National Foster Parent Association NFPA Updates

Presidential Proclamation -- National Foster Care Month

Dennis Seger — Sun, 06 May 2012 00:28:13 GMT

President Obama signed a presidential proclamation reaffirming May 2012 as National Foster Care Month. It is nice that foster parents are appreciated from the very top of our government.

Click this link to read the proclamation.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/05/02/presidential-proclamation-national-foster-care-month

National Foster Parent Association Board Opportunties

Sarah Schafer — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:26:25 GMT

The National Foster Parent Association has three opportunties currently available to become involved with the NFPA Board. Please click here to obtain additional information surrounding these specific opportunties.

Research Project on Foster Parents Caring for Foreign-born Foster Children

Dennis Seger — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 00:35:57 GMT

Current and former foster parents of foreign born foster children and
youth, please assist a Syracuse University doctoral student and former
foster mom to better understand your foster parenting experiences!
Your participation in this brief survey will help the researcher to
gather important data for improving the lives of foster kids!

This survey is for research purposes and will take you approximately
twenty minutes to complete. For further information, please contact
Brandy Witthoft at bwitthof@maxwell.syr.edu or at (703) 960-1436.
Please click here to take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N22DR3D

Upcoming University of Phoenix Scholarship Opportunity

Sarah Schafer — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:53:33 GMT

It is that time of year again! Open application for the University of Phoenix Scholarship is April 24, 2012. Click here to view the flyer. Please follow this link to obtain additional information surrounding this given scholarship opportunity!

Date Change for Submission of NFPA 2012 Conference Award Forms: Deadline April 27, 2012

Sarah Schafer — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:19:02 GMT

Please be advised that the new deadline for the submission of the NFPA 2012 Conference Award Forms are, April 27, 2012. Please view the 2012 conference page for additional information and award forms.

Annual Election for NFPA will take place February 22nd-March 22nd

Sarah Schafer — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:31:50 GMT

This year, member are voting for President, Treasurer, and Regional Vice Presidents for Regions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Information surrounding the nominees can be found on the elections page.

Asian American Journalists Association Student Programs Update

Sarah Schafer — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:09:44 GMT

Dear Students and Partners in Education,

Please see the following opportunities that AAJA has to offer students. These are great opportunities so please don't miss the deadlines. For high school students, we want to emphasize J Camp and the CIC/Anna Chennault Scholarship. The deadline for the scholarship has been extended to February 20th. For college students, please apply for the NBC partnership and Unity Student Projects.

See the Asian American Journalists Association Student Programs Update for more details.

Information Regarding the Foster Care to Success/Casey Family Scholarship Program

Sarah Schafer — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:56:18 GMT

Foster Care to Success (for the past 30 years known as Orphan Foundation of America) is the nation’s oldest and largest organization with the sole purpose of helping young people transition from foster care to successful adulthood through education. Thousands of youth from every state have attended school and graduated with support from Foster Care to Success, and are now contributing members of their communities.

Each year we fund approximately 100 new students through the Casey Family Scholars and Foster Care to Success scholarship programs. Applicants must have been in care for the 12 months prior to their 18^th birthday and scholarships are awarded based on a combination of merit and need. The online application is open between January 1 and March 31 annually. For more information including complete eligibility requirements and to submit an application, visit www.fc2success.org.

We're making BIG plans for the conference!

LaShaun Wallace — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:50:28 GMT

NFPA, in partnership with the Illinois Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, is making BIG plans for NFPA's 42nd annual Education Conference. Check out the 2012 NFPA Conference link (on the left-side column) for more information.

International Student Foundation seeks scholarship applicants

LaShaun Wallace — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:37:24 GMT

The International Student Foundation, a nonprofit that provides scholarships, mentoring and leadership training for select foster care and orphaned students, is accepting applications for scholarships to college for the Fall 2012 – Spring 2013 academic year.

Young adults who have either aged-out, or who will age-out soon and want to pursue a higher-level education, contact Renee LeClair at renee@isfsite.org.

Applications will be accepted until March 31, 2012.

Call 972.267.8188 or visit the website at www.isfsite.org.

The Do Something Awards: a chance to nominate youth-led projects

Sarah Schafer — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:32:02 GMT

I'm reaching out to you on behalf of DoSomething.org, the one of the nation’s largest organization devoted to the funding of young social entrepreneurs. Our largest grant program, The Do Something Awards, might be a good fit for exceptional youth leaders raising awareness to fostercare.

The Do Something Awards (formerly the BR!CK Awards) identifies exceptional young social entrepreneurs, activists, and community leaders who have a significant social impact. The Do Something Award nominees and winners are the pivotal "do-ers" in their fields and causes. For this year's awards five finalists will be selected and rewarded with a $10,000 community grant, participation in the third Do Something Awards TV show on VH1, media coverage, and continued support from DoSomething.org. Of those five nominees, one will be selected to win the Grand Prize, a $100,000 grant, which will be announced during the broadcast.

