NATIONALADVOCATE Mission Statement: To support foster parents in achieving safety, permanence and well-being for the children and youth in their care. NATIONALADVOCATE March 2011 March The National Advocate is an official publication of the National Foster Parent Association NFPA Youth Scholarships Available “You know beer than anyone that speaking for children has always been and may always NFPA has five (5) youth scholarships be an uphill journey. However, without you, available for foster youth, adopted youth lives would be wasted, if not lost completely; or biological youth of currently licensed families would suffer without recogniAon and foster parents who wish to further their hope for change; and the leaders in our education beyond high school. communiAes, state and naAon would be permied to overlook our biggest obligaon to Go to the NFPA website and locate the America – our children.” Youth Scholarship section. Author Unknown Requirements and Application are available on that site. “Cowardice asks the queson – is it safe? Expediency asks the queson – is it polic? All Applications are due by Vanity asks the quesAon – is it popular? March 31, 2011. But conscience asks the queson – is it right? Mail Application to: NFPA / 2021 East And there comes a me when one must take a Hennepin Avenue, Suite 320 / posion that is neither safe, nor polic, nor Minneapolis, MN 55413-1865 popular; but one must take it because it is right.” Dr. Marn Luther King, Jr. The new address for the National Foster Parent Association is: NFPA 2021 E Hennepin Ave #320 Minneapolis, MN 55413-1769 Phone: 800-557-5238 www.nfpaonline.org http://www.facebook.com/nationalfosterparentassociation Page #1 NATIONALADVOCATE Mission Statement: To support foster parents in achieving safety, permanence and well-being for the children and youth in their care. March 2011 March Never lose sight of WHY y! DO what y! DO! What’s Inside? Schedule ................................. Page 20-21 President .................................... Page 3 Hotel ........................................ Pages 22, 27 Meeting Schedule .................... Page 3 Registration ........................... Page 23 Board .......................................... Pages 4-5 Exhibit Information ............ Page 24 Tax Credit .................................... Page 8 Sponsor Information ......... Page 25 State News .................................. Pages 9-12 Key Note ................................. Page 26 Conference History .................. Page 13 Awards ..................................... Pages 28-29 Pre-Schoolers Debt .................. Pages 14-15 States Map .................................. Page 31 Membership ................................ Page 16 Facing the Truth ........................ Pages 32-33 Call For Presenters ..................... Page 17 Family Secrets ........................... Page 33 2011 Conference ......................... Page 18-29 I’m Glad You Told ..................... Page 34 Advertise ................................... Page 19 NFPA Ad ..................................... Page 35 www.nfpaonline.org http://www.facebook.com/nationalfosterparentassociation Page #2 NATIONALADVOCATE Mission Statement: To support foster parents in achieving safety, permanence and well-being for the children and youth in their care. Dear Members and Friends of programs that are important to NFPA, children who are abused and The National Foster Parent Now is the time to band neglected are prudentially funded Association is the only national March 2011 March together to advocate for adequate to keep quality supports and voice for foster parents. funding for programs that serve services available for all children children, particularly those identified as being abused or We need each of you to become programs that serve children and neglected. a member of NFPA so our voice families through child protective It is imperative that will carry more weight as we services systems in each state. legislators understand what foster speak out on the national level As we hear, on a daily parents do for the children placed and as we work to support state basis, both at home and on the into their care and that funding for and local national news, times are hard, foster family care is not decreased. foster parent money is very tight, and many In many states foster family associations social services and social welfare reimbursements are already way to be programs are being targeted for too low. Cuts will create fewer stronger decimation. foster families and children will voices for The National Foster Parent have fewer options for safe foster Association is the only national placements and a slower road to parents in voice for foster parents. We need permanency. their