Menu
Log in
Forgot password

Our Mission is to be a respected national voice for Foster, Kinship and Adoptive Parents through networking, education and advocacy.
Log in

BECOME A
FOSTER PARENT

In foster care, children are provided with a safe, nurturing, loving family for a temporary period of time.

          • It's Challenging
          • It's Rewarding
          • It's Life Changing









NFPA CELEBRATES CHILD WELFARE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MONTH &
CHILD WELFARE WORKER APPRECIATION WEEK
'Take a Moment'

According to the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute, September is a celebration of Child Welfare Workforce Development Month, including Child Welfare Worker Appreciation Week.

Foster parents understand that the most essential professionals with whom we interact are child welfare workers. They recruit us, prepare us with family assessments (home studies), and preservice training. We are introduced to the children who join our families through them. We meet the birth families of the children in our care through the meetings they arrange. They inform us of court dates and are responsible for working with us when children leave our care, hopefully for a permanency outcome. In fact, all aspects of family foster care except for the round-the-clock parenting that is our responsibility and privilege requires a teamwork relationship with a child welfare worker.

Across the country, both public and private agencies are finding it challenging to retain and recruit child welfare workers as well as foster parents. Numerous studies, reports, and the media continue to document the policy and practice reasons that require the networking, education, and advocacy that is the mission of the NFPA.

This year’s Development Month and Appreciation Week theme is “Take a Moment.” Let’s take a moment to acknowledge the significant roles and responsibilities of the child welfare workers who connect us to our own privilege of being foster families.

For more information, contact the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute at www.ncwwi.org. 

Contributed by Eileen Mayers Pasztor, DSW, Professor Emerita, School of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach


Celebrating Kinship Care

September is Kinship Care Month, recognizing relatives, members of tribes and clans, and non-related extended family members who provide round the clock protecting and nurturing for their younger family members. Learn More >> 



Be sure to visit us on Facebook for a photo gallery from the event!



Annual Membership Meeting

During our 'Making Connections' conference, our Annual Membership Meeting for 2022 was conducted.

During that meeting we shared the following documents.

  • 2022 Impact Report with vital statistics about the work we're doing with other organizations and partners, our COSA membership, scholarships, our developing role with CHAMPS data, and more!  Print a PDF copy of the report HERE.
  • NFPA Membership Meeting Minutes. PDF is available HERE.
  • Our Statement of Financial Position (Unaudited). PDF is available HERE.





A note of appreciation to Foster Parents in honor of May's Foster Parent Appreciation Month!

Foster parents are our country's largest group of volunteers, providing round-the-clock safety and well-being for many thousands of infants, children, and young people separated from their birth families by child protective services. Foster parents support reunification with their birth families, adoption, and any effort to be certain the children in our care are connected with at least one adult relationship that is safe, nurturing, and lasting.

During this National Foster Care Month, the NFPA sends the warmest of best wishes to you and your families. Please see our website for the many resources in support of our mission to provide networking, education, and advocacy.

We hope to see you at our National Conference in Reston, Virginia June 23 - 25.

Eileen Mayers Pasztor, DSW
Professor Emerita
School of Social Work
California State University, Long Beach

On Behalf of the NFPA Board of Directors, Staff & Public Policy Committee



Read Executive Director Arnie Eby's Article in the Recent Fostering Families Today Magazine!

Click HERE to download a copy of the article, and to find out why the words, 'I'm living my best life ever!' gave joy to a tired Foster Parent.






Get to Know our Executive Director, Arnie Eby

Arnie is known as 'Mr. Arnold' to over 130 children in foster care that joined the Eby family over the years; ‘The Monster' in roughly one million (and counting) games of monster tag; and as just 'Arnie' to his friends. He has been married to his wife Donna for 30 years, and together they have been foster parents for over 20 years, including three foster children (ages 5, 7 & 9) through the COVID-19 pandemic. They are the parents to three daughters and three sons, four of which are adopted from the foster care system.

Arnie most recently served as the Executive Director of the Maryland Resource Parent Association (MRPA) and has been involved with MRPA in various capacities since its inception 17 years ago. He is also the past Chair of the Maryland Children’s Justice Act Committee, and serves on multiple other national, state, and local government committees, including as the current Public Policy Chair for the National Foster Parent Association. The NFPA is excited to bring Arnie's leadership and expertise onboard.

Please join us in welcoming Arnold “Arnie” Eby to the National Foster Parent Association!  



Are you looking for quality training opportunities for Foster, Kinship and Adoptive parents that are ONLINE, FREE and targeted to your specific needs?

Then be sure to have a look at NFPAti! There are dozens of valuable training sessions that you can take - on your schedule, when it's convenient. 

You will receive a Training Certificate when each course is completed.

Visit the Training Institute now to enroll in the session - or sessions - that are of most value to YOU!


GET INVOLVED

NFPA has an important mission to support the care givers of our nation's most vulnerable children and youth.  What can you do?

    • Volunteer - As a volunteer based organization, NFPA relies on people like you.  Join one of our committees, volunteer to support our events, or even help provide content for our website
    • Join the Friends of NFPA - make a monthly donation pledge and be recognized for your on-going support.
    • Donate - Make a one-time donation by check or credit card. 
    • Become a Member - membership is open to any individual concerned with the welfare of children in the foster care system.

WALK ME HOME

Walk Me Home.... to the place I belong is the signature fund-raising and awareness event for foster care in America. We know not everyone can be a foster parent, but Walk Me Home is a great way to support the over 437,000 children in foster care. 

This year thousands and thousands of walkers will participate in Walk Me Home events across the country, raising funds to support the life changing programs and activities of foster care associations throughout the United States.  

Learn more about how to get involved here. 

ABOUT NFPA

The National Foster Parent Association is a non-profit, volunteer organization established in 1972 as a result of the concerns of several independent groups that felt the country needed a national organization to meet the needs of foster families in the United States.

Today, NFPA has grown from an original group of 926 foster parents, 210 social workers and 59 other professionals to an organization that represents thousands of foster families nationwide through foster parent affiliates.

This mission of the NFPA is to be a respected national voice for foster, kinship, and adoptive families through networking, education, and advocacy.



The National Foster Parent Association is a champion for the thousands of families that open their hearts and their homes to the over 400,000 children in out-of-home placement in the US. The NFPA believes in the importance of family-based care for foster children and that every child deserves support and a permanent family.

©2020 National Foster Parent Association | All Rights Reserved

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software