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New BMCW ProcedureNew Spokesman for National CASA9th Annual Wisconsin CASA ConferenceMeet our new LVC Volunteer
New BMCW Procedure: Permanency ConsultationsThanks to training and information from Casey Family Programs, the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare (BMCW) has adopted Permanency Consultations as a new procedure for all parties invested in a child's future. Recent research emphasizes that permanency planning for children in out-of-home care should start as early as possible. Members of the Kids Matter staff recently attended a training session through the BMCW and Casey Family Programs called "Permanency Values Training." This training offered great information that is applicable to all involved in child welfare-youths, relatives, caseworkers, CASA volunteers, and more. What Does "Permanency" Mean? Legally, if a child has attained permanency, he or she is safely reunified with parents, adopted, or living with legal guardians. However, permanency is more than just a legal status for youths in foster care-it is a state of mind. It is a relationship that is committed, dependable, and unconditional. The trainers described genuine permanence as fulfilling the "miss-me-when-I-don't-show-up" test. For example, a youth in foster care or someone who has aged out of foster care might receive invitations to Thanksgiving dinner, but will he or she really be missed if unable to be there? Who will go looking for this youth when he or she doesn't show up? Those kinds of relationships foster an authentic feeling of permanence. Here is an exercise that the trainers asked participants to do: think about what is most important to you. For example, first consider your skills, your job, your home, your material possessions. Then consider your family or friendships-those relationships that mean so much to you. Which are more important? Everyone in the room agreed that the meaningful relationships in their lives were more important to them than any skills and possessions. Those involved in the child welfare system at all levels have the opportunity to give youths in foster care numerous skills so that they can acquire those things in the first list. Undoubtedly, these things are important. However, there is surely more that we all can do to truly build those deep, life-long connections and facilitate meaningful relationships that are heartfelt and sustaining. What are Typical Obstacles to Permanency? The training strongly emphasized that permanency should be a focus from the moment a child enters the foster care system. Two major differences between foster youths who attain permanency and foster youths who do not are the attitudes of caseworkers and the turnover of caseworkers. This information is based on a study called "New York State's Longest Waiting Children 1998: A Study of New York State Children in Need of Adoptive Families," by Rosemary Avery of Cornell University and the Adoption Action Network. The study states that "the caseworkers themselves are not convinced of the 'adoptability' of the child in their care, and their skepticism appears to be translated into reduced recruitment efforts on behalf of the child" (Avery xi). Youths in foster care, at any age, need to know that someone believes in them and cares for them. Being able to depend upon a caseworker can have a huge impact on achieving permanency. Unfortunately, some youths do not have only one caseworker over the course of their case who they can trust to be positive and steadfast. This is where CASA volunteers come in. A CASA volunteer might be that consistent person in a youth's life when others come and go. In the event of switching caseworkers, a CASA volunteer can provide a new caseworker with important information about how the youth is doing and what steps have been taken toward achievement of legal permanency. What is a "Permanency Consultation?" A permanency consultation is essentially an organized meeting between a case manager and supervisor, an agency administrator from the BMCW, and a permanency consultant. For any cases in which the child has been in out-of-home care for more than fifteen months, additional parties are present. These parties include foster or adoptive parents, CASA volunteers, and others who are invested in the child's permanency. These meetings will occur as a child enters his or her fifth and tenth month in out-of-home care. For children entering their fifteenth month, the permanency consultation will focus on preparing a Permanency Action Plan that will ensure progress in the future. Five key questions will be addressed during a permanency consultation:
This new permanency procedure will hopefully have long-term positive effects on children in out-of-home care. Please be aware of this procedure and how you can be involved to work toward achieving permanency for "our kids." If you would like more information, the following are helpful documents provided by the BMCW:
For more details, please download the entire procedure below. Look for more upcoming information about permanency consultations at the Bureau of Milwaukee Child Welfare website: http://dcf.wisconsin.gov/bmcw/index.htm. To access the study entitled "New York State's Longest Waiting Children 1998: A Study of New York State Children in Need of Adoptive Families," by Rosemary Avery of Cornell University and the Adoption Action Network, please visit http://nysccc.org. Anthony Hamilton - New Spokesman for National CASA
Anthony Hamilton - CASAGrammy Award-winning R&B recording artist Anthony Hamilton will serve as a spokesman "We are honored and excited that Anthony Hamilton will serve as one of our national spokesmen," stated Michael Piraino, CEO of the National CASA Association. "His passion and dedication for children will go a long way to help us recruit much needed African American male volunteers." Free Upcoming CASA Event!
Who: All CASA Volunteers! The Wisconsin CASA Association's Annual Conference is a compelling event that can give you the tools to become a stronger CASA volunteer, and it's also free! You'll be able to choose different sessions to attend, hear from experts about issues surrounding child welfare and foster care, and meet CASA volunteers from all over the state. CASA volunteers can earn 6.5 Continuing Education Units for this year by attending the entire day's worth of events.
Features
Registration Deadline: September 29, 2010 For more information, as well as links to the brochure and registration form, visit wisconsincasa.org. New LVC Member Joins Kids MatterKristy Shew joins Kids Matter as a member of the 2010-2011 Lutheran Volunteer Corps. Kristy works with the donations program and is learning as much as possible so that she can be a valuable resource to the community and especially to children. In May 2010, Kristy graduated from Valparaiso University with a BA in theology and political science. She has worked with children of all ages through summer camps, daycares, and church activities. Her passion lies in serving children and being a voice advocating for their best interests in all circumstances.
Kristy sits with Maggie, who graciously donated backpacks full of school supplies for her seventh birthday! Click here to read Maggie's story! |
 For Email Newsletters you can trust
It's Time for the 2010 Holiday Giving Tree!Kids Matter CASA is teaming up again with the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee to get Holiday Presents for every single CASA youth in Milwaukee. This can only be possible with your help! Each CASA child will receive one gift from the Giving Tree. To help meet their wishes, we need the following:
Your CASA Program Manager will get in contact with you very soon by phone or e-mail to get your gift ideas. The deadline for these wishes is Monday, October 4th. It may seem early to start thinking about the Holidays, but the Volunteer Center needs time to send out the wishes, and companies need time to distribute these wishes to their employees. Click here for a list of gift idea's by ages and genders.
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for National CASA. Hamilton will work alongside Judge Glenda Hatchett, who has been a national spokeswoman for CASA for the past seven years, to raise awareness of the organization and to recruit volunteers. He will also represent CASA at national child welfare conferences and events around the country to raise awareness of the growing number of African American children in the foster care system. 