Save these dates for another exciting national adoption conference for adoption professionals hosted by Bethany Christian Services. Featured presenters include: Dr. Joyce Pavao, Dr. Julian Davies, Susan Branco Alvarado, Karen Foli, Jim Henry, and Doug Cole.

The conference will include a special community event for families during the evening of October 2, titled “Ask the Doctor,” featuring Dr. Julian Davies of The Center for Adoption Medicine, The University of Washington Pediatric Care Center.

Social Work CEs are pending. The conference will be held at the Crowne Plaza in Grand Rapids. Registration details will be released in August. Stay tuned!

Attached is Wedgwood Institute's Summer, July – September 2013 brochure. Look through the brochure and contact me if you are interested in attending what is being offered.

Ruth Pohler
Administrative Assistant
Wedgwood Institute
(616) 831-5654

Throughout 2013, MSU School of Social Work is offering 10 free trainings for foster, adoptive and kin parents. Each training participant will receive a certificate for each three hours of training they attend. No CEUs are offered for these workshops.

Please make the flier available to your families and encourage them to take advantage of the trainings offered. The flier includes a registration form and is available in the attachment below. Remaining sessions are:

Comedy for a Cause
May 17, 2013

Benefit for Promise Village Home for Children

SPECIAL PRICE for Michigan Federation members - Save $40 per day

TLC Childhood Trauma Practitioner's Assesmbly
July 9-12, 2013
8:30 AM - 3:45 PM
Macomb ISD Education Center

Register by May 11th. Continuing Education credits included.

Assembly schedule:
July 9
• Children of Trauma
• Advanced Structured Sensory Interventions & Mind-Body Skills
• FEI Crisis Training
• Trauma-Informed workshops

July 10
• Structured Sensory Interventions
• Trauma-Informed Expressive Arts Therapy
• Trauma-Informed workshops

July 11
• Trauma Assessment
• Best Practices for Improving the School Climate
• Trauma-Informed workshops

July 12
• Putting It All Together: Practice Points & Tough Topics
• What If...Crisis Team Protocols for Schools
• Trauma-Informed workshops

Save the date: November 3-5, 2013

2013 Annual CANS Conference
Hilton San Francisco Financial District

The goal of this year's conference will be to assist in the development of specific skills involving the full use of Total Clinical Outcomes Management (TCOM) and its associated measures (The Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths (CANS), The Family Advocacy and Support Tool (FAST), Adult Needs and Strengths Assessment (ANSA)). There will be three tracks--clinical track for people who work in direct service. This track will include workshops on the use of these tools in treatment planning, trauma-informed care, strength-based work, integration with various evidence-based practices (e.g. motivational interviewing, collaborative problem solving). The second track will be a program management and supervisory track which will include workshops for supporting staff development and managing effectiveness. The third track will be designed for system administrators which will focus on the use of information collected with these tools to support system management, design and evolution.

With the learning tracks and an array of expert-led educational workshops and keynote speakers, this three day conference will provide an excellent opportunity for professional development for people involved at all levels of the system.

Stay tuned for more announcements.

Lutheran Social Services and the Department of Human Services will soon be hosting seven regional trainings across the State of Michigan. Each training will cover the Michigan Education and Training Voucher Program (ETV), the educational needs and newest education policy requirements for children and youth in care, and various college resources for Foster Youth.

Registration is now available on JJOLT at: http://www.michiganchildwelfaretraining.com, search forEducation Pl - College Scholarships and Resources. Attached is a flyer with dates, locations, and times…so mark your calendars now! SPACE IS LIMITED!! If you do not have access to JJOLT, please reply to this email to register and specify the preferred location and time.

This is a great opportunity for all workers and supervisors to learn about the resources available for foster youth who are aging out and pursuing college, as well as how foster youth can best be served to ensure they make it to post-secondary programs.

Jennifer Maurer
ETV Coordinator
Lutheran Social Services of Michigan
209 E. Washington Ave. Suite 284, Jackson, MI 49201
Phone: (877) 660-6388 Fax: (517) 789-6809
Serving People As an Expression of the Love of Christ - www.mietv.lssm.org

The Michigan Juvenile Justice Collaborative invites you to attend the

Michigan Summit on Juvenile Justice
Explore how Michigan Communities are Getting Smart on Crime and Saving Money.

Thursday, March 14, 2013 (8:30am – 1:00pm)

Mackinac Room of the Anderson House Office Building
124 North Capitol Ave. Lansing, MI 48909

FREE Registration at: www.miccd.org

The event will feature Representative Jerry Madden, the recently retired former Chairman of the
Texas House Corrections Committee and leading legislator on criminal justice reform in
Texas. Madden’s innovative ideas on sentencing and corrections helped to transform Texas’
criminal justice system, contributing to lower crime rates and reduced recidivism at a lower cost
to taxpayers.

Agenda

8:30-9:30am: Keynote Address & Continental Breakfast: Texas Representative Jerry Madden will share his
experience improving the juvenile justice system in Texas through use of cost-effective
solutions to juvenile justice reform.

9:45-10:30am: Michigan Trends in Juvenile Justice: Local experts discuss how
Michigan is transforming research into real cost-savings and crime reduction.

10:45-12pm: 2013-2014 Policy Priorities: Advocates highlight strategies that the
Michigan Legislature can do this session to improve juvenile justice, reduce crime, and
save money.

12:00pm: Luncheon Meet-n-Greet: Legislators and staff are invited to meet with
constituents and juvenile justice experts over a free lunch.

