National Immunization Awareness Month

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, a time to highlight the importance of receiving recommended vaccines and a great opportunity to talk to doctors, nurses or healthcare professionals about protection against serious diseases. Immunizations are a safe, effective way to protect us from preventable diseases, some cancers, as well as hospitalization and disability. It is especially important during a pandemic or other public health emergency to maintain routine immunizations to prevent further outbreaks.

It can be difficult to know which vaccines are needed at what ages, and separating facts from misinformation is challenging. Learning the facts before making vaccination decisions is very important. Here are some resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about immunization for children and adults.

Pregnancy: Vaccines are recommended for pregnant women to provide immunity and protection for both the mother and her baby against diseases during pregnancy and after birth. Vaccines and Pregnancy
Children: Infants cannot fight diseases on their own. They need vaccines at birth, 2, 4, 6, and 12-15 months of age. Once fully vaccinated, infants are protected from 14 serious diseases. Some vaccines require multiple doses to build immunity. Young children 2-6 years old need to receive additional doses of vaccines to have the best protection. Vaccines and Children
Adults: Protection provided by vaccines can wear off over time, so vaccinations need to remain up to date. Vaccines and Adults

Immunization Parents Related Resources

Immunization & Vaccine Resources (CDC)

Vaccines for COVID-19

BBCAHT’s Monthly 3rd Friday Webinar: Human Trafficking and the Law: Going Deeper

Friday, August 20, 2021, 1:00 PM-2:30 PM (eastern)

This month’s program will take a deeper dive into both the civil and criminal laws regarding human trafficking. Topics to cover will include: recently passed legislation, legal issues facing children – especially in the delinquency and dependency systems, human trafficking expungement law and practice, and special topics in immigration.

Human Trafficking and the Law: Going Deeper Information & Registration

Florida Institute for Child Welfare and Alia – Preparing for the Family First Prevention Services Virtual Training Series: Managing Organizational Change

Tuesday, August 24, 2021, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM (eastern)

Second Training Session:

This webinar will examine the vital role leaders play in managing organizational change. It will deepen your understanding of the change process and offer practical tips and tools for preparing for normal responses to change and navigating the potential backlash and resistance of change; including how to prepare and protect those leading change movements.

FFPSA Training Series Flyer and Link to Register

Annual Statewide Summit: 2021 DCF Child Protection Summit

Wednesday, September 8 – Friday, September 10, 2021
Orlando, JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes

The annual Summit is the largest child welfare event in Florida. The Department anticipates the convening of more than 3,000 child welfare professionals and related partners, including attorneys, case managers, child advocates, child protective investigators and supervisors, Child Protection Team staff, child welfare trainers, court staff, DCF staff, relative caregivers, foster and adoptive parents, guardians ad litem, judges, law enforcement, juvenile justice professionals, service providers, and youth.

Conference attendees may earn CLE, CJE, CE, and In-Service Training hours at the Summit. In-Service Training hours can be counted towards your child welfare certification through the Florida Certification Board. The conference brochure will include a Continuing Education page with detailed information.

Child Protection Summit Website

BBCAHT’s Monthly 3rd Friday Webinar: Florida’s Expungement Laws: Helping Survivors of Human Trafficking

Friday, September 17, 2021, 1:00 PM-2:30 PM (eastern)

When a youth or an adult victim of human trafficking is arrested – whether or not they are prosecuted – they can suffer lifelong personal and practical impacts. Trauma associated with an arrest can haunt them throughout their life. A criminal record can hurt their ability to be economically secure, to get a job or education, and to rebuild their lives and heal. Because these crimes happened while they were being trafficked, Florida law provides a way to help and clear, or “expunge,” their criminal histories.

This month’s program will explain the law on expungement, describe the process for clearing a survivor’s criminal history, detail the effects of expungement on a survivor’s life, and dispel myths and misconceptions regarding expungement. If you are a professional or community member who is in actual or potential contact with sex and labor trafficking survivors, you need to know about expungement.

Helping Survivors of Human Trafficking Information and Registration

Florida Institute for Child Welfare and Alia – Preparing for the Family First Prevention Services Virtual Training Series: Creating a Trauma-competent Organization: Public & Private

Tuesday, September 28, 2021, 10:00 AM-11:30 AM (eastern)

Third Training Session:

This training focus on understanding trauma, identifying trauma behaviors, and creating trauma-competent responses. Building blocks for creating a trauma competent organization include changing language, shifting mindsets, and initiating behavioral changes. Variables that create change readiness plus an awareness of the barriers to the change process together create the scaffolding for building a trauma competent organization.

Participants will leave with ideas and strategies on how to create micro-changes that contribute to building trauma competencies. It is now no longer enough to be trauma-informed; we must know what to do what that knowledge. It is in the application of the knowledge that we create competence.

FFPSA Training Series Flyer and Link to Register