Childhood Trauma Practitioner's Assembly

July 10-13, 2012 • Macomb ISD, Clinton Township, MI

Schedule: Click the link to access the Assembly schedule, which include descriptions of all certification level courses and workshops, as well as brief bios of each presenter.

Brochure: Click the link to download a pdf file of the Assembly brochure.

Register: Click to the link to register online in the TLC bookstore or click this link to download a registration form to mail or fax or call TLC toll-free at 877.306.5256.

Cost: Early registration prices until May 11. TLC current members: $125/$140 | General admission $140/$160 | Full-time students $95.

Hours: Check-in begins at 7:30 am. Presentations start promptly at 8:30 am and end at 3:45 pm.

Workshops: When registering for a workshop, please choose BOTH a morning and afternoon workshop.

Lunch: A buffet lunch is included. Some vegetarian selections are available, but we are unable to accommodate special dietary requests.

Handouts: Attendees will receive a link to access handouts to handouts to print. We will not supply copies of the handouts at the Assembly.

Questions: Please call TLC toll-free at 877.306.5256 or email us at TLC@starrtraining.org

Please see the attached notices for upcoming Child Welfare Services training opportunities.

Luncheon Webcast Series - View live from your computer
June 1, 2012 - Standardized Court Reports: Improving Consistency and Efficiency in Child Welfare Cases
June 6, 2012 - Young Adult Voluntary Foster Care

Forensic Interview Protocol Training
June 14, 2012 at the Hall of Justice, Lansing
Target Audience: Judges (state and tribal); referees; other court staff; attorneys; DHS caseworkers; other DHS child welfare personnel; and private agency caseworkers.

Please forward this information to anyone who may be interested or may benefit from these trainings. Do not hesitate to contact me with any questions.

Respectfully,

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

Child Welfare Services Training Division: http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/services/cws/TrainingDevelopment.htm

Testifying in Court for Nonlawyers
May 24, 2012 at the 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.

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.

Eric Anderson—the Magician with a Message—to deliver the keynote at the 2012 Michigan Teen Conference. Registration is open!

Combining motivation and miracles, Eric Anderson’s “The Magic of Attitude” keynote presentation will take the audience on a roller coaster ride of Illusion, Motivation & Celebration.  During this presentation, Eric will illustrate his personal story while sharing how he was able to succeed against the odds when it seemed like the world was against him.  Eric will share powerful yet practical success strategies and demonstrate some of his signature illusions. The audience will learn about Eric’s experience and how they might benefit from it. Additionally, the schedule will include a second session with Eric titled “The Magic of Goal Setting.” When put into action, this goal-setting process will help youth accomplish their dreams. 

Workers are encouraged to begin talking with foster youth, caregivers and caseworkers about attending the 2012 Michigan Teen Conference Take Charge of Your Journey! Youth In Transition funds can be used to cover costs for youth attending and a portion of the chaperone costs. Get requests for the funds in early and save $$!

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

Find the full conference brochure and registration form to download below, along with details about Sponsor Options. Sign up today!

Register today for the Federation’s annual spring HR training! Titled “HR Weights, Measures & Strategies,” this year’s seminar sessions are:

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]

Registration is open for the MHBFSA’s Spring Workshop series set for April 20 at the Postma Center at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids.

This day-long set of workshops is offered free of charge to MHBFSA members (up to six members per agency membership) and just $50 for a non-member.

Find the complete details in the attachment below, or click here to go to the MHBFSA's website.

This year’s MAFAK Conference is themed "Hand In Hand Across Michigan." As a bonus this year, the conference features Dr. Bryan Post as a full-day pre-conference presenter on April 26.

The conference keynote is Dr. James Henry on the topic of “Trauma Informed Parenting.” George Duvall will present “No Reason to Fail” and will be the guest entertainer following the Saturday evening banquet. Numerous workshops are offered Friday and Saturday. Sunday’s closing session features Stephen Youngs, speaking about “Parenting Amid the Chaos of Life.”

