National Foster Parent Association Newsletter - January, 2024

NFPA's mission is to be a respected national voice for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parents through Networking, Education and Advocacy.

But, as we all know, there is still a lot more to do!

Networking

  • Grow and empower our CoSA state affiliates network.
  • Expand our reach to legislators, especially in the coming election year.
  • Develop new courses, and online features, helping parents network and share best practices.

Education

  • Partner with C.A.S.E. and other parents on developing a National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services.
  • Select data-driven new courses to serve the needs of parents.
  • Provide numerous educational opportunities from experts and those with lived experience at our summer “One Voice” Conference.

Advocacy

  • Our focus this year will be on advocating for the 5 CORE needs of Foster, Adoptive and Kinship parents.

Arnie Eby
Executive Director, NFPA

arnie@nfpaonline.org

A Message From our Executive Director

As I reflect back on 2023 I am proud of all NFPA has accomplished, of all of the connections built, and the many individuals our efforts have touched in one way or another.

Networking - CoSA – Building a network of state leaders with a space to share wins, challenges, and best practices.

Education - NFPAti – Providing thousands of parents a free and easy way to earn online training certificate hours on topics of great relevance to our members.

Advocacy - Policy and Legislation – We have made great in-roads in connecting with legislators at the state and national levels to address the needs of NFPA members. HR 3058 passed the House Ways and Means Committee 42-0! Find out more.

Meet Karen Poteet, President of the NFPA Board of Directors

Karen hails from Oklahoma and has a background in post adoption management, kinship navigation, and health and human services.

View Karen’s Coffee with Caregivers interview about her experience as the adoptive mother of two children with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).
View the Video

Networking/NFPA CoSA News

Check out our NEW!, updated Council of State Affiliates (CoSA) website!

Is your state listed?

To become one of our Affiliates, please visit https://nfpacosa.org/#becomeanaffiliate.

Training Spotlight

I thoroughly enjoyed this training program. I loved the scenarios and examples that were given to help us relate. I will be asking our Director to make this training available to all of our foster parents and workers. (1 hour – certificate upon completion). Check it out!

NFPA / CoSA Fall Meeting

This very successful meeting provided an opportunity for 20 of NFPA’s Council of State Affiliates (CoSA) members to meet with 12 Congressional leaders and staffers and participate in a high-level impact briefing with staffers from the House Ways and Means Committee to discuss the complexities of foster parenting and needed support.

The result: HR 3058 passed the House Ways and Means Committee 42-0! Find out more.

Arnie Shows Off His Red Shoes!

Red Shoes Rock is a global awareness campaign sponsored by FASD United. This organization gives voice and support to those affected by prenatal alcohol exposure (Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder).

To learn more, visit their website at fasdunited.org