—Oscar Arias Sanchez, Nobel Peace Prize LaureateFrom these actions come real change.
Stand up and speak out and unite
Welcome.
When your a foster parent, you may not always understand how to best advocate for the child that is in your home, because child welfare laws and protections are complicated and confusing. At Foster Parent Advocacy Foundation Inc we're here to help you understand your rights as a foster parent and the child's rights so you can use your knowledge to take action on behalf of your child. You can look to us for guidance in becoming the best advocate you can possibly be – at the local (i.e., classroom) level, and, when you’re ready, at the district, state, and federal levels.
FPA Foundation Inc provide trainings! We'll be focusing on legislative activities happening in Washington, D.C. — and how we (and you!) can be involved in the upcoming changes that are likely to take place. We'll translate those legislative happenings so that you can better understand what they mean for you as a foster Parent and the child in foster care.
Foster Parent Advocacy Foundation Inc is heavenly committed to the social change of foster parents and foster children in the child welfare system. FPA is designed to meet the needs that are not met otherwise. FPA is committed to foster children and foster parents parents and are vigilant towards our mission. Our services are innovative, exploratory and catered to the needs of foster parents and youths in foster care.
Advocacy requires both the will to confront injustice and the commitment to transform it. There, FPA’s daily “rescue missions” for children and foster parents engaged it in the fight for services that they need. FPA helps to improve the lives of children and foster parents who, otherwise, might have waited unnoticed, vulnerable and suffering, with no advocate to witness their pain and give voice to their needs.
Children in foster care are one of the most vulnerable populations. Presently, there are 13,000 children in the NYC foster care system, and a shortage of foster parents in NYC. These children suffer daily from a lack of services provided by foster care agencies. As a result, these children may face homelessness, unemployment, little to no education, and contribute to higher crime rates.
When your a foster parent, you may not always understand how to best advocate for the child that is in your home, because child welfare laws and protections are complicated and confusing. At Foster Parent Advocacy Foundation Inc we're here to help you understand your rights as a foster parent and the child's rights so you can use your knowledge to take action on behalf of your child. You can look to us for guidance in becoming the best advocate you can possibly be – at the local (i.e., classroom) level, and, when you’re ready, at the district, state, and federal levels.
FPA Foundation Inc provide trainings! We'll be focusing on legislative activities happening in Washington, D.C. — and how we (and you!) can be involved in the upcoming changes that are likely to take place. We'll translate those legislative happenings so that you can better understand what they mean for you as a foster Parent and the child in foster care.
Foster Parent Advocacy Foundation Inc is heavenly committed to the social change of foster parents and foster children in the child welfare system. FPA is designed to meet the needs that are not met otherwise. FPA is committed to foster children and foster parents parents and are vigilant towards our mission. Our services are innovative, exploratory and catered to the needs of foster parents and youths in foster care.
Advocacy requires both the will to confront injustice and the commitment to transform it. There, FPA’s daily “rescue missions” for children and foster parents engaged it in the fight for services that they need. FPA helps to improve the lives of children and foster parents who, otherwise, might have waited unnoticed, vulnerable and suffering, with no advocate to witness their pain and give voice to their needs.
Children in foster care are one of the most vulnerable populations. Presently, there are 13,000 children in the NYC foster care system, and a shortage of foster parents in NYC. These children suffer daily from a lack of services provided by foster care agencies. As a result, these children may face homelessness, unemployment, little to no education, and contribute to higher crime rates.
The ecomony has changed, however the needs of foster children have not changed at all. Agencies need to provide loving supportive homes for each child that awaits foster care. Youths that 'age out' of foster care make up the majority of our homeless population. 40% of foster youths do not graduate from high school. These kids deserve better; they need guidance, support, and advocates to fight for their rights – especially when agencies chooses not to do so.
Nearly 700,000 abused and neglected children will spend time in foster care in the United States this year. What they all have in common as they enter our nation’s child welfare systems is the need for safe and stable homes. What too many will have in common as they make their way through those systems is the stuff of nightmares.
Some will be separated from their siblings. Many will be bounced from one unstable foster care placement to another, never knowing when their lives will be uprooted next. Some will suffer additional abuse and neglect at the hands of the people entrusted with their protection. Many will be denied adequate health care, education, and other fundamental necessities.
Some will be warehoused in institutions and group homes — the modern-day equivalent of the orphanages of old — and many will languish in foster care for years, without any prospect of growing up in stable, permanent homes. And many of these children will be seriously, permanently damaged as a result
Entering foster care in the U.S. were children of color.
In 2009, more than half of the children entering foster care in the U.S. were children of color. Black or African American children are more likely than other children to be reported, investigated, substantiated, and placed in foster care. These children stay longer in care and are less likely to be reunified with their families. Thirty-one percent of the children in foster care are African American, double the percent of African American children in the population in America. While African American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system in every state, Asian children tend to be underrepresented.
Children of color, especially black children, and often American Indian children, face significant disparity within the child welfare system. They are more likely to have longer placements in out-of-home care, are less likely to receive comprehensive services, and are less likely to reunify with their families than white children. The rates of child welfare involvement for black and American Indian children are more than twice those of white children. In one California study, two in five black children were likely to experience child welfare involvement by the time they were seven years old and one in 10 was likely to have experienced at least one foster care placement.
There is a strong correlation between race and permanent placement. While African American children are adopted at the same rate as other races, the adoption process takes much longer for these children than for others, with less chance of reunification with biological parents. Under the Constitution and under the law, children dependent on child welfare systems have rights — and FPA-Foundation Inc is dedicated to protecting them.
Children in foster care and others dependent on public child welfare systems have important legal rights under the United States Constitution and federal and state law, including:
• The right to be protected from abuse, neglect, or other maltreatment in foster homes, group homes, and other placements. Foster parents and facility staff must be properly monitored and screened. Any alleged maltreatment must be quickly and thoroughly investigated.
• The right to adequate food, clothing, and shelter.
• The right to an appropriate, stable placement in the least restrictive situation possible.
