We're moving!

Hi!

We've enjoyed sharing adoption support stories and resources from our support specialists this year. Hopefully, if you're an adoptive family, you've found something that's been helpful here. But because there's so much else to chat about with foster care and adoption, we've decided to expand the conversation!

So we have moved to......(insert your own drumroll noises here)....

www.potentialforgreatness.blogspot.com. 

Instead of talking solely about adoptive families, we'll also be sharing news, stories, resources, etc about Iowa foster care and adoption in general. We'll also continue to share some of the same kinds of topics you've read here.


Thanks for reading our adoption support blog, and I hope we'll see you over at the new one!

Homework Tips for Kids with ADHD

It's hard to believe kids are back in school! Soon they'll be bringing home all sorts of science projects and math problems and reading assignments. For kids with ADHD, homework time can be especially challenging. Here's some tips that might help:

Turn on the music.
For some kids with ADHD, silence can be more of a distraction than music. It might take some experimenting, but try finding some music for background noise. For some kids, lyrics will keep them from focusing, so fun jazz or other instrumental music might work better.

Take a break.
Let your kids do homework in chunks. If they have twenty math problems to do, split the assignment into two sets of ten and let them take a short break in between. Frequent short breaks may make focusing on tasks easier.

Get organized.
Communicate regularly with your child’s teacher to help with organization and to anticipate work for long-term projects. Use color-coded tabs to straighten up binders, and work on using a planner to record assignments and schedule ahead. Set up a special homework tray or folder so your child always knows where to put completed assignments. It may take time to find what works for your child, but having an established organizational routine will help him focus. Try to keep a consistent routine of time and place for homework.

Reward progress.
Kids with ADHD get constant criticism about their behavior, so create a simple reward system for completing tasks. For example, if your child remembers to bring home all the necessary books and supplies from school, reward her concentration with a credit toward a fun activity. When enough credits are earned, the fun begins.

Boost memory.
If your child has to memorize facts, have her say them into a tape recorder and listen to them. For reading comprehension and memory, have her write a sentence as she finishes each page. If your child likes to draw, try having him draw pictures for his reminders of tasks and places to be.

Want more? Your support specialist can help you find resources to make sure your child gets the school year started off right.

What are some of your good homework tips?

Sara's support story about a birth family issue

You never know when your family might need extra support – here’s a great example.

I talked to a mom this week that recently got connected to adoption support after a situation took her family by surprise.

Sara and her teenage daughter were together when her daughter's birth parent shouted at them from the street and used her daughter’s birth name.

“She was very angry, overwhelmed, and upset,” said Sara about her daughter’s reaction to the incident.

A contact at DHS told Sara to call Iowa KidsNet, and a support specialist promptly set up a time to meet Sara’s family at their home. They talked about how it was okay to be scared and came up with ways to cope.

“She gave our daughter coping skills, and empowerment,” Sara says. “She talked about ways to respond if the situation occurred again, and made an emergency plan.”

Sara and her family hadn’t foreseen that they’d ever need to use support, but they are really grateful to have it now.

“It was a relief,” she said. “It wasn’t one of us as parents talking to her, but an outside person who could relate real-life stories to her on how this could work or help.”

The support specialist then mailed a personal plan to Sara’s daughter that she could use.

And how did Sara’s daughter feel about having someone to talk to? Sara summed it up in one word:

"Fabulous."

Their family's story is a really great example of how support can help any family, even if you're not in crisis. Think about signing up for support now, so you can everything lined up in case you ever need to use it! For info on how to sign up for free post-adoption support, go here.

(Names changed for privacy.)

Go back to school with support!

If you're new to our blog, just want to remind you that all Iowa families who have an adoption subsidized by DHS can access free support services from Iowa KidsNet.

Support can be something as complex as getting help during a crisis or as simple as having someone listening when you need to talk. As you think about getting kids back to school, it's a great time to sign up for support. Your support specialist can attend an IEP meeting with you or help you find resources for behavioral issues so your child can have a successful school year....

Learn more about this free service here!

When will your child's adoption subsidy end?

