Vol. 13, No. 1• November 2008
We're Working for You—and Getting Results!
by Stacey Darbee
President of the NC Foster and Adoptive Parents AssociationThe NC Foster and Adoptive Parent Association is a voice for foster, adoptive, and kinship parents in North Carolina. Our mission is to promote quality foster and adoptive services through collaborative advocacy, education, resources, reunification, and networking. We partner and advocate with others in the field of child welfare.
There are over 12,000 potential members of this association. We need your support to make sure your voice is heard. Join today!
Here are a few things we’re doing to benefit you and children in foster care in our state:
2009 NCFAPA Training Conference
We are excited to announce that the theme of our 2009 training conference will be Awakening the Aloha Spirit…Changing Tides, Changing Lives! We feel that the Aloha spirit (affection, humility, perseverance, unity, harmony) really signifies what is happening with our Association and with foster and adoptive families in North Carolina.The conference will be held May 1-3, 2009. SAVE THIS DATE NOW!! Need more motivation? The Aloha conference will be held at the Renaissance Suites in Charlotte. Every room is a full suite! Reservations are $99 a night! Refrigerator & microwave in each room! All meeting space on one floor in one building!
It’s never been easier to make your hotel reservations: go to www.NCFAPA.org and pick the “Reserve Your Room Now” option for Renaissance Charlotte Suites. You will be directed to a site set up specifically for our event.
At the upcoming conference we will offer 40 workshop sessions with information for everyone from new foster and adoptive parents to extremely experienced ones. Games, an amazing luau, awards, and fantastic surprise entertainment: all planned for you. The focus for 2009 is fun in a setting that provides the best quality training.
Registration will be free with your paid 2009 NCFAPA membership. If you join or renew your membership by December 31, 2008 your name will be put in a drawing for 2 free hotel nights in Charlotte during the conference. This event is better every year. Don’t miss it! Go to www.NCFAPA.org for conference registration information.
Seeking Nominations
At the conference each year NCFAPA honors parents with regional awards for Foster Parent of the Year and Adoptive Parent of the Year. In 2008 we also instituted a state award for each of these categories. Nominations are now open. ANYONE can nominate someone they believe exhibits the ALOHA SPIRIT! Nomination forms may be found and submitted on our web site. You all know someone who deserves recognition for what they do everyday—NOMINATE!!Advocacy: Great News!
NCFAPA, along with strong support from the Covenant with NC’s Children and CFSA-NC, advocated throughout the year for a reimbursement rate increase. And we got it! On July 16, 2008 Governor Easley signed House Bill 2436, which included the largest increase in the Foster Care Room and Board Reimbursement Rate and the Adoption Assistance Rate in state history. Beginning January 1, 2009 the rates will be as follows:
Starting January 2009 birth to age 5 $390 $475 age 6 to 12 $440 $581 age 13 to 18 $490 $634 NCFAPA Board of Directors
NCFAPA would welcome inquiries from members interested in joining the Board of Directors. Please contact Gregg Childers at [email protected] for more information.Officers
Stacey Darbee - President
Paul Roodhuyzen - Treasurer
Gregg Childers - Secretary
Tammy Mitchell - Historian
Co-Wefa Lyda - Region 1 VP
Joanne Light - Region 2 VP
Kim Stewart - Region 3 VP
Aaryn Fazakerly - Region 4 VPBoard Members
Wanda Douglas - Region 1
Crystal Merritt - Region 1
Janet Martin - Region 2
Sandra Ayers - Williams- Region 3
Chip Thompson - Region 4Though we are currently undermanned, the NCFAPA Board has accomplished a great deal. We will continue to advocate on behalf of foster, adoptive, and kinship families. Join forces with us today!
Copyright � 2008 Jordan Institute for Families
