Point of Policy

What’s the point? A critical thinking BLOG about polices and laws that effect the adoption and foster care community. Be careful for what you wish for, something that can fix one problem may create other problems. Are you ready for that?

TODAY is Adoption Tax Credit Awareness Day

Mon, 02/13/2012 - 21:05 | Point of Policy

Families Like Ours is helping to spread the word about the Adoption Tax Credit along with many other groups across the country. We are asking everyone in the adoption community to take part in the first grassroots Adoption Tax Credit awareness day, today, Monday, Feb. 13th, 2012. 

Many adoptive families are not aware that this tax credit exists. It is our goal to help ensure that adoptive families who are eligible to receive this benefit are informed about how to claim the credit. We are asking everyone, including professionals, advocates, state agencies, families, and others to help spread the word on one given day (TODAY) in hopes to broadcast the existence of the adoption tax credit. Please help distribute an informational flier that includes relevant links for families to learn more. Please consider mailing this information out to adoptive families, as some do not have access to the internet.

David Wing-Kovarik
Executive Director
Families Like Ours, Inc. (FLO)
Devoted to the needs and support of adoptive families since October 2000, a nonprofit 501c(3)
 

Model School Policy for Transgender Youth

Sun, 01/15/2012 - 15:31 | Point of Policy

During 2011, FLO was called upon to provide resources, support, permanancy planning and advocacy on several transgender and GID foster youth cases. In November 2011 GLSEN and NCTE released a Model School District Policy on Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students.

Here at FLO we’ve added this resource into our tool box and recommend that families, professionals and educators take a close look at this very well written document.

As always, let us know if you need any assistance, support, advocacy or resources.
 

WA State Training Changes

Thu, 01/05/2012 - 08:50 | Point of Policy
As many of you already know, on October 15, 2011 the State of WA updated their training requirements for licensed foster and adopt-foster homes. The 36 continued education hours required over the three years of your license are now defined into one set of educational hours. This means that while you can, and should take individual specific training topics you will also need to attend this 36 hour training too. In addition to these hours there is an additional required training that all licensed homes are required to take in their first year of being licenses.

We have received many phone calls and emails from families and professionals regarding these trainings, inquiring if FLO will be providing them. At this point we do not have the additional 36 hours of training scheduled and have not decided if we will be offering that training. We will be making that decision sometime in February 2012.

FLO will be giving the additional training that you’re now required to take within the first year of your license. We have not however received the full curriculum for this training so we have not yet scheduled those trainings. Hopefully we’ll be able to start offering this, along with your P.R.I.D.E. trainings and speciality topics soon.

If you have any questions regarding these changes please feel free to contact us here at FLO.

Virginia Board of Social Services reopens comment on proposed adoption rules

Mon, 08/22/2011 - 11:34 | Point of Policy

The Virginia Board of Social Services has unanimously agreed to reopen comment on state regulations of private adoption agencies for 30 more days. The proposed changes will take out language barring discrimination against prospective parents based on gender, age, religion, political beliefs, sexual orientation, disability and family status, but leave in language to block discrimination based on race, color or national origin. Read the Full Article

Executive Director
Families Like Ours, Inc
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