• The right to regular medical and dental care, and any necessary mental health services.
• The right to needed developmental and educational services.
• The right to case-planning services and a permanent home consistent with the purposes of your custody.
• The right not to deteriorate while in state custody.
• The right not to be discriminated against based on race, religion, or gender
FPA- fights to protect children because they cannot protect themselves.
When we have determined that a failing child welfare system is harmful to children and resistant to other means of change, we take tough legal action to secure court orders mandating the system’s top-to-bottom reform. And we remain in place to monitor progress for as long as it takes to ensure that improvements are made and maintained.
We want to stop the inadequate services foster care agencies are failing to provide to foster parents and children. We need people of the community to get involved. These children need your help; be that voice in the community; reach out and support our cause. You can get involved by becoming a Foster Parent Advocate, or by making a donation. We need to provide every child in foster care with an advocate in order to keep them safe. Get involved - no foster child should be without a strong relationship to a caring adult they can depend on in times of need. Foster youths need your support now by providing advocates to fight for their rights. Foster Parents: we need you to come on board, speak out, and make that change.
With the help of more American's, the lives of these young people can change for the better. Nearly every community is suffering from a shortage of foster families. More and more children need you. Children in foster care feel more secure and are likely to do better in school when they are able to stay in their own communities. The simple truth is, the larger the pool of qualified foster parents, the easier it will be to ensure these children remain in their own neighborhoods and schools, and stay together with their siblings.Change the future for a young person in foster care. Find out how to get involved.
Our organization aims to provide a place for foster parents and children to receive adequate services.We provide advocates to foster parents, in turn helping the children in their care. We also work to provide youths who have 'aged out' of the child welfare system, with the services they are entitled to receive. We want to work to build relationships between agencies and foster parents, to ensure that parents and children in the foster care system receive the services they need.
Foster Parent Advocacy Foundation Inc is a 501C3 activist, advocacy non-profit organization, founded in 2008. FPA provides community resources, educational programs, and support and training services for foster parents and children in the child welfare system.
TAKE ACTION Foster ParentS
GET INVOLVED across the nation
FOSTER PARENTS CAN NO LONGER SIT IN SILENCE
We are now a national activist advocacy membership organization and would like for foster parents across the nation to join our movement and become a member to fight for foster care reform in your state
We will be starting chapters in every state but we need your help and support to do so to support foster parents & foster youths.
To start a chapter in your state we need 20 members to start. We will come to your state and start the movement. If you are interested in this cause and movement and want to be a proactive foster parents .
here is your chance to do so. We will not be silent -our voices will be heard. give us a call 1-646-402-6133.
"Understand that by fighting for the impossible, one begins to make it possible."
Stand up and speak out and unite
1-646-402-6133 or 1-888-692-9471
Nearly 700,000 abused and neglected children will spend time in foster care in the United States this year. What they all have in common as they enter our nation’s child welfare systems is the need for safe and stable homes. What too many will have in common as they make their way through those systems is the stuff of nightmares.
Some will be separated from their siblings. Many will be bounced from one unstable foster care placement to another, never knowing when their lives will be uprooted next. Some will suffer additional abuse and neglect at the hands of the people entrusted with their protection. Many will be denied adequate health care, education, and other fundamental necessities.
Some will be warehoused in institutions and group homes — the modern-day equivalent of the orphanages of old — and many will languish in foster care for years, without any prospect of growing up in stable, permanent homes. And many of these children will be seriously, permanently damaged as a result
Entering foster care in the U.S. were children of color.
In 2009, more than half of the children entering foster care in the U.S. were children of color. Black or African American children are more likely than other children to be reported, investigated, substantiated, and placed in foster care. These children stay longer in care and are less likely to be reunified with their families. Thirty-one percent of the children in foster care are African American, double the percent of African American children in the population in America. While African American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system in every state, Asian children tend to be underrepresented.
Children of color, especially black children, and often American Indian children, face significant disparity within the child welfare system. They are more likely to have longer placements in out-of-home care, are less likely to receive comprehensive services, and are less likely to reunify with their families than white children. The rates of child welfare involvement for black and American Indian children are more than twice those of white children. In one California study, two in five black children were likely to experience child welfare involvement by the time they were seven years old and one in 10 was likely to have experienced at least one foster care placement.
There is a strong correlation between race and permanent placement. While African American children are adopted at the same rate as other races, the adoption process takes much longer for these children than for others, with less chance of reunification with biological parents. Under the Constitution and under the law, children dependent on child welfare systems have rights — and FPA-Foundation Inc is dedicated to protecting them.
Children in foster care and others dependent on public child welfare systems have important legal rights under the United States Constitution and federal and state law, including:
• The right to be protected from abuse, neglect, or other maltreatment in foster homes, group homes, and other placements. Foster parents and facility staff must be properly monitored and screened. Any alleged maltreatment must be quickly and thoroughly investigated.
• The right to adequate food, clothing, and shelter.
• The right to an appropriate, stable placement in the least restrictive situation possible.
• The right to regular medical and dental care, and any necessary mental health services.
• The right to needed developmental and educational services.
• The right to case-planning services and a permanent home consistent with the purposes of your custody.
• The right not to deteriorate while in state custody.
• The right not to be discriminated against based on race, religion, or gender
FPA- fights to protect children because they cannot protect themselves.
When we have determined that a failing child welfare system is harmful to children and resistant to other means of change, we take tough legal action to secure court orders mandating the system’s top-to-bottom reform. And we remain in place to monitor progress for as long as it takes to ensure that improvements are made and maintained.
We want to stop the inadequate services foster care agencies are failing to provide to foster parents and children. We need people of the community to get involved. These children need your help; be that voice in the community; reach out and support our cause. You can get involved by becoming a Foster Parent Advocate, or by making a donation. We need to provide every child in foster care with an advocate in order to keep them safe. Get involved - no foster child should be without a strong relationship to a caring adult they can depend on in times of need. Foster youths need your support now by providing advocates to fight for their rights. Foster Parents: we need you to come on board, speak out, and make that change.
