ASA Now proudly presents an empowering and informative workshop: "Jacob's Law (HB2442)." This session is part of our caregiver series, designed to strengthen families and empower caregivers to interact authentically and effectively with at-risk children while also practicing self-care within a safe and supportive environment.
🌟 JACOB'S LAW WITH ANIKA ROBINSON 🌟
🗓️ When: Friday October 25, 2024 (in-person)
📍 Location: ASA Now - Jacob's Mission Community Center
🏠 Address: 7830 E. University Dr. Mesa, AZ 85207
⏰ Time: 6 pm - 9 pm - includes childcare and dinner for all attendees
🗓️ When: Friday December 13, 2024 (virtual)
⏰ Time: 8 am - 12 pm
🚨 Registration Deadline: Day before the event @ 4 pm
Have questions? Call (623) 428-1592 or email Volunteer@ASANow.org
Abstract: Jacob’s Law (HB2442) introduces crucial timelines for accessing behavioral and urgent health services, mandates a placement packet, safeguards caregivers, and protects them against allegations or charges from the Department of Child Safety arising from their children's mental health. It also establishes Out-of-Home request timelines. Participants will gain insights into effective advocacy for vulnerable children and families, learn to influence positive change, and ensure their voices are heard.
Timelines: Jacob’s Law provides required timelines for accessing behavioral and urgent health services, including Rapid Response, Assessments, Service Appointments, Securing Out-of-County Services, and seeking services when the Service Request Timeline has expired.
Description: The enactment of Jacob’s Law has significantly increased awareness of family and member rights and has facilitated better access to behavioral health services. Participating in educational sessions on Jacob’s Law equips attendees to navigate the system, particularly for children/youth with high needs. Continuous education about Jacob’s Law is vital for both families and professionals engaged with children.
The presenter, Anika Robinson, is a foster and adoptive mom who overcame formidable challenges to care for her children and became a dedicated advocate, ultimately playing a pivotal role in the passage of Jacob’s Law.
Dinner and refreshments will be provided for all attendees.
✨ Who can attend: This training is open to Kinship Caregivers, Licensed Foster Caregivers, Foster/Adoptive Caregivers, Guardianship Caregivers for children who have been or are under the custody of the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) and youth who have aged out of foster care. It is also relevant for CASA, Attorneys, GAL, Juvenile Judges, Behavioral Health professionals, Licensing Agencies and staff, as well as any professionals working with children currently in the custody of Arizona DCS.
🌈 ChildCare: Provided for children in the home of registered attendees for evening training. Dinner povided for youth in childcare and volunteers
📜 Certificate: A 3-hour certificate of attendance will be provided
💲 Cost: There is a $20 workshop charge per family registration, per workshop date. Payment received will go directly to help offset the operation and maintenance cost of Jacob's Mission Community Center.
🤝 We have a limited amount of sponsorships available per event for families facing financial hardship. If you would like to be considered for a sponsorship please email us at Hope@asanow.org
For questions, call (623) 428-1592 or email Volunteer@ASANow.org
Presenter Bio: We are privileged to have this workshop presented by Anika Robinson, a distinguished leader at the helm of ASA Now, Jacob's Mission Community Center, and Shade Tree Academy. Anika's remarkable journey through the realms of education and child advocacy serves as an unwavering source of inspiration.
In 2001, Anika graduated from Mesa Community College with an Associate Degree in Elementary Education, marking the inception of her quest for excellence. Her commitment to achieving the highest standards led her to Ottawa University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Degree in 2005. Her professional path then encompassed roles at Poston Junior High and later in the corporate sphere as an assistant to the vice president of a multi-billion dollar company.
Anika's dedication to children and families transcended the boundaries of education, as she became a licensed foster parent in Arizona over 17 years ago. With four biological adult children and four adopted children, her home earned accreditation as a therapeutic and medically fragile sanctuary. She provided compassionate care to children facing diverse challenges, including DDD, ALTCS, Reactive Attachment Disorder, acute behavioral issues, and various other diagnoses.
In 2016, her dedication culminated in the authorship, lobbying, and successful passage of 24 laws know as Jacob's Law that streamlined access to behavioral health care for Arizona's foster children and families, fostering a more robust support system for those in need. Her unwavering commitment to serving the most vulnerable members of our society continued to evolve, leading her to a significant role as the former Foster Care Community Liaison for AHCCCS, Arizona's Medicaid program.
As a distinguished advocate, Anika's influence reverberated powerfully. Anika's leadership extends across pivotal committees, including the Citizens Review Panel, the Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Care Oversight Workgroup through Mercy Care, and the Quality Caregiving Initiative Workgroup at AHCCCS. In 2018, she played a crucial role in the sponsorship, support, and passage of SB 1380, a groundbreaking bill advocating for vital records to be furnished to youth in foster care prior to their transition to independence.
In 2023, Anika's advocacy prowess was further showcased as she identified a sponsor, took the lead in authoring, and successfully saw through the passage of HB2651. This landmark legislation introduced mandates for DCS and law enforcement agencies to collaboratively locate missing children in foster care, reinforcing the commitment to their safety and well-being.
In 2024 she again authored and ran legislation for three different bills. HB2095 which was vetoed because it needed to be considered in part of the budget, but it successfully passed as part of the budget, keeping the exact language authored. The barrier addressed in HB2095 is specific to foster children needing alternative education who have not attended a governmental school full-time or a preschool program that offered services to disabled students for at least 90 days of the prior fiscal year or one full semester. Just like homeschooled children, children moving in from out of state, or children whose parents are in the armed forces and relocate frequently, children and youth in foster care needing to access educational scholarships or tuition grants under ARS 1504 as of September 3rd 2024, children in foster care will now be included in the list of recipients automatically eligible to receive a low-income educational scholarship. Despite the passing of HB2651 on June 19, 2023, DCS continued to fail at implementing federal and state law and best practices to help locate missing children in their care. HB2479 passed which requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to fulfill additional procedures and modified notification and reporting requirements for cases involving missing, abducted or runaway children. Instructs DCS to provide a monthly report to the Governor, the President of the Senate (President) and the Speaker of the House of Representatives (House), to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and the Senate and House Health and Human Services Committees that prescribes compliance with all prescribed requirements and Instructs DCS to establish a missing, abducted and runaway children unit (unit) within DCS if
the submitted report shows less than 95 percent compliance for more than 4 consecutive or nonconsecutive months in a 12-month period. HB2480 also passed which requires the Department of Child Safety (DCS) to develop and implement policies and procedures to conduct random quarterly drug screening of employees of a group foster home.
⚠️ Cancellations: Due to the time and effort that it takes to put these events together, we want you to be aware that there are NO REFUNDS or CREDITS.
Failing to attend or not notifying us will exclude you from attending future Trauma Tools Workshops. We understand that emergencies happen. If you are unable to attend, you MUST notify us ahead of scheduled arrival time and we ask that you give us as much notice as possible by calling 623-428-1592. Be sure to leave a voicemail or text if we don't answer.
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For a list of our upcoming events, check out our Events tab on Facebook or visit our website at www.asanow.org.
With Gratitude,
Angela Teachout
Susan Woodruff
Anika Robinson
'Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has". Margaret Mead
thing that ever has". Margaret Mead