¡Attención!
SAVE THE DATE!
Training Opportunities:
Post Ike: Youth Services Respond to Crisis
Holly Bell, Amy Dunn, Jack Nowicki
December 16, 2008
Houston
Rethinking Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Frank J. Kros
January 16, 2009
Austin
and
Youth In Action
February 4, 2009
TNOYS & Texans Care for Children partner to hold Youth In Action/Children's
Advocacy Day
For more information click
here
PEAKS
| 2008 PEAKS Adventure Camp |
| Bibliography |
| PEAKS Pictures |
| PEAKS Cards |
Newsfor Us!  PAL |
What is PEAKS?
PEAKS Adventure – Physical and Environmental Activities for Knowledge and Skills – is a program offered by TNOYS offering experiential learning camps for youth and adults that emphasize:
- Building trust in self and others
- Developing cooperation and relationship skills
- Taking safe risks
- Successful problem solving
- Being creative
- Leadership development
- Having FUN!
The PEAKS Adventure is based on the belief that through structured experiential learning and positive interaction, youth and adult participants will have the opportunity to enhance self-awareness, increase their feelings of self worth, develop relationship skills, and discover their individual strengths and limitations. This, in turn will enable them to function more successfully in their daily lives.
PEAKS Adventure programs currently include three 5-day camp programs.
Trained professionals with expertise in experiential learning, group therapy and outdoor education facilitate the PEAKS Adventure.
Who Can Participate?
PEAKS camps are designed for at-risk youth and their adult sponsors. One or two youth attend together with an adult sponsor.
A unique feature of PEAKS is the training/learning experience for the adult participants (counselors or parents), as well as a learning experience for youth. All participants will walk away with new ideas, activities and communication skills. Continuing education credit (CEU’s) are available to staff that attend.
(Click on the thumbnail to view the enlarged photo)
What Kinds of Things Will We Do?
This highly structured program involves day and evening activities linked with group processing. Typical activities include: Ropes Challenge Course, Swimming and Water Activities, Initiatives, New Games, Creative Arts and Dramatics, Nature Hikes, Canoeing, and Archery. All youth and adults participate in every aspect of this intensive program together.
Will Peaks Come to Us?
Yes! PEAKS provides training in experiential learning activities on site at youth serving agencies. Programs are tailored to meet the needs of the facility. To find out more click kschenck@tnoys.org to send email.
The 2008 PEAKS camp will take place at the HEB Foundation Camp located near Leakey, Texas on June 22-26, 2008.
Downloadable Adobe Acrobat PDF
PEAKS 2008 Brochure
- Canfield, J. And Wells, H., 100 Ways to Enhance Self-Concept in the Classroom. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, Inc., 1976.
- Cavert C,. Affordable Portables A Working Book of Activities and Problem Solving Elements, Oklahama City, OK: Wood and Barnes, 1999.
- Cavert C,. Games and Other Stuff for Group Book 1, Oklahama City, OK: Wood and Barnes, 1999.
- Cavert C., Sikes S., 50 Ways to Use Your Noodle, Tulsa, OK, Learning Unlimited, 1997.
- Fluegelman, A., New Gamesand More New Games. New York: Doubleday and Company, 1981.
- Gass, Michael, Adventure Therapy: Therapeutic Applications of Adventure Programming.Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1993.*
- Gass, Michael, Metaphors, Volume II.Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt publishing Company, 1995. *
- Gerstein, Jackie S., A Practitioner’s Guide to Experiential Family Counseling.Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1994.
- Gerstein, Jackie S. And Gillis, H.L., The Family Circuit Newsletter.
Contact Santa Fe Mountain Center, Rt. 4, Box 34C, Santa Fe, NM, 87501. - Gil, Eliana, Play in Family Therapy.New York: The Guilford Press, 1994. *
- Goodman, J., Turning Points. Saratoga Springs, New Jersey: Creative Resources Press, 1978.*
- Jones, A., The Wrecking Ball Of Games and Activities,Ravensdale, WA: Idyll Arbor Inc., 1998.*
- Jones, A., The Wrecking Yard Of Games and Activities,Ravensdale, WA: Idyll Arbor Inc., 1998.*
- LeFevre, D.N., New Games for the Whole Family. New York: Perigee Books, 1988.
- Orlick, T. Cooperative Sports & Games Book.New York: Patheon Books, 1982.