With the help of more American's, the lives of these young people can change for the better. Nearly every community is suffering from a shortage of foster families. More and more children need you. Children in foster care feel more secure and are likely to do better in school when they are able to stay in their own communities. The simple truth is, the larger the pool of qualified foster parents, the easier it will be to ensure these children remain in their own neighborhoods and schools, and stay together with their siblings.Change the future for a young person in foster care. Find out how to get involved.
Our organization aims to provide a place for foster parents and children to receive adequate services.We provide advocates to foster parents, in turn helping the children in their care. We also work to provide youths who have 'aged out' of the child welfare system, with the services they are entitled to receive. We want to work to build relationships between agencies and foster parents, to ensure that parents and children in the foster care system receive the services they need.
Foster Parent Advocacy Foundation Inc is a 501C3 activist, advocacy non-profit organization, founded in 2008. FPA provides community resources, educational programs, and support and training services for foster parents and children in the child welfare system.
TAKE ACTION Foster ParentS
GET INVOLVED across the nation
FOSTER PARENTS CAN NO LONGER SIT IN SILENCE
We are now a national activist advocacy membership organization and would like for foster parents across the nation to join our movement and become a member to fight for foster care reform in your state
We will be starting chapters in every state but we need your help and support to do so to support foster parents & foster youths.
To start a chapter in your state we need 20 members to start. We will come to your state and start the movement. If you are interested in this cause and movement and want to be a proactive foster parents .
here is your chance to do so. We will not be silent -our voices will be heard. give us a call 1-646-402-6133.
"Understand that by fighting for the impossible, one begins to make it possible."
Stand up and speak out and unite
1-646-402-6133 or 1-888-692-9471
Intake Procedure & 24-hour Hot-line Number
Our new location is at at 332 West 141 street and St Nicholas Avenue ground floor.
Our new location is at at 332 West 141 street and St Nicholas Avenue ground floor.
The hours of operation are the following:
Holidays Closed
Monday- 10:00am-5:00pm
Monday- 10:00am-5:00pm
Tuesday- 10:00am-5:00pm
Wednesday-10:00-5:00pm
Wednesday-10:00-5:00pm
Thursday-11:00am-7:00pm
Friday- 9:00am-:500pm
Weekends-Please call to find out about workshops giving on Saturday.
Please call 1-646-402-6133 to set up an Intake appointment or come in for a appointment to receive a Partnership Coordinator that will be asisting you with your case. You must complete the intake first. Please bring copies of the following documents for the intake appointment:
As of MARCH 1st,2013- We have changed our membership policy and all members are required to pay $30.00 monthly dues.All intake appointments are $50.00.
Membership fee which are due 1st of the month. nonmembers must pay $100 to prepare all paperwork and rebuttal. Must be paid before paperwork is send up to the state
Mapp Certificate
Foster Parent license
New York State ID
Court documents
Family Team Conference Notice
OSI determination letter
Independent review letter
Friday- 9:00am-:500pm
Weekends-Please call to find out about workshops giving on Saturday.
Please call 1-646-402-6133 to set up an Intake appointment or come in for a appointment to receive a Partnership Coordinator that will be asisting you with your case. You must complete the intake first. Please bring copies of the following documents for the intake appointment:
As of MARCH 1st,2013- We have changed our membership policy and all members are required to pay $30.00 monthly dues.All intake appointments are $50.00.
Membership fee which are due 1st of the month. nonmembers must pay $100 to prepare all paperwork and rebuttal. Must be paid before paperwork is send up to the state
Mapp Certificate
Foster Parent license
New York State ID
Court documents
Family Team Conference Notice
OSI determination letter
Independent review letter
Any other documents that are important to the case.
The monthly Membership fee helps the organization to contiue to provide services and programs for foster parents and youths. All membership fees are donated fee and are non refundable. You must be a pro active member when you join the organization or risk your membership being closed.
Fee for Service OSI/Advocacy Services
All OSI Cases -Will be a fee of $100 for preparation. A advocate will be assigned to prepare paper work and rebuttle. You will half to pay $50.00 for intake and $30.00 for monthly membership. You must bring in all paperwork 7 days after the inital interview.All fees goes toward the work that goes on the case such as paper work,copies,faxes, All fee must be paid during initial intake interview. We are not lawyers but child welfare advocates.
Fee for Service OSI/Advocacy Services
All OSI Cases -Will be a fee of $100 for preparation. A advocate will be assigned to prepare paper work and rebuttle. You will half to pay $50.00 for intake and $30.00 for monthly membership. You must bring in all paperwork 7 days after the inital interview.All fees goes toward the work that goes on the case such as paper work,copies,faxes, All fee must be paid during initial intake interview. We are not lawyers but child welfare advocates.
FPA News
FPA 2013 Event Calendar
Wait No More Foster Care Awareness Protest Rallies
Funded with our hard earned dollars, Child Protective Services (CPS) & Foster care agencies have taken absolute power with no regard to The Constitution of the United States of America. American's petitions to our elected representatives at the local, state, and federal levels are ignored, never answered and therefore, are never resolved. This problem affects families in every city and in every state spanning our entire nation. Violations occur in secret and are, (more often than not) upheld in Family Courts.
The unspeakable acts result in American Parents and children paying the ultimate price, their loss of each other.
CPS & foster care agencies is able to violate right’s simply because American's, for the most part do not understand their rights. In order to put a stop to these corruptions all Americans must have a thourough understanding of their rights as a United States Citizen and regularly excercise them!
Under The Constitution of The United States Of America.
"No man who is in a position of authority over them is above the law. Those who have been victimized have the real ability to seek civil and criminal punishment against those who use the authority of the state to act outside the law with impunity." Under The Constitution of the United States of America all Americans have the right to be free from threats, duress, coercion, or intimidation in their dealings with the State.
