Vol. 2, No. 2 • Spring 1998

Profile: Wilkes County's Foster Parent Association

Judy Callaway knows from personal experience about how much work it is to start a foster parent association--and why it's worth the effort. The Foster Parent Association of Wilkes County, to which she belongs, is one of the most successful FPA's in North Carolina.

It was founded in 1986 by five families working together to give each other moral support. Led by veteran foster parent Marion Adams, they created a mission statement: "To promote quality family foster care."

The first thing they wanted to do to accomplish this goal was to start a respite program. Realizing this would take a great deal of money, they began to explore resources to obtain financial assistance.

First, they established themselves as a formal organization. In 1987 they incorporated and obtained tax-exempt status. Then, in 1989, they became a United Way Agency. The funding this brought enabled them to establish their respite program.

That same year they established a relationship with the Food Bank of NWNC that allowed qualified members of the association to obtain food for their families at reduced rates. Since 1989 they have created programs to provide foster parents with training and foster families with emergency clothing, and special needs and Christmas assistance.

Today, under the leadership of their president Joyce Parks, they have 81% foster parent participation, an operating budget of $27,800, and the convenience of having an office in their local United Way building. When it looks to the future, the association anticipates continued success in its efforts to create a better life for children in foster care.

Copyright � 2000 Jordan Institute for Families