CMFCAA Focus eMag - Summer 19

Summer 2019

Focus

Foster Care

Awareness
Month

Upcoming Events

To RSVP, go to www.mofosteradopt.com click on Event RSVP

May May 28 Foster Documentary - Capitol City Cinema at 6pm
June May 31 Hog Raffle - last day to enter
July
June 6 & 7 OFFICE CLOSED
June 15 CMFCAA Day at Big Surf
June 20 Wonders of Wildlife Education Trip (ages 7-11)

July 19 Camden County Odyssey (Tri-County YMCA)
July 25 Six Flags Youth Event (ages 12-18)
July 26 Phelps County Odyssey (United Methodist Church Rolla)

August August 3 Cole County Foster Parent Appreciation
at Memorial Baptist Church

September September 5 Luau - Turkey Creek Golf Center
September 6 Boone Odyssey
September 14 Cole Odyssey
September 28 Callaway Odyssey

2019 Family Development Training (Location details coming soon)

To register, go to www.mofosteradopt.com/familydevelopment

Class Name: Date: Day of Week: Time: Location:

STARS Aug 10 - Sept 21 Every other Saturday 9:00-4:30 Camden/Miller
Spaulding July 18 & 19 Thursday/Friday
Spaulding Oct 17 & 18 Thursday/Friday 9:00-4:30 Boone
RPC June 9-30 Sunday Afternoons
RPC Sept30-Oct28 Monday 9:00-4:30 Cole
YEN/Level A July 11 & 12 Thursday & Friday
YEN/Level A Nov 7 & 8 Thursday & Friday 2:00-6:00 Pulaski
Caregiver STARS October 5 Saturday
6:00-8:00 Cole

8:30-5:00 Boone

8:30-5:00 Cole

9:00-4:30 Boone

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DeAnna’s Thoughts

From the desk of DeAnna Alonso,
President and CEO

As of February 2019, Missouri supports nearly 14,000
children in foster care. As part of the effort to reduce
the trauma and number of children in temporary
foster care, CMFCAA completed a second strategic
plan to place emphasis on reducing foster care by
50% in our state. This is a lofty goal; however, we
have found several programs to back into our current
programmatic structure. Foster care should only be
a temporary solution and if safe and appropriate
family is available. CMFCAA wants to help find
those family members and get kids back with their
relatives and kin as soon as possible.

AdoptUsKids shines a light on the true impact How many families are truly interested in fostering
and needs of the children and youth we serve. “A compared to adopting? The Attitudes Survey
national study of children and youth in the child explained, “Over 8 in 10 of those considering foster
welfare system found more than 70 percent had care adoption say they are either somewhat or very
experienced chronic or repeated trauma. The serious about it, while around 7 in 10 considering
trauma, abuse, and neglect children experience have international or private infant adoption indicate the
serious, often lifelong repercussions. Recent research same level of seriousness.” There are fewer families
suggests childhood trauma and abuse affects brain interested in pure foster care. We are hopeful
development and has consequences throughout an that will change over the course of the next few
individual’s life. Among other things, complex trauma years with the implementation of the Family First
can affect children’s ability to express and control Prevention Services Act (FFPSA). For now, we
emotions, concentrate, handle conflict, form healthy have to face the challenge of few foster homes and
relationships, interpret social cues, and distinguish children and youth in the system lingering with no
safe from threatening situations. By adolescence, permanency. With this information, our team sought
many children who experienced complex trauma can the best programmatic supports to assist with the
be hyper-vigilant and physically reactive, which takes foster care epidemic.
a physical and emotional toll.”

The truth is, our kids have challenges and need
long-term family. The Adoptions Attitude Survey
explains further that 12% of those interested in
general or foster care adoption are interested in
adopting between the ages of 6-12 years old. Even
more, only 3% would consider adopting over the age
of 13 years or more compared to 31% younger than
age 2 and 28% between the ages of 2 to 5 years.

Missouri has over 1400 children available for CMFCAA Awareness Month
adoption and most are between 6-18 years old. The
median age of children available for adoption from
foster care is 9 years old. Reviewing the adoption
statistics begs to ask another question to our team.