However, foster parents, Birth parents,foster youths are being subjected to threats, duress, and coercion on a daily bases. Foster parents have no rights and scare tactics are use toward them when they advocate for a foster child. Aged out youths are be coming homeless with no support systems. OSI false allegations are on the rise and innocent people are being effected by this. People in the system rights are being violated every single day by agencies and no one is being held accountable. Foster care is a business. This has to stop.
Poor parents often times are targeted to lose their children because they do not have the where-with-all to hire lawyers and fight the system. Being poor does not mean you are not a good parent or that you do not love your child, or that your child should be removed and placed with strangers;
• that all parents are capable of making mistakes and that making a mistake does not mean your children are always to be removed from the home. Even if the home is not perfect, it is home; and that’s where a child is the safest and where he or she wants to be, with family;
• that parenting classes, anger management classes, counseling referrals, therapy classes and on and on are demanded of parents with no compassion by the system even while they are at work and while their children are separated from them. This can take months or even years and it emotionally devastates both children and parents. Parents are victimized by “the system” that makes a profit for holding children longer and “bonuses” for not returning children;
• that caseworkers and social workers are oftentimes guilty of fraud. They withhold evidence. They fabricate evidence and they seek to terminate parental rights. However, when charges are made against them, the charges are ignored;
• that the separation of families is growing as a business because local governments have grown accustomed to having taxpayer dollars to balance their ever-expanding budgets;
• that Child Protective Service and Juvenile Court can always hide behind a confidentiality clause in order to protect their decisions and keep the funds flowing. There should be open records and “court watches”! Look who is being paid!
Come out and support the cause to bring awareness about what's going on in the foster care system. Foster care needs to be reform. Foster Parents are being disrespected and have no rights. Foster children are not getting the services that they need. Child abuse allegations are on the rise toward foster parents and they are not aware of their rights and steps that they need to take.
We have protested aganist 23 Foster care agencies . The Foster Care Awareness Protest Rallies were held in the 5 boroughs in July and August in order to bring awareness that foster parents and foster youths are facing.
Here are the agencies that we have protested against.We will continue to protest aganist any agency that violates the rights of a foster parent or foster youth.
1-Harlem Dowling-Harlem Location
2-New York Foundling-Harlem Location
3-Children Village-Bronx,Harlem location
4-J.C.C.A-Bronx location
5-Episcopal Social Service-Manhattan,Bronx
6-Children Aid Society-Manhattan
7-Good Shepherd-Bronx
8-Leake & Watts-Bronx
9-Catholic Guardian-Bronx,Harlem
10-Seamen's Society-Staten Island
11-St Dominic's-Bronx
12-Cardinal Mccloskey-Bronx
13-Heart Share-Brooklyn
14-Catholic Charities-Manhattam,Bronx
15-Little Flowers-Brooklyn
16-Edwin Gould-Brooklyn,Bronx
17-Administration for Children Services
18-St Vincent Services-Brooklyn
19-Graham Windham-Brooklyn
Wait No More Foster Care Awareness Protest Rallies
Funded with our hard earned dollars, Child Protective Services (CPS) & Foster care agencies have taken absolute power with no regard to The Constitution of the United States of America. American's petitions to our elected representatives at the local, state, and federal levels are ignored, never answered and therefore, are never resolved. This problem affects families in every city and in every state spanning our entire nation. Violations occur in secret and are, (more often than not) upheld in Family Courts.
The unspeakable acts result in American Parents and children paying the ultimate price, their loss of each other.
CPS & foster care agencies is able to violate right’s simply because American's, for the most part do not understand their rights. In order to put a stop to these corruptions all Americans must have a thourough understanding of their rights as a United States Citizen and regularly excercise them!
Under The Constitution of The United States Of America.
"No man who is in a position of authority over them is above the law. Those who have been victimized have the real ability to seek civil and criminal punishment against those who use the authority of the state to act outside the law with impunity." Under The Constitution of the United States of America all Americans have the right to be free from threats, duress, coercion, or intimidation in their dealings with the State.
However, foster parents, Birth parents,foster youths are being subjected to threats, duress, and coercion on a daily bases. Foster parents have no rights and scare tactics are use toward them when they advocate for a foster child. Aged out youths are be coming homeless with no support systems. OSI false allegations are on the rise and innocent people are being effected by this. People in the system rights are being violated every single day by agencies and no one is being held accountable. Foster care is a business. This has to stop.
Poor parents often times are targeted to lose their children because they do not have the where-with-all to hire lawyers and fight the system. Being poor does not mean you are not a good parent or that you do not love your child, or that your child should be removed and placed with strangers;
• that all parents are capable of making mistakes and that making a mistake does not mean your children are always to be removed from the home. Even if the home is not perfect, it is home; and that’s where a child is the safest and where he or she wants to be, with family;
• that parenting classes, anger management classes, counseling referrals, therapy classes and on and on are demanded of parents with no compassion by the system even while they are at work and while their children are separated from them. This can take months or even years and it emotionally devastates both children and parents. Parents are victimized by “the system” that makes a profit for holding children longer and “bonuses” for not returning children;
• that caseworkers and social workers are oftentimes guilty of fraud. They withhold evidence. They fabricate evidence and they seek to terminate parental rights. However, when charges are made against them, the charges are ignored;
• that the separation of families is growing as a business because local governments have grown accustomed to having taxpayer dollars to balance their ever-expanding budgets;
• that Child Protective Service and Juvenile Court can always hide behind a confidentiality clause in order to protect their decisions and keep the funds flowing. There should be open records and “court watches”! Look who is being paid!
Come out and support the cause to bring awareness about what's going on in the foster care system. Foster care needs to be reform. Foster Parents are being disrespected and have no rights. Foster children are not getting the services that they need. Child abuse allegations are on the rise toward foster parents and they are not aware of their rights and steps that they need to take.
We have protested aganist 23 Foster care agencies . The Foster Care Awareness Protest Rallies were held in the 5 boroughs in July and August in order to bring awareness that foster parents and foster youths are facing.
Here are the agencies that we have protested against.We will continue to protest aganist any agency that violates the rights of a foster parent or foster youth.
