You’re invited to Dementia Friendly America’s inaugural Dementia Friendsgiving. We’re gathering online to celebrate the growth and acceleration of the dementia-friendly movement over the last decade and give thanks for Dementia Friends, Dementia Friendly America communities, and the many champions and supporters throughout the country who are carrying this critical work forward.

Enter your information below to receive an email when registration opens and subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about Dementia Friendly America and this special online event.

Wonderfully You written by Tom Tracy and beautifully illustrated by Beatriz Mello is a love note to children who’ve been adopted in this heartfelt story that showcases family creation through the experience of transracial adoption. The reader is invited to experience the adoption journey through melodic rhyming narrative, which is complemented by beautiful, hand-drawn illustrations. Personal connection to adoption isn’t necessary to feel the warmth and love that is the central message of this book. It is a perfect read along for kids, grandkids, classrooms, those touched by adoption, and individuals looking for books that portray diverse families.

Join us to understand more about how an individual’s DDD budget is determined as well as an overview of the different services available.

FREE!

Together on the Caregiving Journey: Join us to connect with other parents and caregivers of youth with disabilities!

FREE!

Join us for a crucial event where we will discuss how to talk with children about staying safe from sexual abuse. This event aims to provide parents, caregivers, and educators with valuable information and resources to help protect children from harm. Together, we can empower children to stay safe. Don’t miss out on this important conversation!

It is highly recommended that participants complete Stewards of Children® prior to taking the course.

It’s crucial to protect your Medicare number and other personal information. Scammers are becoming more advanced in how they target consumers, and Medicare beneficiaries are always at risk. Join us for this Medicare Minute to learn how to protect yourself from medical identity theft, detect the warning signs of fraud, and report suspicious behavior.

FREE!

The FIRST YEARS™ Framework is built on one truth: the earliest relationships shape everything that follows. When adults learn how to connect, co-regulate, and create emotional safety, children’s brains grow in ways that protect them for life!

This webinar will provide: – An overview of the 10-step FIRST YEARS framework for preventing and healing childhood trauma – Next steps for implementation within your child-serving organization – A 10-minute question and answer discussion with Beth Tyson –

An opportunity to win children’s books, A Grandfamily for Sullivan, and Sullivan Goes to See Mama We look forward to seeing you LIVE on 11/20!

Foster Care Webinar

There are many children in need of a nurturing family.  Do you have questions about becoming a foster parent and want to learn more from the comfort of your home?

We are hosting webinars and Q&A sessions for prospective foster parents on Zoom. Please call Sylvia, our Family Engagement and Community Outreach Specialist at 201-414-1076 for more information.

The Prince George’s County Department of Aging will present on all four parts of the Medicare Program (Parts A, B, C and D) and answer questions from attendees. This event will provide attendees with a wealth of information to support decision-making for themselves or their loved ones.

This is a FREE VIRTUAL EVENT! Registration required.

FREE!

Helpful information about living with an advanced illness

FREE!

The monthly forum is a regularly scheduled virtual meeting to brief advocates and guide policy outreach. The meetings are open to all FASD advocates. You can help ensure action on critical FASD legislation by joining the monthly FASD policy virtual forum and preparing to engage with your senators and representatives.

Today, over five million people are enrolled in Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans (D-SNPs), a type of Medicare Advantage Plan designed to serve individuals who are dually enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. Each D-SNP must enter into a contract with the state in which the D-SNP operates called the State Medicaid Agency Contract (SMAC). The SMAC can be an important tool in ensuring D-SNPs are responsive to the needs of enrollees.

 This webinar, SMAC Template Toolkit: Consumer Protection Language Advocates Need to Know, will discuss Justice in Aging’s SMAC Toolkit, a resource aimed at equipping advocates with recommendations and template language that they can utilize to ensure their SMACs include consumer protections and reflect the needs of enrollees.

Presenters will provide a high-level overview of D-SNPs and SMACs, how advocates can engage with their states on SMACs, and highlight examples from the toolkit of consumer-specific recommendations and template language to include in the SMAC.

 Who Should Participate: State-based advocates working with older adults and people with disabilities enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.

Join us to learn about the step-by-step process to become eligible for services from DDD. Topics will include SSI, Medicaid eligibility, the NJCAT, Support Coordination, and more!

Learn how to recognize and alleviate stress and manage anger in healthier ways.

This course will be held online and a link to the class will be sent out ahead of time.

Do you have a question about advocating for The FASD Respect Act?  Want to give and receive updates? This weekly Zoom drop-in session is a great space to do it. The dedicated staff of the FASD United Policy Team will be on hand to answer your questions, give support, and cheer you on!

When it comes to LGBTQ+ youth, being able to support and affirm their identities can be lifesaving work. This workshop covers basic information including definitions, the use of pronouns, and the differences between gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Participants will also learn important strategies to ensure that the LGBTQ+ youth they work with feel seen and cared for including interpersonal and organizational approaches.

Navigating senior living is complex, confusing, and overwhelming. In the DC-metro area alone, there are over 100 options available.

In this presentation you will:

• Gain an understanding of the types of senior living options available
• Learn about the rates and fee structures
• Understand how senior living is regulated and oversight provided
• Hear about options to pay for senior living
• Receive questions to ask when considering evaluating senior living communities

FREE!

Of all substances of abuse, alcohol causes the most serious long-term effects in a fetus, resulting in permanent brain damage. Many children with FASDs often go undiagnosed and suffer lifelong social challenges, serious mental health problems, and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Proper identification and intervention can help prevent many of these challenges. This webinar will help attendees identify red flags and signs that may indicate a child has brain-based behaviors as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure. Additionally, it will also help shift one’s perspective, viewing social/emotional problems, difficult behaviors, and learning challenges of these individuals as a symptom of brain dysfunction and not willful defiance and opposition.

Learning Objectives include:

• Learn what FASD is and how it is often misdiagnosed.
• Learn how FASD impacts brain development and behaviors.
• Learn to identify FASD red flags.
• Gain a shift in perspective about those with social/emotional problems, difficult behaviors, or learning challenges.