posted Aug 23, 2012 1:16 PM by Tony Lewis
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updated Aug 23, 2012 1:39 PM
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A new guide on mandatory reporting of abuse or neglect in Wyoming is now available online or through the director's office at the Wyoming Department of Family Services. The guide, which describes reporting and investigation processes and provides an index of community resources, was co-sponsored by the Wyoming Department of Education, Prevent Child Abuse Wyoming, and the Victim Services Division of the Wyoming Attorney General's Office. Multiple copies of the guide, titled, "Mandatory Reporting of Abuse or Neglect of Children and Vulnerable Adults in Wyoming, are available for community education by contacting tony.lewis@wyo.gov
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posted Jun 27, 2012 10:28 AM by Tony Lewis
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updated Jun 27, 2012 10:30 AM
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Jillian Balow, Governor Matt Mead’s policy advisor for human services, has been named as the new Department of Family Services Administrator for Early Child Development, according to a release from the department. The release states the position sets direction and policy for the Department’s work in child care licensing and early childhood issues, in addition to directing staff and resources. Balow will also represent DFS on the State’s Early Childhood Advisory Council, which is charged with advising Departments and the Governor on the best use of available resources for early education and child development.
DFS Director Steve Corsi said, “I am pleased to announce that we have recruited someone with Jillian’s talent and background. Her leadership will help strengthen our partnership with child care professionals and provide DFS with a stronger voice in early childhood issues.”
Governor Mead added, “"Jillian has a special affinity for early childhood education and I am pleased that she has accepted this position."
Prior to joining Gov. Mead’s policy team, Balow was a supervisor at the Wyoming Department of Education, where she implemented and directed multiple programs related to early learning and school improvement. As a policy advisor, she worked on initiatives, programs and issues related to families and communities, including local governments, economic development, Tribal relations and early childhood.
"I look forward to building partnerships with providers and the Department’s other partners,” Balow said. “Working together will go a long way towards strengthening our common goal of providing the best start for Wyoming's children."
Balow was also recently selected as a member of the board of directors for the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies and volunteers for the Wyoming Children’s Society. She is also an ex-officio member of the Wyoming Early Childhood State Advisory Council and Serve Wyoming Commission.
Balow’s husband, John is a junior high school principal, and she has two children, 12 and 6 years old. Balow holds a master’s degree in education and an undergraduate degree in elementary education. She spent ten years in the classroom before transitioning into state government service.
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posted Jun 8, 2012 10:32 AM by Ron Gerber Jr.
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updated Jun 8, 2012 1:46 PM by Tony Lewis
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Throughout the world, abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults largely remains under-recognized, or treated as an unspoken problem.
“No community or country in the world is immune from this social problem,” according to a Department of Family Services’ Elder Abuse Spokesman, Dorothy Thomas.
Thomas said nationally, the abuse of elders is most often perpetrated by family or in-home caregivers, and data indicates that some level of substantiated abuse or neglect occurs in two-thirds of reported cases.
She said World Elder Abuse Awareness Day on June 15 is one of many opportunities to share information on abuse and neglect in later life, as a family violence problem, an intergenerational concern, a health, justice, or human rights issue.
She said this year, Elder Abuse Awareness Day will be commemorated by a state proclamation signed by Gov. Matt Mead June 15. Other events will provide an opportunity to join together and recognize local and regional efforts to address the problem.
In Cheyenne, a number of advocacy groups will be honoring our elders. They include Wyoming Kinship Advocacy, the Dept. of Family Services, Laramie County Senior Services, Safehouse Services, the Dept. of Health, Aging Division, and Wyoming Guardianship Inc. and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.
The evening of June 14, Thomas said there will be a non-denominational vigil 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in downtown Cheyenne. The theme for the event will be be celebrating our elders through the eyes of our children.
Thomas said there will be children reading stories about grandparents and elders, and stories would also be included in a booklet for attendees.
She said, “Communities all around the state will be honoring this day in a variety of ways, and the events are facilitated by members of those communities.”
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posted May 15, 2012 4:27 PM by DFS Web
4/18/2012 Notice
is hereby given of the intent of the Wyoming Department of Family
Services to adopt a plan governing the Weatherization Assistance
Program. The grant application/state plan establishes standards for the
delivery of the Weatherization Assistance Program and includes
provisions related to program administration, determination of benefits,
applicant rights, and program personnel. A public hearing will be held
in Cheyenne at the Department of Family Services, Hathaway Building, 3rd
Floor, Room 379 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Friday April 27, 2012.
Comments may be forwarded to: Wyoming Weatherization Assistance Program,
Department of Family Services, Hathaway Building, Third Floor,
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82002. A copy of the grant application/state plan may
be viewed at http://dfsweb.wy.gov . Components of the plan include the following attachments:Wyoming Application for Federal Assistance, SF-424Budget Information – Non-Construction Programs (OMB)State Plan/Master File WorksheetWeatherization Annual File Worksheet A copy may also be requested, and questions may be directed to Brenda Ilg at (307) 777-6346. |
posted Apr 5, 2012 4:09 PM by DFS Web
3/30/2012
A survey of referrals to youth-serving organizations by educators, law enforcement and others was recently completed by a DFS worker in Cheyenne.
The survey, which garnered hundreds of responses, is available for review at JD Survey Jennifer Dockter, a Cheyenne DFS case worker, completed the survey with the assistance of the Department's data and communications office. For more information on assistance with other local research projects, please contact Tony Lewis, Comunications Officer at tony.lewis@wyo.gov |
posted Apr 5, 2012 3:44 PM by DFS Web
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updated Apr 5, 2012 3:45 PM
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12/19/2011
The Wyoming Department of Family Services Annual Report for 2011 is available by clicking on the following link:
The report, required by statute for all state agencies, is used in compiling narratives for biennial budgets and strategic planning purposes. Generally, the report targets trends or outcomes departments want to effect, either by changing directions on a declining measure or continuing to improve favorable ones. For 2011, some of the measures DFS targeted for attention included SNAP participation rates, absence of repeat maltreatment in child welfare, overall numbers of children in out-of-home placement and increasing the percentage of child support collections versus amounts owed. |
posted Apr 5, 2012 3:33 PM by DFS Web
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updated May 21, 2012 8:42 AM by Tony Lewis
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1/5/2012
A newly-revised Resource Guide for At-Risk Youth and Families is available online by clicking on the link.
The Guide was developed by DFS and the Wyoming Guardian Ad-Litem Program as a resource for families, judges, GALs and other community stakeholders. Recommended sanctions and best-practice service interventions are included from the National Center for Juvenile and Family Court Judges and other sources. The Guide also lists contact information for different types of juvenile services available in Wyoming. |
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