1-Harlem Dowling-Harlem Location
2-New York Foundling-Harlem Location
3-Children Village-Bronx,Harlem location
4-J.C.C.A-Bronx location
5-Episcopal Social Service-Manhattan,Bronx
6-Children Aid Society-Manhattan
7-Good Shepherd-Bronx
8-Leake & Watts-Bronx
9-Catholic Guardian-Bronx,Harlem
10-Seamen's Society-Staten Island
11-St Dominic's-Bronx
12-Cardinal Mccloskey-Bronx
13-Heart Share-Brooklyn
14-Catholic Charities-Manhattam,Bronx
15-Little Flowers-Brooklyn
16-Edwin Gould-Brooklyn,Bronx
17-Administration for Children Services
18-St Vincent Services-Brooklyn
19-Graham Windham-Brooklyn
Our Mission
It is our mission to help improve the quality of life for foster parents and children in foster care. We will be responsible for addressing the social service needs of the children in care, as well as the foster parents. At the same time we look for constructive ways to improve relationships between foster care agencies and foster parents and children, so that they may provide quality service. We are consistently open to finding new ways to achieve the mission and constantly seek ways to do our work and meet the needs of those we serve.
We use our diversity to gain new perspectives, collaborate with, and help strengthen foster care agencies through training and organizational development. Our standard is excellence and we will always work to exceed expectations. We strive toward continuous improvement in all we do!
We thank you in advance for your time, attention and support. We look forward to hearing from you, working with you as a team and building a relationship with you, your staff and your foster parents. We hope that our mission coincides with yours and that we can partner together to provide the best quality services for foster parents and children in foster care. None of us can change our yesterdays, but all of us can change our tomorrows.
It is our mission to help improve the quality of life for foster parents and children in foster care. We will be responsible for addressing the social service needs of the children in care, as well as the foster parents. At the same time we look for constructive ways to improve relationships between foster care agencies and foster parents and children, so that they may provide quality service. We are consistently open to finding new ways to achieve the mission and constantly seek ways to do our work and meet the needs of those we serve.
We use our diversity to gain new perspectives, collaborate with, and help strengthen foster care agencies through training and organizational development. Our standard is excellence and we will always work to exceed expectations. We strive toward continuous improvement in all we do!
We thank you in advance for your time, attention and support. We look forward to hearing from you, working with you as a team and building a relationship with you, your staff and your foster parents. We hope that our mission coincides with yours and that we can partner together to provide the best quality services for foster parents and children in foster care. None of us can change our yesterdays, but all of us can change our tomorrows.
Copyright © 2010 Foster Parent Advocacy Foundation Inc. All rights reserved.
Welcome
Foster Parent Advocacy Foundation Inc Events for foster Parents and youths.
No family deserves harmful treatment by a child welfare agency.
This information has been developed to help foster parents and foster parent deal with reports of child maltreatment involving their homes. Please keep in mind these things:
· All foster families have a common issue regarding how abuse/neglect reports are handled in many locales. No family deserves harmful treatment by a child welfare agency.
· Foster families in many nations are at higher risk of report of maltreatment than the general public, although substantiation rates are lower.
· Joint solutions arrived at by foster parents and child welfare agencies at local, state, Provincial, and national levels are needed to address the problem.
· It is unreasonable to believe that most reports of maltreatment can be prevented.
(One can and should work to prevent maltreatment.)
ADVANCE PREPARATION
· Prepare as if it is going to happen to you. Expect that you or a family member may be reported for child maltreatment and, no matter what your relationship with the agency, the report must be taken seriously.
· Foster parents need to know or learn about what the agency (or agencies) will do; what do the child protection laws mean for reports involving foster families
agency policy and procedures: of your agency and of agency responsible for child protection;
exactly what to expect from your agency, from child protective services and from law enforcement personnel, when your home is reported for abuse/neglect;
whether your family has a specific way to give input into the investigation;
how the investigation will be conducted regarding foster parents, own and foster children, others;
under what circumstances and when and how foster children will be removed;
whether, when and how foster family is notified of finding–was report substantiated, not substantiated, unable to determine;
How a report may affect pending adoption;
On what basis will agency revoke foster home license or fail to renew license;
What appeal procedures are available at agency level; at state or Provincial level
.
Know what resources and services may be available to your family.
Are there agency guidebook pages, policy pages, other written material available?
Does agency maintain or cut-off communication of social workers with foster families?
Do any support persons or support groups exist for reported foster families? (A few agencies and foster parent associations provide these.)
What are the available resources to provide legal information, legal advice and, sometimes, legal representation?
· Know the strengths and weakness of your family as a foster family as seen by
the agency. (This is a good idea for foster care work in general.)
Foster families need support through the long process of abuse/neglect report, investigation, disposition and other possible agency actions.
This may last for many months. Support is important to foster families both in
terms of their agency and fellow foster parents and in terms of their communities.
Actions which foster parents can take:
1. Request education on child protection law specifically as it affects reported foster
families. This should include information on guaranteed anonymity of the reporter, the need to take every report seriously; and how the legal status of foster parents differs from that of natural parents. It should also clarify how the terms used to indicate substantiated or unsubstantiated abuse differ from
"innocent" and "guilty".
2. Request written information from your agency (and from the public agency which
will investigate report of maltreatment in a foster home) on exactly what can be
expected once abuse/neglect is reported. Ask that it be put in the foster care
handbook. Ask that it be made available to all foster families, including newlylicensed
families. Make request in writing, dated.
3. Request a current written evaluation of your foster home and specific feedback on
any concerns the agency has in regard to your home. Do not accept verbal
information only. If given verbal evaluation only, write a letter (keep copy) to
confirm what you heard said.
· Be prepared and willing to accept negatives in the evaluation and work to make
change as needed. Write to show when they are corrected.
· If the agency concerns are without basis, respond in writing to show what is not
accurate and invite further discussion.
· Do not assume, because you are continually asked to handle difficult children,
that the agency sees you as a highly capable family.