states. each of you to become a member Talk with your friends and of NFPA so our voice will carry family and ask them to join NFPA more weight as we speak out on as members and as fellow the national level and as we work advocates for the needs of children to support state and local foster and families. Thanks to each of you who parent associations to be stronger Watch the NFPA website open your hearts, homes and voices for foster parents in their and mass emails for information families to children in need. You states. important to advocacy efforts. are indeed, my heroes. There is power in numbers. Contact Garry Krentz, Just look at what happened in NFPA Advocacy Chair, or myself With sincerity and in awe, Egypt. Our collective voices must for more information and with Irene Clements, President, NFPA be loud and constant – on both the suggestions for improving our state and national levels – to ensure advocacy efforts. NFPA BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING SCHEDULE FOR 2011 1/4/11 7:00PM Central 2/1/11 7:00PM Central 3/1/11 7:00PM Central 4/5/11 7:00PM Central 5/3/11 7:00PM Central 6/23/11 9AM Mobile, Alabama 6/27/11 1:45PM Mobile, Alabama 10/4/11 7:00PM Central 11/?/11 Details to be announced All Board of Directors meetings are Open Meetings. Meetings listed without a location are by conference call. For information to join the call as a guest follow this link [email protected] Check the www.nfpaonline.org web site prior to the meeting to determine if meeting is cancelled. www.nfpaonline.org http://www.facebook.com/nationalfosterparentassociation Page #3 NATIONALADVOCATE Mission Statement: To support foster parents in achieving safety, permanence and well-being for the children and youth in their care. NFPA Board of Directors REGION 8 Executive Committee Michele Burnette President: Irene Clements 22065 Andrew Court • COLORADO 1102 Prairie Ridge Trail California, MD 20619 201-994-9344 • MONTANA Pflugerville, TX 78660 512-706-7513 [email protected] • UTAH [email protected] • WYOMING Advisor: John Bertulis • NORTH DAKOTA Vice President:Sue Dondiego 4919 Clearwater Drive • SOUTH DAKOTA 565 Oak Island Circle Ellicott City, MD 410-262-2939 Corrie Lynne Player Plant City, FL 33656 813-759-0329 [email protected] 1671 West 546 South [email protected] Cedar City, UT 84720 435-327-1096 REGION 4 [email protected] Secretary: Lana Freeman • ALABAMA 2934 SW 6th • FLORIDA Advisor: Bonnie McNulty Newcastle, OK 73065 405-387-5052 • GEORGIA 2490 Depew Street [email protected] • KENTUCKY Edgewater, CO 80214 303-233-6216 • MISSISSIPPI [email protected] Treasurer: William "Buddy" Hooper • NORTH CAROLINA 1091 County Road 1659 • SOUTH CAROLINA REGION 9 Cullman, AL 35058 256-796-0582 • TENNESSEE • ARIZONA [email protected] William "Buddy" Hooper • CALIFORNIA 1091 County Road 1659 • NEVADA Member at Large: Sharon Carlson Cullman, AL 35058 256-796-0582 • HAWAII 150 Vantage Drive [email protected] • GUAM Jefferson, GA 30549 404-918-1956 • SAMOA [email protected] Advisor: Lee Marshall • WAKE ISLAND P.O. Box 4871 Aubrey Manuel Council of State Affiliates: Pat Llewellyn Huntsville, AL 35815 256-880-3455 1040 West 46th Street 1740 Trail Street [email protected] Los Angeles, CA 90037 323-846-0007 Missoula, MT 59801 [email protected] [email protected] 406-493-6510 REGION 5 Regional Officers • ILLINOIS Advisor: Myrna Terry REGION 1 • INDIANA 9135 Hemsworth Way CONNECTICUT • MICHIGAN Sacramento, CA 95829 916-681-5059 • MAINE • MINNESOTA [email protected] • MASSACHUSETTS • OHIO • NEW HAMPSHIRE • WISCONSIN REGION 10 • RHODE ISLAND Vacant • ALASKA • VERMONT • IDAHO Position is Vacant REGION 6 • OREGON • ARKANSAS • WASHINGTON Advisor: Jean Fiorito / CAFAP • LOUISIANA Mike Canfield 2189 Silas Deane Hwy • OKLAHOMA 639 N.E. Vena Street Rocky Hill, CT 06067 860-258-3400 • NEW MEXICO Bremerton, WA 98311 360-377-1011 jean.fi[email protected] • TEXAS mcanfi[email protected] Roy Block REGION 2 18751 Castellani Advisor: Melody Curtiss • San Antonio, TX 78258 512-493-7567 3501 104th Street E. • NEW JERSEY [email protected] Tacoma, WA 98446 253-232-9561 • NEW YORK [email protected] • PUERTO RICO REGION 7 • VIRGIN ISLANDS • IOWA Antoinette Cotman • KANSAS 119-29 130th Street • MISSOURI • NEBRASKA South Ozone Park, NY 11420 718-322-1173 2011 March Julie Schoemehl REGION 3 13022 E. 57th Terrace • DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Shawnee, Kansas 67428 817-729-7513 • DELAWARE [email protected] • MARYLAND • PENNSYLVANIA Advisor: Pam Allen • VIRGINIA 1005 K Street • WEST VIRGINIA Aurora, NE 68818 308-631-5847 [email protected] www.nfpaonline.org http://www.facebook.com/nationalfosterparentassociation Page #4 NATIONALADVOCATE Mission Statement: To support foster parents in achieving safety, permanence