**NOTE: As of January 2012, membership for MAFAK Parents is free; however, the registration form is required to receive free conference materials and free meals. Each attendee must complete a registration form and will receive an email confirming receipt of the registration form. The 2012 MAFAK Conference is funded by the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS). Parents should check with their local licensing agency for room and travel reimbursement, as these expenses are NOT covered by the DHS Conference funding.

Registration is open to child placing agency personnel after April 6, 2012. If there are meal tickets available after the deadline of April 15, 2012, agency staff will receive meal tickets in their registration packet.

Find the full conference booklet as an attachment below or at http://mafak.co.

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

Toward Successful Adoption: Training for Foster Care & Adoption Workers

This full-day training is approved for six social work continuing credit units and is designed for foster care and adoption workers who are working with foster families and others who are adopting children from the child welfare system.

AM Session: Temperament, Attachment, Trauma & the Brain, Grief & Loss & Common Diagnosis:
How to Better Understand the Children You Are Working With

This three-hour session will focus on the unique needs of children who are being adopted from the child welfare system. The focus will be on the interplay between children’s temperament, attachment styles, trauma, grief and loss, and diagnostic labels. Information will be disseminated that is designed to help caseworkers gain an understanding of the needs of children in foster care to enhance their work with families interested in adopting these children.

PM Session: Helping Children & Families Make Transitions to Adoption

This three-hour session is designed to help participants look at how best to prepare and support foster families and others who are adopting children from the foster care system. Information will be provided about shifting dynamics in foster families who are planning to adopt as well as helping children and families when adoption means moving children. Improving effectiveness in collaboration between foster care and adoption staff during adoption transitions will also be explored.

This program is funded by the Michigan Department of Human Services, thus registration is FREE.

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

Toward Successful Adoption: Your Child, Your Family, Your Community

This FREE training is designed for those who have adopted or who are thinking of adopting a child from the child welfare system. Three important areas will be covered:

• Helping families cope with the ‹‹stress of transitioning children from foster care to adoption. 
• Understanding the unique ‹‹needs of children who have been traumatized. 
• Helpful strategies for finding ‹‹and using post adoption resources. 

Training sessions run Friday evening (6:00 PM–9:00 PM) through Saturday (9:00 AM–4:00 PM) on 12 different dates from March through September in cities across the state. Download the attached flier for the complete listing.

                                           Two New Trainings Added for 2012!

Cross Cultural Adoption: Beyond Race

• Understand the impact of ‹‹ethnicity and culture on a child’s identity and self-esteem. 
• Identify the tools and ‹‹tasks necessary to successfully raise a child of another race or culture.
• May 5, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM in Grand Rapids; June 2, 1:00 PM–4:00 PM in Lansing

Helping Children Make Successful Transitions in Adoption

• Understand ways to lessen ‹‹the trauma of moves for children.
• Learn ways to cope with ‹‹your emotions when helping children move.
• May 5, 1:00 PM–4:00 PM in Grand Rapids; June 2, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM in Lansing

The training is FREE, funded by the Michigan Department of Human Services. Attendees can qualify for a small stipend to assist with child care and mileage costs. 

Be sure to mark your calendar for the MiSACWIS Summit scheduled for May 1, 2012, at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center in East Lansing, Michigan.

DHS county directors, private agency directors, and individuals from the courts will be invited. Liaisons for each county office and private agency will also be invited. During this summit, directors and their chosen liaison will learn about MiSACWIS; the what, why, who will be impacted, how each organization can be involved in regular updates on the project, and how they can assist their organization in a smooth transition to the new application.

This is an all-day event that will kick off with a variety of guest speakers. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.

Watch this site in the next couple of weeks for further explanation of the liaison role. For more insight to the MiSACWIS project, a one-page summary document about MiSACWIS can be found in the attachment below.