· Having a clear picture of your family's strengths and weaknesses is a standard
part of good foster care practice and can help you work well with an agency and
reduce staff concerns when a report of maltreatment is received. It is also good
"insurance" against any pretext in the future for non-renewal of license.
4. Keep a dated, written journal of all important events involving foster care in your home and also of all communication and contacts with the agency, bio family, and others as needed.
· This is different from the child's record, which goes with the child. This is an important record, which stays with you and may be crucial to supporting your version of the situation in an appeals hearing.
5. When asking for assistance -- for examples in managing a particular child -- put the request both in the journal and in a dated, signed letter, and keep a copy.· If you repeat the request, record this in the journal and send another signed, dated, letter and keep a copy.
· These written requests may assist you and your worker to get the assistance needed. Your written records may also prove important later to supporting what you say.
6.Plan in advance for support to yourself and your family.
· Ask if the agency will provide support/from staff not involved in the investigation or from specifically designated foster parents. (Some agencies do. Many may not, due to confusion of "support" with "taking sides", and/or to concern about weakening a legal case. However, it is worth asking and reminds the agency of
its service mission.)
· Ask your foster parent association to provide support for reported foster families.(Some associations now do this.) work to help set up a support system.
· Select a few persons in your community who are important to you -- a friend, minister, neighbor, employer -- with whom you will discuss abuse/neglect reportsin foster care. Let them know a) that foster families are at high risk to be reported and that your family is no exception; b) that child protection requires that all reports be looked into seriously; c) what the agency is likely to do when abuse is reported; d) that, due to observing confidentiality, you will not be discussing your foster children's lives.
· Ask if these persons would be willing to give support, not take sides, should a report involving your family be made.
7, Ask your agency and foster parent association to begin work in advance on legal resources for foster families who may be reported. These include resources for legal information, advice, and, perhaps, legal representation. There is little generally available to provide legal information, advice and/or representation for foster families reported for child abuse or neglect.
· Begin by asking (both foster parent association and agency) for training meetings on legal considerations when abuse is reported. Invite speakers who are attorneys, law enforcement personnel, protective services staff, and others.
· Consider developing written information for foster parents on their legal and other rights when abuse is reported; how to know what they need legal help for and how to find competent legal advice.
· Caution: For many aspects of abuse investigation work, legal representation is not required and may not be useful unless foster families can find attorneys knowledgeable about foster care and child protective services. In addition, the legal fees can be very high due to time spent learning about the system.($)
8. Work in advance with your agency and your foster parent association on developing good policies for responding to foster families when abuse is reported.
WHEN MALTREATMENT HAS BEEN REPORTED
· Much less can be done "after the fact," after report occurs.
· The situation is complicated by foster family stress and by agency noncooperation in many instances.
· Expect that agency policies may mean it will act rapidly whether or not there is any indication or risk of child abuse/neglect: may include cutoff of communication; removals of foster children; non-return of foster children;
removal or non-renewal of license and/or no further placements of children.
· You need to learn what your agency’s policies and child protection agency policies are.
Foster parent actions
1. *IMPORTANT* Do not isolate yourselves, especially from other foster parents.
Do not stigmatize and stress yourselves and others by keeping this crisis a
"secret." Remember that foster families are at risk to be reported.
· Confidentiality of children's lives must be maintained, of course, but does not
prohibit you from saying you have been reported for maltreatment!
· "Confidentiality" applies to client lives; it does not interfere with rights to
individual freedom of speech (U.S. First Amendment).
2. Request assistance from your foster parent support group or state or Provincial or
national association to get needed information, support and resources.
3. Request information from the agency on exactly what to expect once
maltreatment is reported.
4. Continue or begin a dated written journal of events and communications. Keep good records.
5. Seek out support from agency (if available), other foster families and persons important to you in community. Participate in (or start) a support group.
6. Insist on giving full input into the investigation. If you have not been interviewed, or you found the interviews inadequate, put into writing (keep a copy) the complete information you wish to give and send it to investigator.
7. Ask what information on legal rights exists and what you need an attorney for.
8. Request assistance from agency in explaining to children as needed, whether removed or not, what is happening and why. Ask agency assistance to maintain communication from your family with removed children. (Important to children!)
9. Expect the process to take a long time to resolve, sometimes six months to a year.
· If children have been removed, plan activities during this period to help with loss and grief, including work which allows you to continue being active and "giving".
· Pay attention to your health, physical and emotional. Foster parents may suffera loss of confidence and self-esteem when suddenly treated by the agency in ways which feel negative. Foster parents often experience grief from the losses of children and losses of identity if foster children are suddenly or inappropriately removed.
10. Maintain your professionalism as foster parents, cooperating fully with the investigation, insisting on giving full input and on being treated appropriately and seeking all appropriate information and resources to assist you at this time.
BEYOND INDIVIDUAL FOSTER FAMILY EXPERIENCES
Once foster parents have been through the experience, they have valuable insights and experiences to share. Work with your agency and foster parent association in jointly toward more constructive ways of handling abuse/neglect reports in foster care. From “ADVANCE PREPARATION:” 1.Request education, 2. Request information,
7.Work on legal resources, and:
· work for positive changes in agency policy and procedures
· work on state or Provincial policy and information and resources for foster families when abuse/neglect is reported.
· share with other agencies and foster parent associations those new policies,procedures and other ideas which are working well.
· keep in mind that foster parenting, done well, almost always involves being child advocates. Improving how foster families are treated once maltreatment is reported will be helpful to foster children as well as to foster parents and their own children.
This information has been developed to help foster parents and foster parent deal with reports of child maltreatment involving their homes. Please keep in mind these things:
· All foster families have a common issue regarding how abuse/neglect reports are handled in many locales. No family deserves harmful treatment by a child welfare agency.
· Foster families in many nations are at higher risk of report of maltreatment than the general public, although substantiation rates are lower.
· Joint solutions arrived at by foster parents and child welfare agencies at local, state, Provincial, and national levels are needed to address the problem.
