Foster Care Reform
2023 Family Resource Changes
In late 2022, DCF unveiled changes to its Family Resource policies. The Family Resource Department is the group of people who license and support foster and preadoptive families (including kinship families). Policies relating to Family Resource are being “unbundled” in two ways. Family Resource Policy First, the “Family Resource Policy” document – the guidelines that…
Read MoreStatement on Systemic Racism
Ep. 25: Meet Child Welfare Advocate and Veteran Foster/Adoptive Parent: Missy Tyler Tarjick
Hearing about Missy’s lifelong involvement in foster care and adoption is inspiring, surprising, and sometimes even jaw dropping. From her own birth family’s fostering journey to her 20-year experience as a foster, adoptive and (more recently) guardianship parent – you are bound to be amazed. Hear about how she manages her large brood (how large?…
Read MoreKeynote Address: Children’s Study Home 2019 Meeting
On June 6, 2019, I shared the keynote address with State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield) at the Children’s Study Home Annual Meeting. Rep. Farley-Bouvier shared some information about the Foster Parents Bill of Rights, and her legislative advocacy at the state level. I talked about the challenges of being on the front lines of foster…
Read MoreEp. 8: What’s Been Happening at AOK?
Back to AOK Podcasts Click here to subscribe to our podcast What’s Going On At AOK? We’ve been busy the last few months! Lots of great moments to share, and milestones achieved. And of course there is so much more in the works. Hear all about it!
Read MoreThe Magic of Coming Together
The forecast is for thunderstorms, gusty winds, and a chance of hail. Not ideal conditions for a summer gathering at a local park, to say the least. For any other party, most people would have stayed home. But this is no ordinary party. Because what happens when foster and adoptive families come together to…
Read MoreRecruit + Respect = Retain
As the foster care system in our state and around the country becomes increasingly overburdened, our DCF system has invested significant effort in recruitment of new foster parents. For example, each area office now has its own social worker specifically focused on recruitment: they do outreach in the community, they answer questions from interested…
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