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FSFAPA Year 2010 in Review by President Kimberly Hernandez
It has been my pleasure to serve you this year along with the FSFAPA board. Below you will find a few of the ways that FSFAPA has represented our membership this past year.
- Board members served on local Community Alliance Boards
- Representation on Foster Parent Advisory Boards
- Provided quarterly meetings statewide
- Provided monthly conference call trainings
- Offered support during allegations with our Foster Allegation Support Team (F.A.S.T.) program
- Representation in Tallahassee during Awareness Day in April
- Attendance in One Church, One Child meeting
- Participated in the Quality Parenting Initiative statewide
- Attendance at North American Council on Adoptable Children conference
- Regional Vice Presidents' representation at local Foster/Adoptive Parent Associations
- Representation during Partnership Agreement workgroup (formerly Bilateral Agreement)
- Attendance at Florida Coalition for Children annual conference in October
As FSFAPA's president, I also participated in the following:
- Independent Living Service Advisory Board
- Governor's Task Force on Fostering Success
- Served as the National Foster Parent Association State Affiliates' representative for Florida
- Presented before the Philanthropic Network
- Presented at the Dependency Summit for foster parents
- Participated in the Dependency Summit Planning to ensure a training track for foster/adoptive parents
Adoptive Parent Bill of Rights Draft
FSFAPA would like all foster and adoptive parents to review the draft of the Adoptive Parent Bill of Rights (attached here). Your feedback is important in order to ensure this document is as strong and complete as possible. In the coming months we will work to incorporate this into what we at FSFAPA stand for and we hope to have it written into legislation. Please provide feedback to Chris Goncalo at cgoncalo@msn.com by Jan. 15, 2011.
Just In Time Training Event, Jan. 18
Florida's Quality Parenting Initiative invites foster parents and others to participate in "Bridging the Gap: The Foster Parent/Birth Parent Connection, Part 1 of 2." The webcast will take place January 18 from 3-4 p.m. EST. Presenter Denise Goodman will examine the benefits and challenges of the partnership between foster parents and the child's parent and highlight a variety of ways and opportunities for the relationship to grow and develop that will feel comfortable for all involved.
Watch this webcast at www.qpiflorida.com. Click on the triangular play button to begin viewing (a new window will open).
FSFAPA Quarterly Meeting
The next FSFAPA Quarterly Meeting will be held Feb. 12, 2011 in West Palm Beach. All foster/adoptive parents are invited to attend. The schedule is listed below:
Saturday, Feb. 12:
10 a.m. - noon.: President's Council -- Open to all local association presidents or representatives
10 a.m. - noon: F.A.S.T. Training -- Open to anyone interested in attending
1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Quarterly Membership Meeting (Topic: Advocacy and Awareness Day in April)
6 p.m. - 9 p.m.: FSFAPA Board Meeting
Meeting Location (UPDATED):
Foster Adoptive Parent Association of Palm Beach County
4100 Okeechobee Blvd.
West Palm Beach, FL
Hotel accommodations can be acquired at:
Holiday Inn Palm Beach Airport
1301 Belvedere Road
West Palm Beach, FL 3340
Rate is $99/night
Contact your CBC or provider representative to discuss mileage and/or hotel reimbursement for attending FSFAPA's Quarterly Meeting as there are training hours available.
If you are in need of child care, please contact Trudy Petkovich at petkovij@me.com.
Monthly Conference Call (February)
Please join us for our monthly conference call on Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 at 8:30 p.m.
Guest Speaker -- Judith Karim
Topic -- Independent Living Rollout
Here's how to access the conference call:
Dial 1.888.808.6959
Punch in the PIN 9229094# when prompted
You're in!
FSFAPA Open Positions
FSFAPA has the following volunteer positions available: Fund Development and Webmaster. Please e-mail President Kimberly Hernandez at kimh@fsfapa.org for more information or a list of duties for the positions.
Q&A with FSFAPA
Have you ever wanted to know something about the foster or adoptive care process but didn't feel comfortable asking? Send us your questions (fsfapanewsletter@gmail.com) and we'll try to get them answered. To help others who might have the same questions/concerns, we'll post the question and answer in our next e-mail newsletter. (Note: No names or identifying information will be used.)
Send Us Your News
FSFAPA would like to share your news with the state. Send any news and/or photos of events happening in your area to fsfapanewsletter@gmail.com.
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