· It is unreasonable to believe that most reports of maltreatment can be prevented.
(One can and should work to prevent maltreatment.)
ADVANCE PREPARATION
· Prepare as if it is going to happen to you. Expect that you or a family member may be reported for child maltreatment and, no matter what your relationship with the agency, the report must be taken seriously.
· Foster parents need to know or learn about what the agency (or agencies) will do; what do the child protection laws mean for reports involving foster families
agency policy and procedures: of your agency and of agency responsible for child protection;
exactly what to expect from your agency, from child protective services and from law enforcement personnel, when your home is reported for abuse/neglect;
whether your family has a specific way to give input into the investigation;
how the investigation will be conducted regarding foster parents, own and foster children, others;
under what circumstances and when and how foster children will be removed;
whether, when and how foster family is notified of finding–was report substantiated, not substantiated, unable to determine;
How a report may affect pending adoption;
On what basis will agency revoke foster home license or fail to renew license;
What appeal procedures are available at agency level; at state or Provincial level
.
Know what resources and services may be available to your family.
Are there agency guidebook pages, policy pages, other written material available?
Does agency maintain or cut-off communication of social workers with foster families?
Do any support persons or support groups exist for reported foster families? (A few agencies and foster parent associations provide these.)
What are the available resources to provide legal information, legal advice and, sometimes, legal representation?
· Know the strengths and weakness of your family as a foster family as seen by
the agency. (This is a good idea for foster care work in general.)
Foster families need support through the long process of abuse/neglect report, investigation, disposition and other possible agency actions.
This may last for many months. Support is important to foster families both in
terms of their agency and fellow foster parents and in terms of their communities.
Actions which foster parents can take:
1. Request education on child protection law specifically as it affects reported foster
families. This should include information on guaranteed anonymity of the reporter, the need to take every report seriously; and how the legal status of foster parents differs from that of natural parents. It should also clarify how the terms used to indicate substantiated or unsubstantiated abuse differ from
"innocent" and "guilty".
2. Request written information from your agency (and from the public agency which
will investigate report of maltreatment in a foster home) on exactly what can be
expected once abuse/neglect is reported. Ask that it be put in the foster care
handbook. Ask that it be made available to all foster families, including newlylicensed
families. Make request in writing, dated.
3. Request a current written evaluation of your foster home and specific feedback on
any concerns the agency has in regard to your home. Do not accept verbal
information only. If given verbal evaluation only, write a letter (keep copy) to
confirm what you heard said.
· Be prepared and willing to accept negatives in the evaluation and work to make
change as needed. Write to show when they are corrected.
· If the agency concerns are without basis, respond in writing to show what is not
accurate and invite further discussion.
· Do not assume, because you are continually asked to handle difficult children,
that the agency sees you as a highly capable family.
· Having a clear picture of your family's strengths and weaknesses is a standard
part of good foster care practice and can help you work well with an agency and
reduce staff concerns when a report of maltreatment is received. It is also good
"insurance" against any pretext in the future for non-renewal of license.
4. Keep a dated, written journal of all important events involving foster care in your home and also of all communication and contacts with the agency, bio family, and others as needed.
· This is different from the child's record, which goes with the child. This is an important record, which stays with you and may be crucial to supporting your version of the situation in an appeals hearing.
5. When asking for assistance -- for examples in managing a particular child -- put the request both in the journal and in a dated, signed letter, and keep a copy.· If you repeat the request, record this in the journal and send another signed, dated, letter and keep a copy.
· These written requests may assist you and your worker to get the assistance needed. Your written records may also prove important later to supporting what you say.
6.Plan in advance for support to yourself and your family.
· Ask if the agency will provide support/from staff not involved in the investigation or from specifically designated foster parents. (Some agencies do. Many may not, due to confusion of "support" with "taking sides", and/or to concern about weakening a legal case. However, it is worth asking and reminds the agency of
its service mission.)
· Ask your foster parent association to provide support for reported foster families.(Some associations now do this.) work to help set up a support system.
· Select a few persons in your community who are important to you -- a friend, minister, neighbor, employer -- with whom you will discuss abuse/neglect reportsin foster care. Let them know a) that foster families are at high risk to be reported and that your family is no exception; b) that child protection requires that all reports be looked into seriously; c) what the agency is likely to do when abuse is reported; d) that, due to observing confidentiality, you will not be discussing your foster children's lives.
· Ask if these persons would be willing to give support, not take sides, should a report involving your family be made.
7, Ask your agency and foster parent association to begin work in advance on legal resources for foster families who may be reported. These include resources for legal information, advice, and, perhaps, legal representation. There is little generally available to provide legal information, advice and/or representation for foster families reported for child abuse or neglect.
· Begin by asking (both foster parent association and agency) for training meetings on legal considerations when abuse is reported. Invite speakers who are attorneys, law enforcement personnel, protective services staff, and others.
· Consider developing written information for foster parents on their legal and other rights when abuse is reported; how to know what they need legal help for and how to find competent legal advice.
· Caution: For many aspects of abuse investigation work, legal representation is not required and may not be useful unless foster families can find attorneys knowledgeable about foster care and child protective services. In addition, the legal fees can be very high due to time spent learning about the system.($)
8. Work in advance with your agency and your foster parent association on developing good policies for responding to foster families when abuse is reported.
WHEN MALTREATMENT HAS BEEN REPORTED
· Much less can be done "after the fact," after report occurs.
· The situation is complicated by foster family stress and by agency noncooperation in many instances.
· Expect that agency policies may mean it will act rapidly whether or not there is any indication or risk of child abuse/neglect: may include cutoff of communication; removals of foster children; non-return of foster children;
removal or non-renewal of license and/or no further placements of children.
· You need to learn what your agency’s policies and child protection agency policies are.
Foster parent actions
1. *IMPORTANT* Do not isolate yourselves, especially from other foster parents.
Do not stigmatize and stress yourselves and others by keeping this crisis a
"secret." Remember that foster families are at risk to be reported.
