May 27, 2022 Vol 2, Issue 11
Message from CD Leadership
Do you know what the Alternative Care Review Board (ACRB) is all about? The ACRB is an avenue for Foster Parents to challenge Case Management decisions that they do not agree with. A form is completed by the Foster Parents and sent to their local team. An informal meeting is set to try to resolve the issue. If the issue is unable to be resolved the form (CS-70) goes to the ACRB for review. If you have any questions, about this process, you may ask your Case Manager or call Melissa at 573-522-1191 and we can explain further. It is important to us that Foster Parents have a voice and this is one way we ensure your voice is heard.
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Inspire Others to Become Foster Parents!
You may ask yourself, "How can I help?". While you are already helping tremendously by caring for foster children, there are several more ways you can help including:
Our Children's Division teams are committed to inspiring others across the state to become foster parents. To help in this mission, we have developed tools and materials that you can use when inspiring people with your own story.
 This is our Foster Care Referral Card. You can find a sheet of six, front and back, to print off on our Foster Care Ambassador's page.
What is Access Crisis Intervention?
Access Crisis Intervention (ACI) provides access to services for individuals experiencing a behavioral health crisis. ACI offers an opportunity for individuals to receive necessary behavioral health crisis services to help reduce unnecessary interventions, such as hospitalization or detentions. By calling the ACI hotline, individuals have access to behavioral health crisis services that are free and available to both youth and adults.
- All calls are strictly confidential.
- ACI hotlines are staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by behavioral health professionals.
- Assistance may include phone contact, referrals to resources in the community, next day behavioral health appointments, or a mobile response. Mobile is defined as either going to the location of the crisis, or to another secure community location.
Visit the ACI Hotline Numbers by County Map to find your local number and learn more.
Virtual Trainings
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Level-B Virtual Training: June 14 - 16, 2022 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. More sessions will be held in September and December. To register, email Dana.L.Kloess@dss.mo.gov.
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Stepping Stones Grief Event for Kids and Teens: August 12 – 14, In-person day camp at Camp Wyman. Available at no cost to participants. It is open to any child or teenager who has experienced the death of a loved one. To register call 314-953-1676 or email GriefSupport@bjc.org.
- The on-demand PBS series, Healthy Minds with Dr. Jeffrey Borenstein is now available to watch online. This series aims to remove the stigma of mental illness and demonstrate that with help, there is hope. The series humanizes common psychiatric conditions through inspiring personal stories, as well as, experts sharing cutting edge information, including new-approaches and next-generation therapies in diagnostics, treatment and research.
Foster Care Month Trainings
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and The National Foster Parent Association are offering no-cost, 1 hour training sessions through the month of May. Trainings are open to all foster, adoptive, kinship parents, and case managers are also welcome to attend. Each session will cover the same information and will cover topics like the jigsaw puzzle child, grief and more. Certificates to document trainings are available. You can find the training times and zoom meeting link on the flyer.
Raise the Future Classes
Raise the Future offers a range of great classes for foster, resource, kinship, and adoptive families. The site is geared toward adoption, but there are several resources on trauma and issues many kids face. You can check out the different classes on the Raise the Future website.
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- The Children’s Division has received some grant funds to provide training to Foster Parents on Human Trafficking Risk Factors from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Look for future trainings here in this newsletter. These trainings will be free to attend and will be offered both as virtual and in-person.
- Mentor for resource families: Are you in need of help or assistance as a Foster Parent? We have Foster Care Ambassadors who are seasoned Foster parents willing to be a mentor to another Foster family. If you are interested, please email FosterCare@dss.mo.gov and we will pair you up with a Foster Care Ambassador. This is for all foster parents whether you are brand new or have been fostering for a long time. It is for all of our families whether traditional, relative, emergency, respite, or elevated needs.
- Resource Parents have been experiencing extreme difficulty with finding daycare/childcare for their Foster children. Did you know that if a relative or friend is helping you with watching your Foster children that they can become a Registered Provider and be compensated? The process to become a registered provider is easier than the daycare licensing process. There are restrictions on the amount of children that you can have in your home if you are only a registered provider versus a licensed daycare. Visit the Child Care Subsidy | Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (mo.gov).
There have been no Memos or Practice Alerts since the last issue of the newsletter.
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