Thank you for visiting our revamped Web site. The Midwest Learning Center of Family Focus, Inc. has been providing quality professional development workshops, and consultation service for the last 5 years. We specialize in promoting Family Support Principles and Practices on all levels of human services. Count on the Midwest Learning Center for your training and program development needs.
Professional Development Series
5/22/2008 8:30a.m. to 3:00p.m. Carleton Hotel, Oak Park, Illinois You are invited to learn about working with parents, communities and schools
"Developing Caring Relationships Among Parents, Children, Schools and Communities" By Dr. Dana McDermott, professor and author
Take this opportunity to work with Dr. Dana McDermott of DePaul University to better understandhow to improve parent involvement/engagement, thus looking at it in a different way. Become familiar with the caring process of decision making, Dr. McDermott proposes in her new book Developing Caring Relationships Among Parents, Children, Schools and Communities (Sage, 2008) Practice using the newly learned caring paradigm around issues of concern to participants. Dr.McDermott will allow time for questions and discussion throughout. Her new book will be available for purchase at workshop.
To Register for this Workshop....
Workshop fee: $100 (Includes continental breakfast and lunch) Free hotel parking
1) On this page click CVENT and you can then register securely by check or credit card.
2) To RSVP and pay on day of the workshop Call (312) 421-5200 ext. 131 Molly Gallagher, Office Manager Midwest Learning Center
Feel free to call with any questions
For directions to the Carleton Hotel type in your address for mapquest to your right→
May is Foster Care Awareness Month
The Midwest Learning Center serves as an Ambassador for the Foster Kids are our Kids campaign.
In line with our mission to provide family support Services to foster parents, adoptive parents, guardians and all families in need we are highlighting our: Foster Family Support Program
(Click links for more information on our programs and for the link to how you can help with the Foster Kids Are Our Kids Too campaign).
The following section highlights foster care developments and provides updated information on foster care and adoption statistics...
“A time to make a lasting difference in a child’s life.” There are 513,000 American youth in foster care. No matter how much time you have to give, you can do something positive that will "change a lifetime" for a young person in foster care. Third National GrandRally in D.C. this Wednesday!Each year, over six million live with their grandparents or other relatives. Their voices will be heard this Wednesday at the third national GrandRally, which will bring together over a 1,000 kin caregivers to Washington to let lawmakers know of the important role that they provide to the development of children.The rally is also in conjunction with a national call-in day to Congress in support of the Kinship Caregiver Support Act. On Wednesday, call your elected officials and call for additional support for children being raised by grandparents and other relatives! Call toll free at 1-800-736-9594and urge your elected official to support the Kinship Caregiver Support Act (S. 661/H.R. 2188).
New Adoption and Foster Care Data Released
The Children's Bureau has released the latest national statistics on adoption and foster care for FY 2006 in the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) Report #14. The figures show some changes compared to 2005:
The number of children in foster care dropped from 513,000 on September 30, 2005, to 510,000 on the same day in 2006.
The number of children entering foster care dropped from 311,000 in 2005 to 303,000 in 2006.
The number of children exiting foster care increased from 287,000 in 2005 to 289,000 in 2006.
The number of children waiting to be adopted (with a goal of adoption and parents whose rights had been terminated) increased from 114,000 on September 30, 2005, to 129,000 on the same day in 2006. There was a significant increase in children in foster care with parental rights terminated for all living parents—this increased from 66,000 in 2005 to 79,000 in 2006. One figure stayed the same: the number of children adopted with public agency involvement remained static at 51,000.
Cynthia Stringfellow, Director of the Midwest Learning Center tours Family Focus with Russian Delegation
Interest in Family Support practices reaches across the globe
Family-Focus Englewood recently hosted a tour of social workers from Russia. The tour was led by Cynthia Stringfellow, Director of the Midwest Learning Center. The group asked questions about how family support practices are implemented in community based settings. The delegation reported the Family-Focus Englewood tour as their best experience visiting the US!
