Vol. 5, No. 2 • May 2001
News from the NCFPA President
The North Carolina Foster Parent Association (NCFPA) has an important role to play in supporting the important work each of you does as a foster or adoptive parent. NCFPA works to increase understanding of the needs of the children we care for and of our needs as care providers.
Your job is not always easy, but the children are counting on you. NCFPA is an active member of the Covenant with North Carolina Children, is involved with the Court Improvement Project, participates in the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Family to Family Initiative, serves on the advisory board of Fostering Perspectives, served on the recent Federal/State Review Team evaluating foster care and child welfare in NC, and is seeking to become even more involved in issues affecting our children.
Our upcoming annual conference (October 13-14, 2001) will give foster and adoptive parents a chance to regroup and recharge their enthusiasm batteries. The workshops (nearly 40) provide everyone a chance to get the training hours necessary for relicensing and offer enough choices that you won't spend time in the foster parent equivalent of "Underwater Basket Weaving 101"! Don't miss it!
By the time you read this, we will have a full-time Executive Director. So far we have managed with the help of a director working only 10 or so hours a week. We are also working with the state to form a grievance committee for settling complaints from foster/adoptive parents. Check our web page for updates on these and other important issues.
Of the many issues we are addressing, our top priorities are the children and improving the system. We know there is a shortage of both foster parents and social workers throughout the state, and we're working to recruit new foster/adoptive parents. But we also want to watch over the ones we already have and not have them feel that they are alone. The future looks exciting from the Board's perspective. We hope you are excited about the possibilities too.
As always, we welcome your comments, suggestions and input. This is YOUR association! Please feel free to contact us if you would like to share your ideas or perspectives about the Association. We look forward to hearing from you.
Together, we can make a difference for North Carolina's foster children.
Randy Delling, NCFPA President
How to become a member
To become a member, fill out this form and mail it, with payment (do not send cash) to the address below. Make checks payable to the NC Foster Parent Association.
Rates: Individual or couple: $15 Local association: $25 Agency/business: $100
Name
First:
M I:
Last:
Title:
Organization:
County:
Agency/Work Address:
Street:
City:
State:
Zip:
Tel (day):
Tel (evening):
E-mail:Please check the one that applies:
____Foster/adoptive/kinship parent
____Local foster parent association
____Agency/business
____Other
Return completed form with payments to: NC Foster Parents Association, c/o ILR, Inc., 411 Andrews Rd., Suite 230, Durham, NC 27705.
Copyright � 2001 Jordan Institute for Families