- Rhonke, K., Silverbullets. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1984. *
- Rohnke, K., The Bottomless Bag. Massachusetts: Wilkscraft Creative Printing, 1988. *
- Rhonke, K., Cowstails and Cobras II.Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1989.*
- Rhonke, K., The Bottomless Baggie!Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1991.*
- Rhonke, K., The Bottomless Bag Again.Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1993.*
- Rohnke, K., and Butler, S., Quicksilver. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1994.*
- Schoel, J., Prouty, D., and Radcliff, P., Islands of Healing: A guide to Adventure Based Counseling. Hamilton, MA: Project Adventure Press, 1988.
- Weinstein, M. And Goodman, J. Playfair. San Luis Obispo, CA: Impact Publishers, 1985.*
- Youth Leaders, Youth Leadership In Action.Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1995.*
All resources marked with an asterix(*) are available for loan to all TNOYS Members, go to the TNOYS Resource Librarypage for more information.
News for Us! is a quarterly newsletter for youth 16-18 years old in foster care. We hope you enjoy its new layout. If you'd like to submit drawings, poetry, articles, or ideas to make it even better, please email them to its editor, Kim Schenck or you can mail them to Kim at TNOYS, 2525 Wallingwood Dr., Suite 1503, Austin, Texas 78746.
For PDF versions of the newsletters please click the links below:
Volume 10 Issue 1 - 2005
Volume 10 Issue 2 - 2006
Volume 10 Issue 3 - 2006
Volume 10 Issue 4 - 2006
Volume 11 Issue 1 - 2006
Volume 11 Issue 2 - 2007
Volume 11 Issue 3 - 2007
Volume 11 Issue 4 - 2007
Volume 12 Issue 1 - 2007
Volume 12
Issue 2 - 2008
Volume
12 Issue 3 - 2008
Volume 12
Issue 4 - 2008
Foster Care Healthcare Reform (April 2007)
Comprehensive Healthcare Reform
A new law was passed that calls for improvements to your health care by automatically enrolling eligible youth in a new health care delivery model beginning August 2007. Foster youth will begin receiving services through the model on October 1, 2007. The new law calls for the creation of:
- A Primary Care Provider (PCP) that will coordinate your health services to assist you;
- A 7-day, 24 hour Nurse Hotline available for caregivers and caseworkers;
- An Online Health Passport to improve access to your health history, and MORE!
In the coming weeks, foster youth will receive additional information about this new health care system and details about what you will need to do. They will also be notified of any regional meetings in their area or other ways to learn more about this new service. You can find more information about this new health care delivery model at: http://www.dfps.state.tx.us/txyouth/Health.asp
Extended Medicaid Eligibility
Senate Bill 51 was passed and signed into law, effective September 1, 2005. This law requires the state to provide uninterrupted Medicaid coverage to young people who age out of foster care at age 18 through the month of their 21st birthday.
The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsible for initially certifying young people who are eligible for Transitional Medicaid coverage as they age out of foster care, which provides them with uninterrupted Medicaid coverage. If you are age 18, 19, or 20 and leave foster care voluntarily, your caseworker must notify the eligibility specialist within three days after you leave care.The eligibility specialist will then determine if you meet the Transitional Medicaid eligibility requirements based on the eligibility list, below. You are initially certified for Transitional Medicaid when the foster care eligibility specialist ends your foster care eligibility and opens your Medicaid eligibility.
You are eligible for continuous Medicaid coverage through the month of your 21st birthday if:
- You have aged out of foster care at age 18 or older
- You are a current Texas resident between 18 and 21 years of age
- You are a U.S. citizen, a legal permanent resident, or other qualified alien
- You have no private comprehensive medical insurance through a family member or work, or other Medicaid coverage through SSI, TANF, or another HHSC (formerly the Department of Human Services, or DHS) Medicaid program
- Your total resources are valued at less than $10,000
- Your income is below 400 percent of the current federal poverty level for one person, which is $3104 per month for 2005. To obtain federal poverty levels, go to www.aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/. The following items are not considered income or resources:
- The value of one vehicle
- Any financial benefit used for the purpose of educational or vocational training, such as scholarships and student loans or grants
- Any financial benefit used for the purpose of housing
- Any grants or subsidies obtained as a result of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999
You must continue to meet the eligibility requirements in order for coverage to continue. You will receive a renewal application before the end of your 12 month eligibility period until you reach age 21. You must report all changes that might affect your eligibility. And you will be responsible for completing the renewal application and returning it by mail. This will help to ensure you receive your Medicaid card.
Contact Information
Call Centralized Benefits Services and ask to speak to someone about Medicaid for young people transitioning from foster care.
Toll Free 1-800-248-1078 ext. 8126, Jordyn Young
Toll Free Fax: 1-800-318-2052
Austin Fax: (512) 908-9525 or (512) 908-9515
You may call your local HHSC office for assistance.
You may also call your regional Preparation for Adult Living (PAL) staff or CPS worker.