I would appreciate your help in one of two ways: I hope you'll help me share this opportunity with the members of your organization (you can use the paragraph above to share with your communities). Additionally, you can recommend people for the award by filling out a simple nomination form at www.dosomething.org/awards. Quantity of applications is not a concern. Rather, we want to identify the "best-in-class" activists, leaders, and social entrepreneurs age 25 and under. Applicants must be citizens or residents of the U.S. or Canada and must apply by March 1st, 2012, although applying earlier is strongly encouraged.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch with any questions or thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you.

Amanda

dsawards@dosomething.org

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Do Something Awards Team

http://www.dosomething.org/awards

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Do Something Awards Team
http://www.dosomething.org/awards

2012 NFPA Youth Scholarship Application Now Available!

Sarah Schafer — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:40:32 GMT

The National Foster Parent Association offers scholarships for foster youth, adopted youth, or biological youth of currently licensed foster parents, who wish to further their education beyond high school, including college or university studies, vocational/technical school or junior college.

Please see the Youth Scholarship Info webpage for details and application forms.

Everyone Can Make a Difference2: Small Ideas Creating Big Change for Students in Foster Care

Sarah Schafer — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:11:32 GMT

BrightSpotsIssue_2 (00005473).pdf

Education is The Lifeline for Youth in Foster Care

Sarah Schafer — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:10:29 GMT

NationalWGFosterCareEducationDataSheetOctober2011FINAL (00005426).pdf

Everyone Can Make a Difference: Small Ideas Creating Big Change for Students in Foster Care

Sarah Schafer — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:06:47 GMT

EveryoneCanMakeaDifference BrightSpotsVolume1 (00005223).pdf

Fostering Families Today magazine needs articles on parenting of teens

Dennis Seger — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:49:53 GMT

Kim Hansel, editor of Fostering Families Today magazine is putting together their March/April issue that will focus on parenting teens. She's getting articles together and wondering if you have any friends who are parenting teens who would want to write something or be interviewed about their experiences.

Here are a couple of the specific topics they are looking to address:

Parenting teens and their children -- how do you help foster teens learn to become parents and not repeat the cycle
What is unique about parenting teens
What works for disciplining teens
How do you build a relationship with a teen when they come to you so much later
Preparing teens for after care -- what do they need to know to live in the adult world...helping them get into college, find jobs, etc.

The deadline for articles if people would like to write is Jan. 6 and articles are typically 1,200 words in length. If you know someone who would be willing to do an interview please contact:

Kim Hansel at editor@adoptinfo.net or call 888-924-6736

Also, if there are any foster teens/young adults who would like to share their perspective that would be great as well.

More info at www.adoptinfo.net

NFPA Board Nominations are Open

Dennis Seger — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 01:40:03 GMT

NFPA Members,

Nominations are now open for seven positions on the NFPA Board of Directors.

President
Treasurer
Region 2 Vice President
Region 4 Vice President
Region 6 Vice President
Region 8 Vice President
Region 10 Vice President

Valid nominees will be presented to the voting membership for election in the spring of 2012. The elected positions will serve a term from July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2014.

Nomination requirements and forms are available at the NFPA elections web page.

Note that completed nominations must be received by the NFPA office no later than December 31, 2011.

All members are encouraged to nominate someone for these positions. Self-nominations are accepted as well. This is an opportunity for you or your nominee to become actively involved in improving foster care in the US. If becoming a board member is more than you can commit to, please consider joining one of our committees. All members are encouraged to participate in NFPA. Contact us at info@NFPAonline.org for more information.

If you have any questions about the nomination process, please contact the chairman of the Nominations Committee:
Ron Clanton
602-867-9473
rlclantonassociates@iglide.net

Foster Youth Internship Program Due January 6, 2012

Sarah Schafer — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:12:33 GMT

The Foster Youth Internship Program of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) is an internship program for young adults who spent at least 24 consecutive months in foster care at any point in their life and who have completed at least 4 semesters of higher education by May 29, 2012. CCAI places these interns in Congressional offices in Washington, DC for a 9-week internship program. The goal of the program is to educate policymakers about the experiences of foster youth in an effort to inspire legislative improvements to the foster care system. Interns participating in this program benefit both personally and professionally, gaining experience and networking with professionals from various fields that will bolster their careers for years to come. In addition, interns are given the opportunity to share their recommendations for improving foster care by writing a policy report that is presented at a briefing and disseminated to policymakers and advocates across the country. Housing, travel, and a weekly stipend are provided by CCAI. Applications are accepted now until January 6, 2012. The program will run May 29-July 28, 2012. For more information and to apply, visit www.ccainstitute.org/fyiapply or contact Emily Collins at Emily@ccainstitute.org or 202-544-8500.

Rise and Shine - Song for National Adoption Month

Dennis Seger — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:16:06 GMT

Here is a real nice song written by Judge Jim Barfield from Georgia in honor of National Adoption Month. The song is titled Rise and Shine. We hope you enjoy it, and thanks to Judge Barfield for allowing NFPA to share it.

Give to NFPA through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC)

Dennis Seger — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 03:56:56 GMT

The Combined Federal Campaign affords federal employees and armed services members the opportunity to give to charities through payroll deductions. The funding that NFPA receives through CFC allows the organization to provide support, advocacy and educational opportunities for foster parents nationally. Please consider donating to the NFPA through the CFC.
The NFPA organization number is 11817.
Thank you for your support!