.
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| COCAF strives to provide Colorado's adoptive families with the information and resources they need to keep their families healthy and happy. If you have ideas for topics you think we should cover, please let us know. And if you find a good resource -- definitely let us know. Please forward your ideas or information to me at colleen.tarket@cocaf.org. Materials received by the 20th of a month will be considered for inclusion in the next month's newsletter.
Wishing all families peace, serenity, and a good sense of humor,
Colleen Tarket, COCAF Board Member (and newsletter put-ter-together-er)
COCAF does not recommend or endorse any specific book, website, survey, study, or provider of services. The purpose of the COCAF e-newsletter is to provide families with potential resources. All information contained in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only and as is without warranty expressed or implied, and shall not constitute legal, medical, psychiatric, educational, or parenting advice. COCAF is not be liable for any damages arising from using the information in this newsletter, including direct, indirect, incidental, punitive, and/or consequential damages. No information on this site should be considered legal advice. Laws vary by state, so you are urged to research the specific laws, and your rights, within your state. If you have specific questions regarding your rights, or the laws in your state, please contact an attorney.
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Use this area to provide your subscribers information about your organization.
We believe that all children have the right to a permanent loving family. We are dedicated to improving services for every pre- and post-adoptive family and to increasing the knowledge and accountability of public systems. We are committed to advocacy in state and local service planning and delivery, in support of all pre and post adoptive families.
Sincerely,
Deborah Cave, Executive Director
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