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Our team will be providing Kinship Navigator If you are interested in being a foster parent please
services starting this summer. This support aligns call our Family Development Department. Consider
with the FFPSA. You can review the new ACT here: being a foster parent for a child over the age of
https://bit.ly/2W8G2YR. 6, a child in our Extreme Recruitment program or
through the Missouri Heart Gallery: https://moheart-
The Kinship Navigator program serves as a one-stop gallery.org. For those who are currently fostering,
opportunity for information, referral, resources and thank you! We applaud you for stepping in to care
more for grandparents, relatives and other caregivers for our most vulnerable. If you are able to mentor a
who are currently raising a child. CMFCAA launched new foster parent, please reach out and let us know.
this program in response to the increased number If you are looking for ways to connect in a deeper
of relative and kin raising another relative’s child. way to the biological family of the children in your
The program is truly designed to understand the home to get them safely back home, contact our
importance of family and to keep children in their Kinship Navigator department. We want to support
family unit if possible and safe. The program assists you in that endeavor.
relatives and kin in navigating ongoing support
services. Kinship Navigator programs will be fully Thank you for all you do!
implemented in June. Our Kinship Navigator team
will be based in our new Osage Beach office. Be on Walking with you,
the lookout for the ribbon cutting event. With the
support of our nation, state and you we can make a CMFCAA
difference one child, one family at a time.
DeAnna Alonso, CEO

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Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Stacey Cowan! Stacey & Chris

Much like the words of our CEO DeAnna Alonso, child welfare Thank you from all of us at
is not a glamorous topic to discuss. But it’s Necessary. You CMFCAA for your gifts of love,
have to truly understand your mission and order to celebrate time, and commitment to our
your wins. communities’ children.

Recently I was able to see several win’s and reminded of the
mission. I got to spend time with an amazing person (Stacey
A. Cowan) who began as a volunteer mentor for an older
youth, in our Transitions program. She also began to work in
childcare at our Odyssey events in various counties. She has
spent countless hours working with our communities most
vulnerable children. This sparked a passion that led her and
her husband Chris to become licensed foster parents through
our CMFCAA’s Family Development team. They quickly
received their first placement of two young girls to add to
their two boys making an immediate family of six!

My heart was so full as I recently watched her two new girls
scan the room to make sure she was within eyesight at all
time. They are already looking to her for safety. Connect-
edness is what heals trauma. This amazing woman has created
a chain of healing in numerous lives. That’s the mission.

Central Missouri Foster Care Adoption Association is excited
to announce the expansion of services with our new program,
Kinship Navigator for the Central Missouri area. This program
will be located in the new Osage Beach office but, will still
service our 13-county area. This program is designed to serve
Kinship/Relative placement providers. This program is aimed
at not only providing services for those licensed kinship
placements but, to reach out to those non-traditional kinship
families and help provide services to them as well. This will
help strengthen and support those families and help ensure
those placements are secure.

The Kinship Navigator program will work with Kinship
families to evaluate the family’s needs. Once the needs are
determined the program will work to ensure the family is
qualifying for benefits available to them. The program will
work with community partners to help families address legal
and mental health concerns. The program will also seek
supports and education to help strengthen the kinship family
to prevent disruptions and be a support family can rely on.

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RafaelAdopt Me

Rafael has an inquisitive nature about the world!
This kid is keen on learning more about cars and
electronics. When he wants to switch up activities,
Rafael spends his time playing video games. He
craves relationships with adults and peers and has
a big heart for cats. When he has worked up an
appetite, a yummy slice of pepperoni pizza is sure
to hit the spot. If you asked Rafael, he would tell you
that blue is the best color. 

He enjoys attending school as a sixth grader. 

Rafael would do best in a two-parent family residing
in an urban area, in which he can be the only child;
however, his caseworker will consider all family
types. He is hopeful for a home that has feline family
members to help care for. Financial assistance may
be available for adoption-related services. 

This is a Legal Risk Adoptive Placement. For Missouri
children, both homestudied and non-homestudied
Missouri families are encouraged to inquire; only
homestudied families from other states should do so.

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We’reGrowing Transitions Youth Spotlight:

Opening of our new Lake Ozark NACAC training
Satellite Office
CMFCAA is pleased to report that in March
The Central Missouri Foster Care & Adoption As- three of our Transitions youth were selected
sociation is thrilled to announce the start of de- to participate in The North American Council
sign and construction for our 2nd Satellite office on Adoptable Children (NACAC) older youth
in Osage Beach, Missouri. The office will host our advocacy training in Minneapolis. This was a
Kinship Navigator program and supervisor Jason tremendous honor as there were only 30 youth
Evans will lead the office. The office will be fully selected from across Canada and the U.S.
functional by June 1st. The office is located across The purpose of the training was to empower
from Andy’s frozen custard at 4821 Osage Beach and educate youth on how to use their voice,
Parkway. and their story for the greater good. Also,
from a leadership standpoint, the training
We are excited to mitigate drive time and maximize taught leaders how to make sure that from
service for lake area and Rolla families. The Osage a programmatic standpoint, youth voice
Beach office will provide all services that CMFCAA and experience is appropriately weaved
supports. Begin Again Backpacks will also be pro- into the execution of Transitions. Having the
vided from the office. We will hold a ribbon cutting opportunity to network with other youth who
and a custard social soon. Be on the lookout for have been where they are, and now provide
more information. a voice policy is concerned was incredibly
empowering to them.
The 3rd Annual Journey Home Bus Tour will jour- Alicia Martin, Jessie Dillon, and Presley Favarito
ney from the Lake area this year! This is an effort grew so much in the three-day training. They
to continue educating and spreading awareness for amazed the leaders from NACAC with their
the great needs of the children and youth in our growth in such a short period of time. So much
foster care system and the ongoing needs of our so, that they were invited back for continued
kinship, relative and adoptive families. The Jour- training at the NACAC conference in Las Vegas
ney Home Bus Tour will tour several locations and in July.
invite policy makers, foundation leaders, business
leaders, legislators, and those who are advocates 7
for the betterment of our communities on the bus.
We will send out invites soon.

Thank you to our friends at the lake for making this
opportunity possible! We are so grateful in service
to our children, youth and families.

30 Days to Ryan and Brandon (names have been changed)
came into foster care in a mid-Missouri county, on a
Family Friday afternoon. Ryan and Brandon needed a safe
place to be until a Protective Custody (PC) hearing
could take place on Monday. At the time of removal,
Ryan and Brandon’s mother would not give the
caseworker names of family members whom would
be appropriate for the boys to stay. Without an
appropriate relative, the boys were placed in a local
foster home. Stranger foster care, where they did not
know anyone. Because of this, the Alternative Care
Supervisor made a referral to 30 Days to Family®.

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30 Days to Family® is program at Central Missouri boys were removed. Jessi ran initial background
Foster Care and Adoption Association (CMFCAA). checks and then reached out to him. He
30 Days to Family® is a free referral service to immediately said that he wanted placement of his
help increase the number of children placed with son, and in addition, he would also take placement
relatives/kin at the time they enter the foster of Ryan, this keeping the brothers together. Jessi
care system. This program ensures natural and also discovered the father’s sister was also his
community supports are in place to promote neighbor. She was willing to be a resource support
stability for the child. Multiple researchers have for her brother and a backup placement in case
found evidence that kinship caregivers provide something fell through with her brother. Jessi did a
children and youth with a secure environment home visit with them both. During the home safety
and beneficial treatment. Additionally, 30 Days to walk-through, it was realized he did not have all
Family® enables the State of Missouri to comply the resources needed to take two boys into his
with the federal law requirements to notify and home. CMFCAA, through charitable donations, was
engage families when children are placed in foster able to purchase him a bunk bed and mattresses.
care. With 30 Days to Family®, the requirements are In addition, each child received a Begin Again
met with better placement results and outcomes Backpack, containing, toiletry items, a set of
for children and families. The program works to find pajamas, age appropriate toys and a new outfit.
relative/kin placement, community resources and at
least two backup placements by or before day 30. Brandon and Ryan were placed in their relative/kin
placement on Day 10 of 30 Days to Family®.
CMFCAA’s 30 Days to Family® Specialist, Jessi, Currently, they are adjusting well and are safe in
was able to be present for the PC Hearing. There, their new home. Jessi continued her work and was
Jessi met with the Family Support Team, which able to extend the Geno-gram to 152 individuals
includes the mother, immediately after. Because (80 being the goal). Jessi had contact with over
Jessi received the referral as soon as the youth were a dozen family members who wanted to be a
placed in foster care, Jessi was able to do investi- supportive resource and was able to find backup
gative work and start building a family Geno-gram. placement number two and number three. Had
A Geno-gram is much like a family tree but it shows 30 Days to Family® not been involved, these family
detailed data on the relationship between individuals members may not have ever known they had family
and hereditary factors. Jessi was able to verify with in foster care and these young boys would still be in
the mother the people she had found and take in any the foster care system with families who were not
other leads the mother wanted to offer. their own.

