All private child and family service agencies in Michigan are invited to participate in the Michigan Federation for Children and Families 2013 Salary and Fringe Benefit Survey! Deadline for returns is February 28, 2013.

Not familiar with the Michigan Federation’s compensation survey? The What’s in it? brochure (see attachment below) explains the vast detail that is generated by this annual survey—over 120 pages of information, including aggregate data and breakouts of data by size of agency.

Two ways to report are offered; please use the method that works best for you:

• The traditional hard copy downloadable at www.michfed.org
• PC-based Excel 2007 file; email rose@michfed.org to request the Excel file be emailed to you.

Important note: Federation Full Member agencies participate in this survey at no charge. Agencies that are not currently Federation members are welcome and encouraged to participate for a fee of $150 each to help offset costs of data entry and report preparation and dissemination. These agencies are asked to submit a notice of intent to participate (see attachment below), along with payment.

Do not hesitate to contact Rose Homa for clarification regarding any aspect of the survey, (517) 485-8552, rose@michfed.org, or to let her know when you can get your survey in if you will be absolutely unable to meet the February 28, 2013, deadline.

Questions related to the Excel version of the survey should be directed to Ken McLean via email, kmclean01@yahoo.com

We hope you will consider being part of this excellent resource!

Salary survey payment options: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Salarysurveyorderform

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.

Attached is the December Newsletter from Kinship Care Resource Center. Lots of great resources for kinship care providers.

MSU School of Social Work, in partnership with the Michigan Federation for Children and Families, is offering FREE Training for Foster Families. Three sessions are scheduled for November:

• Nov. 6th in Grand Rapids: “I Just Don’t Know What to Do with This Kid: How to Bring Love and Laughter Back into Your Home with Your Challenging Foster Children”
• Nov. 10th in Royal Oak: “Helping Children Make Successful Transitions in Foster Care”
• Nov. 15th in East Lansing: “Help! I Just Don’t Understand My Child’s Mental Health Diagnosis”

Find the details and registration instructions in the attachment posted below.

Request for Proposals deadline: November 9, 2012

The Michigan Fatherhood Coalition has issued a call for proposals for this one-day dual track conference that will provide information to both male caretakers of children and service providers alike. The conference will be held in Howell, MI; audience capacity is 300. To ensure conference quality, presentation consideration will be given only to those who complete the 2013 Request for Proposal Form, downloadable below and at the www.michiganfatherhood.org website.

In the meantime, SAVE THE DATE of February 22, 2013, for this valuable event!

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

The 2012 Salary & Fringe Benefit Survey of Private Agencies Summary Report has been issued and is available for purchase!

See the attached brochure for how to purchase the 2012 report....

2012 Salary Survey Report…What’s in it? How can it help my agency? The 135-page 2012 Salary & Fringe Benefit Survey Summary Report reflects data as of January 31, 2012, including a compilation of actual salaries of 5,095 employees across 74 job classifications within 47 Michigan private, nonprofit child and family service agencies. The report also includes extensive and detailed information related to employee benefits. To make it easier to compare your agency's compensation packages to agencies across the state and in your region of the state and by similarly sized organizations, all data in the report is presented geographically: statewide, SE Michigan counties and counties outside of SE Michigan and by size of agency budget.

New in this year's Fringe Benefits section is expanded information related to health insurances. New in this year's Salaries Report section is a division of data by exempt (salaried) and non-exempt (hourly) employees. Additionally, the "number of years in this position" is reported for each job classification.

The brochure attached (SalSurRptWhatsInIt.pdf) spells out important uses for the report’s data, including a new IRS Form 990 requirement to document “reasonable compensation" paid to key employees. Read more about this in the attached BDO USA article titled, “Compensation and Transactions on the New Form 990.”

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!

As you are aware, Chapin Hall has been engaged by DHS to conduct an in-depth actuarial rate study for both the private and public sectors in order to establish appropriate rates for service. This effort, funded by Casey Family Programs, is being led by Jennifer Haight, who will be with us for the conference in order to discuss the foundation of the study and gather information from private agencies.

Visit: www.michfed.org/annual-conference to see the schedule, download the conference brochure, get lodging information and to register!

Download the attached and check out the new and exciting Event, Marketing and SWAG sponsor options .... something for every budget!

As a sponsor/exhibitor you will:
• Expand your visibility and name recognition to a statewide market

• Meet face-to-face with the decision-makers of nonprofit agencies from across the state

• Reach an audience of over 300 individuals via pre-conference promotional materials

• Featured on our conference website as a sponsor/exhibitor with links to your website and contact information

• Have access to conference attendee contact information before and after the conference

The Michigan Heart Gallery is a traveling photographic exhibit featuring children in the Michigan foster care system waiting for their forever family. At this free event, you'll hear more about the kids who are waiting, the process of foster care adoption and ways to support adoptive families. In addition, agency and county representatives will be on site to answer questions and help you get started on your adoption journey.

Grand Opening:
Saturday, April 21, 2012
11:00 am - 2:00 pm
Northridge Church
48555 N Territorial Road
Plymouth, MI

RSVP at www.mare.org or by calling 800.589.MARE

“Comedy for a Cause” has rapidly grown to be one of the most exciting and entertaining comedy shows in the Midwest! The past 35 events have attracted an audience of approx. 2,500 people each, reaching almost 100,000 in attendance. It has earned a strong rapport with nationally renowned comedians, professional agencies, businesses, and public officials.

Friday, April 20, 2012
7:00 PM
Woodside Bible Church
Troy, MI

Free admission. A love offering will be taken.

“Comedy for a Cause” would not be possible without the generosity of sponsors!! They make it possible for 100% of the donations collected at the event to go directly to serving the children.

The 2012 Salary & Fringe Benefit Survey has been issued and is open for data entry through April 20, 2012! This year's survey has been revamped to include updated health insurance options and other fine-tuning, but the most notable change this year is in Part D - Salaries...

• The 74 job categories are organized as 50 Exempt and 24 Non-Exempt employees.
• The survey also asks for the number of years each employee has been in that position in your agency.

Two ways to report are offered; please use the method that works best for you:

• The traditional hard copy, downloadable below.
• PC-based Excel 2007 file [to request the .xlsm file be emailed to you, email rose@michfed.org]

Federation Affiliate Member Michigan Home Based Family Services Association invites you to join others who are committed to quality family-centered services throughout Michigan.

New and renewing MHBFSA members benefit from three free trainings annually, discounted pricing for the MHBFSA annual conference (September 27-28, 2012), training hours and free social work CEs at each training, an e-newsletter called Practice, access to the Home Based Standards Guidelines Handbook, listing on and access to the MHBFSA website and more!

Find details about membership and benefits at www.mihomebased.com and in the attachments found below.

Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect
Effective March 5, 2012

Centralized Intake (CI) for abuse and neglect complaints will begin taking calls for Children’s Protective Services (CPS) and Adult Protective Services (APS) at 8:00 am on March 5, 2012. The Department of Human Services is establishing Centralized Intake to ensure consistency across the state in how complaints of abuse and neglect of children and adults are documented and assigned for investigation. Centralized Intake will accept and process reports of alleged abuse and neglect twenty four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week for the entire year.

Please call:
Centralized Intake for Abuse and Neglect
855-444-3911