Learning Session "B" - Monday June 27, 2022
3:15 pm - 4:45 pm

B1     American Indian Foster Homes and Resource Parents
Mejaumi Franco Rosales, Resource Family Recruiter
Mariah Lewis, Social Worker
Tribal Oak Tree Foster Family Agency

​As we serve Native American youth, it is crucial to have a strong understanding of both cultural practices and laws that influence the policies and practices of agencies that place these youth. This workshop will be aimed at educating people about Native Youth in the foster care system and what the common challenges are on these youth. You will also gain knowledge about how someone can become a resource parent and how it can be part of the resiliency of the youth. We will explain how our agency is different from ICWA (Indian Child Welfare Act) foster programs with other tribes.  We will address a brief overview of our policies, relevant laws, and recruiting families for Native American youth in foster care. 

​B2     The Foster Youth Bill of Rights and Reasonable Prudent Parenting Standard (repeated in "C" group of workshops)
Kaela Montoya, Associate Governmental Program Analyst
Byran Gross, Associate Governmental Program Analyst
California Department of Social Services

The Office of Foster Care Ombudsperson (OFCO) will be doing an interactive and engaging training that will focus on the importance of the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and some disparities in foster care. You will learn about the role, duty, functions, and limitations of the California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson. We will explore equity as a driving value behind the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and the work of the OFCO and learn how to use cultural humility as a framework for advocating for foster youth. At the end of the training, you will understand  the Foster Youth Bill of Rights and how it protects cultural differences. You will also understand the role and duties of the OFCO and how to advocate on behalf of foster youth pertaining to their rights. You will leave with a folder of Foster Youth Bill of Rights publication materials.

​B3     RFA Recruitment: Out of the Box (repeated in the "C" group of workshops)
Nancy Griggs, MSW, Resource Parent Recruiter and Trainer
Melissa Popovic, RFA Social Worker
Stanislaus County Community Services Agency Child Welfare

Come hear the recruitment efforts Stanislaus county has used both during the pandemic and now.   Our recruitment efforts transitioned into methods and formats that were not always relied upon prior to the pandemic.  Now that restrictions are loosening and in person events are becoming increasingly permitted, we will review what versions of recruitment worked before, during, and after the past two years.  We will help to clarify how effective hybrid versions of recruitment can be and provide information on how Stanislaus County is navigating the new culture of recruitment for resource families.

We would like to hear from you as well!  We hope other counties will share their successes; what has worked and not worked for their agencies.  As a group we will look at what types of RFA recruitment efforts are practical and helpful to retain current resource families, as well as recruit new families. Even if you are not a recruiter, join us for a creative workshop on effective and collaborative recruitment. 

​B4     Family Urgent Response System (FURS) (repeated in "A" group of workshops)

Rikki House, FURS Policy Analyst
Colin Williams, Associate Governmental Program Analyst
California Department of Social Services

The Family Urgent Response System is an innovative program designed to offer support 24/7/365 to current and former foster youth and their caregivers during situations of instability, regardless of whether the situation meets criteria for typical mental health or law enforcement intervention.  FURS combines a statewide hotline with a county-level mobile response system to provide immediate assistance to those who seek help.  We look forward to sharing more about the program and its early success!

​B5     CWS-CARES Pilot: RFA Application Submission, Review and Approval Process
(repeated in "A" group of workshops)
Jeff Dent, Service Manager, CA Department of Social Services
Dennis Maxwell, Product Delivery Lead, OSI

This breakout session will provide a demonstration of the pilot release of the Resource Family Approval (RFA) Application Submission, Review and Approval process as part of the Child Welfare Services California Automated Response and Engagement System (CWS-CARES).  The demonstration  will share the developed functionality for the RFA application process, an overview of the collaborative software development lifecycle used with State, County, and Tribal stakeholders and a question and answer session, as time permits.

​B6     Complaint vs. Case Management- Evaluating Allegations for Appropriate Response

Merle Liburd, Continuous Quality Improvement Policy Analyst
and Erika Medina, Social Work Supervisor
San Diego County

In this workshop, you will lean how San Diego County Resource Family Approval team, assess allegations for differential response. We will review how San Diego RFA staff determines the level of response and the procedure for complaints/case management issues. It will cover the process of investigating a complaint from assignment to closure; and how to collaborate with our families and internal and external partners.  Lastly, we encourage counties to share cases and scenarios to further discuss appropriate responses.

​B7    How to Support CSEC Youth and Foster Parents Caring for CSEC Youth (repeated in "C" group of workshops)
Kia Dupclay, Restoration Diversion Services INC, CSEC & HT Survivor/ Program Director

​We will review the difference between CSEC youth, at-risk youth, and disconnected youth. We will also review the barriers youth face when in placement and in the game. We will discuss room for relapse and review harm reduction practices and best ways to engage youth. We will also discuss best care practices for supporting caregivers and discuss safety planning. We will also review how to engage and support current foster parents and building connections with new foster parents. Will discuss bridging the gap between parent and youth while supporting long-term placement.  We will also provide tips on how to recruit homes for these youth. 

B8     Building Relationships and Promoting ICWA for the Best Interest of Indian Children, Families and Tribes (Repeated in "C" group of workshops)
Season Goodpasture, M.S., Clinical Director, Pala Band of Mission Indians 
Antonia Torres, MSW, Protective Services Program Manager, Policy and Program Support, County of San Diego

​For over 30 years, San Diego Tribes and the County of San Diego have worked to build a relationship that helps to promote ICWA for the best interest of Indian children, families and tribes. This workshop will take you through our journey in San Diego to partner and work towards achieving ICWA compliance through consultation, active efforts and placement decisions.

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