Michigan Association for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parents
PRESENTER’S WORKSHOP PROPOSAL
March 13 – 16, 2008

Carefully note the following expectations for all proposals:

All proposals must be submitted using this criteria. Additional information such as a resume, program description brochure, copies of promotional material from previous presentations, etc., may also be attached. Incomplete proposals will not be considered.

All proposals must be submitted to the address below, the committee will not consider proposals submitted elsewhere.

Workshop sessions are ninety minutes in length with a limited number extended to two or three time periods. Please indicate if you are willing to repeat your workshop(s).

Indicate the targeted group(s) for whom your presentation is intended. Also include the level of expertise or prior knowledge needed (beginning, intermediate, advanced). All workshops will be labeled in the registration brochure to enable conference registrants to choose appropriate workshops.

The State Court Administrative Office, Family Services-Child Welfare Services Governor’s Task Force on Children’s Justice will hold this training on November 20, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. This training is based on the book Bridges Out Of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities, by Ruby K. Payne, Philip DeVol and Terie Dreussi Smith.

The following Wedgwood Institute trainings have been approved for Social Work Continuing Education Hours: Adolescents: What Are They Thinking on October 18 from 9 – 11 a.m.; Compassion Fatigue on October 18 from 2 – 4 p.m.; Family Therapy on November 8 from 9 a.m. to Noon and Taking the Mystery Out of Adolescent Cutting and Self-Injurious Behavior on November 15 from 9 – 11 a.m. All classes are held on Wedgwood’s Grand Rapids campus. Cost is $25 per class, except Compassion Fatigue for $20.

October marks the beginning of the ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign.   It is a national call-to-action to encourage individuals to help change the world, one energy-saving light bulb step at a time.

On October 1, Urban Options is launching the Change a Light Change Michigan  2007 campaign along with 7 Lansing area Ace Hardware stores to sell ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) for a discounted price (download Change a Light flyer here ).

The sale will begin on October 1 and run through November 30 while supplies last.   Michigan residents may purchase up to 12 CFLs for as little as 99 cents depending on the style of bulb purchased.

The State Court Administrative Office Family Services Division will hold this training on November 8th from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Bavarian Inn, Frankenmuth. This one-day training will highlight certain essential information about a child’s “best interests” that a judge or referee must consider in making fully informed decisions about terminating parental rights and other important decisions that affect the safety and well being of children in foster care. There is no registration cost to attend this training, all training material and lunch will be provided.

This 26th Annual Michigan Statewide Conference sponsored by the University of Michigan Health System’s Child protection Team, U of M Medical School and U of M Mott Children’s Hospital. This conference features three keynote speakers: Lundy Bancroft will discuss “The Batterer as Parent.” D.J. Eagle Bear Vanas will present “Keeping the Fires Lit.” Misty Larthridge will present “Cultural Competency: Recognizing and Destroying the Barriers.” Nearly 30 workshops round out the two-day conference at The Inn at St. John’s in Plymouth.

MHBFSA’s 20th annual conference—themed “Expanding Home-Based Connections”—will be held at the Bavarian Inn in Frankenmuth September 27-28. Conference keynote speakers are David Austin Sky, speaker, trainer, author and storyteller, and Cea Cohen Elliott, professional motivational speaker, wellness and fitness coach and seminar and workshop leader. The two-day conference will include 16 workshops and a special annual meeting/awards luncheon to celebrate the organization's 20th anniversary.

Deadline to apply for Kinship Assistance Program is September 30, 2007: The Kinship Care Resource Center, through the School of Social Work at Michigan State University (MSU), announces the Michigan State Kinship Assistance Program. Attached with this e-mail is an application. The program is designed to help kinship families statewide. Kinship care is a term used to describe relative caregivers for children including grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and other extended family members.

Program funding is made possible by the state through the Department of Human Services.

October 8: MLHS forum, “Fixing the Leaky Pipeline: Adult Education and Skills Training Can Improve Labor Market Success for Low-Income Adults—The Michigan League for Human Services, in conjunction with the Council for Labor & Economic Growth Low-Wage Worker Committee, is sponsoring a Public Policy Forum on Monday, October 8, 2007, from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at the Lansing Community College - West Campus, Lansing.

Do you serve any clients funded by Medicaid for behavioral health care services?  If so, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 has drastically changed requirements for case management and case notes and tracking of care!  And you don't know what they are! In Michigan, your organization is often not the direct biller, and you have to rely on the Community Mental Health system to set out these requirements.

You can download here the just-released MSU SSW CE Fall 2007 Catalog of offerings for September through December 2007. The MSU School of Social Work Continuing Education program offers courses with a focus on Clinical Issues, Leadership, Specialty Programs, Contemporary Issues in Aging, and Supervision Certificate in Child and Family Services.

Choose from nine different workshops geared to home-based services professionals at the MHBSA’s summer conference in northern Michigan (Gaylord). Registration is free to MHBSA members; $50 for general admission. CECHs for social workers are pending approval. Registration deadline is August 1. Download the full details and registration form here: MHBFSA summer conference

September 18-19, 2007
Kellogg Center, East Lansing
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
NO REGISTRATION FEE; funded by the Governor’s Task Force on Children’s Justice

Download the full brochure here. Sep 18-19 SCAO Training

September 18th’s “Focus on Permanency” will begin with an address by Kevin Campbell and an  exciting demonstration of his innovative “Family Finder” model.

Wedgwood Christian Services recently announced the formation of the Wedgwood Institute, whose purpose is to provide top-quality opportunities for Lifelong Learning to agency employees, clinical professionals and others in the West Michigan community and throughout the state. Wedgwood Institute will offer a diverse range of topics designed to deepen understanding and strengthen the quality of responses to the needs of children, clients and customers.

Below is a registration form for the upcoming training on Grant Writing is Elementary offered by Judson Center. This training is appropriate for BMSWs, SSTs and LMSWs. For additional information, visit www.judsoncenter.org for upcoming trainings.This program is approved by the Michigan Social Work Continuing Education Collaborative for 5 CE Clock Hours. Course approval is # 052907-03.