1:00pm: Constituent Visits

The Michigan Summit on Juvenile Justice is sponsored by:

Association for Children's Mental Health
ACLU of Michigan
Michigan Association of United Ways
Michigan Council on Crime & Delinquency
Michigan League for Public Policy
Michigan Legislative Black Caucus
Michigan Protection & Advocacy Services
Public Policy Associates
Public Welfare Foundation
The Injustice Must End (T.I.M.E.)
TrueNorth Community Services

Take Charge of Your Journey

June 19-20, 2013: Michigan Teen Conference

This special conference is for youth ages 14-21 preparing to exit foster care, their caregivers, and the professionals who work with them.

Potential sources of funding: YIT. MYOI. Private fund raising. Use registration form to calculate cost and pre-plan for your funding request.

Conference will be held at Ferris State University in Big Rapids, MI.

SAVE THE DATE - Testifying in Court for Nonlawyers
December 14, 2012 at the Hall of Justice, Lansing, Michigan

Target Audience: Child Protective Services and Foster Care caseworkers for the Michigan Department of Human Services, tribes, and private agencies.

SAVE THE DATE - Combating Compassion Fatigue: Brain and Body Wellness for Caregivers
January 8, 2013 at the Hall of Justice, Lansing, Michigan

Target Audience: Child Protective Services and Foster Care caseworkers for the Michigan Department of Human Services, tribes, and private agencies.

SAVE THE DATE - Building a Legal Arsenal to Defend Clients
February 22, 2013 at Schoolcraft College VisTaTech Center, Livonia, Michigan

Target Audience: Attorneys representing parents in child protective proceedings

Child Welfare Services Training Division: http://www.courts.michigan.gov/administration/scao/officesprograms/cws/c...

Heather D. Leidi, Program Assistant | Child Welfare Services | State Court Administrative Office
P.O. Box 30048 | Lansing, MI 48989 | 517-373-5322 phone | 517-373-8922 fax | LeidiH@courts.mi.gov E-mail

Michigan Safe Delivery of Newborns reached the ten year mark since enactment of the law. In the first decade, over 100 babies have been surrendered. Adoption agencies play a critical role in the transition of the newborn from the birth parent to an adoptive home and also in building community awareness of the option to surrender. This training will focus on the role of adoption agencies in the full spectrum of Safe Delivery and how to effectively handle surrenders within your agency.

This training seminar will be divided in to two separate sessions:

October 9, 2012 at Spaulding for Children / Training Room
16250 Northland Drive
Southfield, MI 48075

Session 1: Michigan's Adoption Agency Handbook
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Session 2: Train the Trainers
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

October 25, 2012 at Bethany Christian Services
901 Eastern Avenue, NE
Grand Rapids, MI

Session 1: Michigan's Adoption Agency Handbook
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Session 2: Train the Trainers
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Note: The October 25 session is in place of an earlier-planned September 25 training in Traverse City, which was cancelled. An updated registration flier will be available soon!

Register today for the fifth annual Systems of Care Conference, Oct. 24-25, 2012

Michigan: Building and Supporting Systems that Care

October 24-25, 2012
Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
219 N. Harrison Rd. East Lansing, MI 48824

Registration opens July 16, 2012

www.impactsystemofcare.org

Registration fee: $75
Family scholarships available
Social Work CEs available

Participate in workshops related to Child Welfare; Mental Health; Juvenile Justice; Education; Building a System of Care; Youth and Family Involvement in Systems of Care and much more!

Hotel Accommodations:
Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
219 N. Harrison
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 432-4000
$65/night plus tax for October 23-24, 2012.
To receive discounted group rate, use Promotional Code: ISC102312
Reservations may also be made on the website at: www.kelloggcenter.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely, SOC Conference Co-sponsors:

Saginaw System of Care
Impact: Ingham County System of Care
State Court Administrative Office (SCAO)
Connections: Wayne County Systems of Care
Michigan League for Human Services (MLHS)
Association for Children’s Mental Health (ACMH)
Michigan Department of Human Services (MDHS)
Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH)
Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency (MCCD)
Kalamazoo Wraps: Kalamazoo County System of Care
Community Family Partnership: Kent Co. System of Care

The National Resource Center for Adoption is offering training in May and June 2011 on five modules of its Adoption Competency Curriculum:

• May 12: Module 1: Federal Laws Impacting Adoption Placement
• May 25 & 26: Module 2: Child/Youth Assessment & Preparation
• June 8 & 9: Module 3: Family Assessment & Preparation
• June 9: Module 4: Decision Making & Placement Selection
• June 15: Module 5: Post Adoption Services

This series is designed as a comprehensive curriculum for training child welfare practitioners in public and private agencies who provide adoption services for children/youth who have been abused or neglected. Registration for each module is limited to 25 participants. All course materials and lunch are provided free of charge. Social Work CECHs are offered for participants who complete one or more modules. An Adoption Competency Overview booklet is available, along with registration information. See attachments below.

Presenting the 3rd Annual Fostercare Youth Leadership Conference "Rising Above the Odds Against Me: Girls Only Summit"

There are many unfortunate consequences that foster care youth face as they prepare to “age-out” of the system. Intervention on behalf of this “At-Risk” population can play a key role in motivating such individuals to excel and to rise above the limitations that often arise because of their circumstances.

Mission: To offer a variety of interactive sessions that will promote independence, security, self-esteem and personal development. A special focus of the conference will be to provide youth with a forum to discuss their challenges and ambitions and to encourage them to develop a plan for achieving their goals.

Rising Above the Odds Against Me: Girls Only Summit
Saturday, May 21, 2011
8:30 AM - 6:30 PM (ET)
Dearborn, MI

Click here for more information and to register! 

Sponsored By: Save Our Children Coalition, University of Michigan-Dearborn School of Education, H.I.S. Agency, Jack & Jill of Ypsilanti, University of Michigan School of Social Work-Ann Arbor and many more