Foster Parent Assoication

I've been a board member of our Foster Parent Association for the last few years, first serving as just a general board member, then as secretary, and then last year as Vice President/President Elect. And now, starting today, I have begun my term as President. This organization, although a good one, and one that has been around this area for 20+ years, had hit a rough spot a few years back. Over the last few years, the organization has really started to turn around, and has gotten stronger. I am really looking forward to this next year as President. I have some goals to accomplish, and I am hoping that they can be realized. I want our organization to focus on three areas - Education/Training of Foster Parents, Implementation of Services for Foster Families and Foster Children, and Social Activities for Foster Families and Foster Children. We are working hard on a few items that hit each of these goals.

First, a clothing room that can provide foster families and foster children (and adoptive families and relative placement families) with clothing and children's items (toys, books, home furnishings, etc). We are working with a local church network that is taking one of their older buildings and turning it into a community center. The exciting thing is that the center is located in the zip code of the highest amount of foster children placements. We are excited about partnering with this church group to really get into the neighborhoods of the highest needs.

Second, we are working on a mini-conference in September to help give much needed training hours to our foster parents in the areas they most need help. Our first mini conference was last fall, and it went extremely well! We had high attendance, we were able to provide child care, and the department really helped us out with it.

Third, we are working on both a summer picnic and a fall festival for our families. Both provide a great time of fun and fellowship for our foster families, all while keeping it safe for the kiddos.

This will be a great year - I am really looking forward to it!