When will your child’s adoption subsidy end? The answer depends on your child’s situation. An adoption subsidy normally ends the month your child turns 18, even if he or she has not yet graduated from high school. However, the subsidy can continue up to age 21 if your child continues to have special needs.

About six months prior to your child’s 18^th birthday, you should receive a letter from your DHS adoption subsidy worker, explaining the case will be closed unless you provide further information. However, to be fully prepared, you should ask questions in advance about when subsidy is scheduled to end and know what you need to do to continue it.

My local DHS subsidy worker suggests parents plan early - if you have a child who is nearing age 17, you should start planning how to obtain the documentation in a timely manner.

To continue with adoption subsidy past age 18, your child needs to be living at home and needs to have a documented special need (diagnosed by a doctor, AEA, Master's therapist, etc.). This needs to be documented when your child is between the age of 17 and 18. If he or she does not have a special needs diagnosis, the case will be closed.

There are some circumstances in which subsidy may continue if the child is not living at home. For example, one of my families had a situation where their soon-to-be 18-year-old was unable to live in the home because of unique circumstances. Because the teen had a current diagnosis, the DHS adoption subsidy worker agreed to consider extending the subsidy if that teen chose to enter an independent living program. In a case like this, your post adoption support specialist can assist you in working with DHS to continue a subsidy if there are special circumstances.

Your DHS adoption subsidy worker needs to have documentation of a diagnosis at least 30 days prior to the child’s 18^th birthday. If you send it in later than that, the only way for the subsidy to be re-opened is if you complete a request for an exception to policy. However, this process will take at least 30-60 days.

If you have questions about continuing adoption subsidy or need help navigating the process, contact your post adoption support specialist!

What are remedial services?

Back in April we discussed how any child in Iowa on Title 19 insurance is eligible for an LPHA assessment. This assessment can help your child qualify for all kinds of helpful services.

One of those services you should know about as a foster adoptive parent is called remedial services. Remedial services are designed to help youth with mental health needs, such as ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder or other diagnoses.

Remedial services are skill-based, which means a caseworker from a private provider will come to your home or meet you at an office and help your child learn skills for anger management, conflict resolution, problem solving, communication, decision-making, coping, socialization and other issues. These skills can be really beneficial in helping your child manage behaviors or have more positive relationships.

It’s a voluntary service so if your child qualifies then you decide what agency you want as a provider. Remedial services are offered to children who have Medicaid Title 19 insurance or qualify for it – and the service is free to these kids.

If your child has behavioral or mental health issues and is on Title 19, this service could benefit him or her. First step, talk to your Iowa KidsNet support specialist about lining up an LPHA assessment. The LPHA, who is a licensed clinician such as a psychiatrist, a psychologist or therapist, will do an assessment to see if services are needed and what kind. If he or she recommends remedial services, your support specialist can help you locate a provider in your area.

If you want more info, or think remedial services could be helpful for your family, please talk to your support specialist. He or she can help you get started!

What's a mental health waiver?

One of the frustrations adoptive parents often face is finding resources and assistance for their children. Your support specialist can be a valuable resource in providing you information on programs, resources and other assistance available.

One resource you should be aware of is the Children's Mental Health Waiver (CMH Waiver). The CMH Waiver is for children under 18 years old with serious emotional disturbance.

A great thing about the CMH Waiver is that it allows you to access services for treatment in your home instead of placing your child in an institution. The intent of the CMH Waiver is to identify services not available through other mental health programs. The CMH Waiver offers several services, such as environmental modifications, adaptive devices and therapeutic resources. It also offers family and community support services, in-home therapy and respite care services.

To qualify for the service, your child must have a diagnosis of a serious emotional disturbance (SED) by a psychiatrist, psychologist or mental health professional within the past 12 months. A SED disrupts the daily functioning of children in their home, school and community. Common childhood SEDs can include things like anxiety, depression and mood disorders, attention deficit and disruptive disorders, elimination disorders or eating disorders.

For more information on a CMH Waiver, go here. This site by the Iowa Department of Human Services will introduce you to more about the waiver and tell you how to get started with the process.

You can also talk with your support specialist to get more info!