During her research, Jessi was able to discover
that the oldest brother, Brandon, had an estranged
father who lived 30 minutes away from where the

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Legislative Corner The Missouri 100th General Assembly will
adjourn on May 17. The last day for floor action
CMFCAA Supported Bills: on appropriation bills is May 10.

SB440: Modifies provisions relating to foster Child Advocacy Day was a success!
home placement
CMFCAA joined many others in discussing with
Senator Justin Brown is sponsoring SB440 which legislators the great impact our agency has on
is directly aligns with the forward momentum children, youth and families. Michelle Hilley, our
of the Family First Prevention Services Act AmeriCorps Development Vista was recognized
statewide. It is important to mitigate barriers to on the House floor by Representative Dave Griffith
children and youth connecting with all kinship and for her service to children and families.
relatives. This would include parents of siblings.

You can review the Senate Bill 440 here:
https://bit.ly/2HqVOGG

SB514: Modifies provisions relating to MO
HealthNet benefits for persons in foster care

Senator David Sater is sponsoring this bill that
would provide eligibility for MO HealthNet
benefits for foster youth who are at least 18 years
of age and under 26, and who have received
foster care for at least six months in another state.

You can review the Senate Bill 514 here:
https://bit.ly/2YBGj4h

SB88 Modifies provisions of law relating to
guardian’s ad litem

Under this act, guardian’s ad litem (GALs)
appointed in a case involving an abused or
neglected child shall be required to establish a
relationship with the child and meet face-to-face
in a private setting to observe the child and
ascertain the child’s wishes and needs. Such initial
interview shall take place within 7 days following
the appointment of the GAL and the GAL shall
continue to maintain contact with the child for the
duration of the appointment. The child’s current
placement or legal custodian shall cooperate with
the GAL to schedule the initial meeting and take
all steps necessary to effectuate the meeting.
Additionally, the GAL shall attend, as appropriate
and necessary, any and all family support team
meetings involving the child.

You can review the Senate Bill 88 here:
https://bit.ly/2LNr0nw

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Child Welfare League of America Conference

Our Family Finding Team and Family
Development Team returned from an inspiring
Child Welare League of America Conference
where we learned strategies for recruitment,
Kinship Navigator implementation, collaboration
for older youth and more about the Family First
Prevention Services Act. The city welcomed
us with open arms. We were able to visit with
our friend Tim Decker as we exited the plane.
It was nice to catch up and hear about all the
advocacy work he is doing through his new
consultant service. If you haven’t had a chance
reach out to him! Signs of Safety is so important
for our kids. The DC Cherry Blossom festival
just ended but there were still several trees still
in bloom. We have much to share this year! Be
on the lookout for support groups, Navigator
programs, youth educational trips, and more.
We strive to strengthen our families one child,
one family at a time!

From our CEO

“It’s finally here! My MSW/PPA
program at the University of Missouri
is almost finished! Graduation is
May 18th. Part of my internship was
under the mentorship of Represen-
tative Dave Griffith. Just last week,
I was humbled to be recognized for
advocacy efforts in both my MSW
Graduate program and through
the Central Missouri Foster Care &
Adoption Association. Thank you
to each of you for the support and
grace during the last 2 ½ years. It
was one of the most challenging
goals but it was all worth it. Always
your advocate-DeAnna

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809 Swifts Hwy
Jefferson City, MO 65101

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If you want to know about FREE trainings, events and resources for foster and adoptive families

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Contact Us: Serving Counties:
Audrain Maries
Headquarters - Jefferson City Boone Moniteau
809 Swifts Hwy, Jefferson City, MO 65101 Callaway Morgan
Monday-Friday from 8am – 5pm Camden Osage
573-298-0258 Cole Phelps
Laclede Pulaski
Boone County Office Miller
105 E Ash, Suite 101, Columbia, MO 65203
573-476-6039

Staff President & CEO [email protected]
DeAnna Alonso CFO [email protected]
Tammy Rodgers COO [email protected]
Jessica Taylor Direct Services Supervisor [email protected]
Jennifer Perkins CPO [email protected]
Sarah Bashore Family Finding Supervisor [email protected]
Christal Jones Kinship Navigator Supervisor [email protected]
Jason Evans 30 Days to Family® Specialist [email protected]
Jessi Williams Family Development Supervisor [email protected]
Carol Montie Resource Coordinator [email protected]
Makayla Phillips Extreme Recruitment Investigator [email protected]
Debra Stark Extreme Recruiter Starting May 28
KC Peek Compliance Coordinator Starting May 28
Elizabeth Travis

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