· Confidentiality of children's lives must be maintained, of course, but does not
prohibit you from saying you have been reported for maltreatment!
· "Confidentiality" applies to client lives; it does not interfere with rights to
individual freedom of speech (U.S. First Amendment).
2. Request assistance from your foster parent support group or state or Provincial or
national association to get needed information, support and resources.
3. Request information from the agency on exactly what to expect once
maltreatment is reported.
4. Continue or begin a dated written journal of events and communications. Keep good records.
5. Seek out support from agency (if available), other foster families and persons important to you in community. Participate in (or start) a support group.
6. Insist on giving full input into the investigation. If you have not been interviewed, or you found the interviews inadequate, put into writing (keep a copy) the complete information you wish to give and send it to investigator.
7. Ask what information on legal rights exists and what you need an attorney for.
8. Request assistance from agency in explaining to children as needed, whether removed or not, what is happening and why. Ask agency assistance to maintain communication from your family with removed children. (Important to children!)
9. Expect the process to take a long time to resolve, sometimes six months to a year.
· If children have been removed, plan activities during this period to help with loss and grief, including work which allows you to continue being active and "giving".
· Pay attention to your health, physical and emotional. Foster parents may suffera loss of confidence and self-esteem when suddenly treated by the agency in ways which feel negative. Foster parents often experience grief from the losses of children and losses of identity if foster children are suddenly or inappropriately removed.
10. Maintain your professionalism as foster parents, cooperating fully with the investigation, insisting on giving full input and on being treated appropriately and seeking all appropriate information and resources to assist you at this time.
BEYOND INDIVIDUAL FOSTER FAMILY EXPERIENCES
Once foster parents have been through the experience, they have valuable insights and experiences to share. Work with your agency and foster parent association in jointly toward more constructive ways of handling abuse/neglect reports in foster care. From “ADVANCE PREPARATION:” 1.Request education, 2. Request information,
7.Work on legal resources, and:
· work for positive changes in agency policy and procedures
· work on state or Provincial policy and information and resources for foster families when abuse/neglect is reported.
· share with other agencies and foster parent associations those new policies,procedures and other ideas which are working well.
· keep in mind that foster parenting, done well, almost always involves being child advocates. Improving how foster families are treated once maltreatment is reported will be helpful to foster children as well as to foster parents and their own children.
2012- GLBT Pride Parade
We are National organization as of 2/6/2013. This page is informational. We are NOT lawyers and nothing on this page should be construed as legal advice! We are volunteer foster parent advocates and not lawyer's trying to help you with your foster care case. Foster Parent Advocacy is a activist, advocacy organization that focus on foster care reform for foster children and foster parents. FPA-Foundation Inc is intended to help foster parents learn enough about the law to be able to successfully defend themselves and their families against false accusations using legal documents and strategies that put foster parents in a stronger position when they go back to court.
Social workers have a association and they will have a representative from a union if they have any issues. Judges,lawyers child welfare directors all have a unions. Foster parents have nothing it's not there for them. That is a real concern for us. Until they have a union they will continue to have injustices toward them.Foster parents are licensed by the state to take care of children and when something happens they are held accountable. They have no representation for them during there time of need. This is a violation of their civil rights.
This is why they need a union to protect them while caring for children. The agencies point the fingers at the foster parents when something happens but they never take responsibility for not providing the support and assistance that the foster parent needed for that child in their home. We want agencies to be held accountable for their actions, just like the foster parents.
One of the main goals of FPA-Foundation is to improve the foster care experience for children, which is difficult when foster parents continually quit because of frustrations with the system. FPA-Foundation believes that foster parents will continue fostering if they are viewed as a valuable participant in providing quality service to foster children. We have been working with foster parents from the 5 boroughs for the last 4 years and who want to be professionals. "It's not about money, it's about recognition and respect.
"Many of the children coming into the system have multiple needs, which require well-qualified, experienced foster parents. Because of the high foster parent turnover, agencies often place children in homes with inexperienced, new foster parents. The time is now for foster parents to learn to advocate for themselves and learn what their rights are. FPA-FOUNDATION will continue to support foster parents and advocate together on behalf of foster parents and children.
Foster Care Needs Reform and is still effecting many lives today.We Need support from Politians to step up and change foster care laws that effect children and families. Birth parents need Support because their rights are being violated. Foster Parents need support and have no rights and are being disrespected when caring for these foster children.They need the Foster Parent Bill of Rights enacted in NYC.
False Allegations are effecting lives.
Foster children are not getting the supportive services they need in care and when they aged out OF THE SYSTEM Agency advocates are not helping the familes they work for the best interest of the agency. Even when they know the agency is WRONG. Foster Parents Manual not being followed by agencies. Enough is Enough!
Foster Care Awareness Protest Rallies in the 5 Boroughs
FPA-Foundation was featured on the Here and Now show on January 13,2013 at 12pm.
Foster Parents from the 5 boroughs went to Washington DC to speak to senator's
February 5,6,2013
February 5,6,2013
March
The Foster Care Reform Campaign
This will be a National movement to bring awareness about lack of supportive services being provided to foster children and lack of support for foster parents,kinship and grandparents across the nation. We can no longer sit in silence and allow for foster children to continue to fall threw the cracks and lack of support for foster parents. The foster care agencies have dropped the ball and failed to protect these children across the nation.
1-Lack of supportive services for children/youths.
2-Shortage/Lack of support for foster parents causing them to quit. Retailation when they make complaints. This has to stop.
3-Foster Care Corruption-Misconduct,false documentation, and no oversite is being done.
If your a foster parent.kinship.adoptive parent, foster youth or person in the community join us today. If your a organization join our movement give us a call. 1-646-402-6133
The Foster Care Reform Campaign
This will be a National movement to bring awareness about lack of supportive services being provided to foster children and lack of support for foster parents,kinship and grandparents across the nation. We can no longer sit in silence and allow for foster children to continue to fall threw the cracks and lack of support for foster parents. The foster care agencies have dropped the ball and failed to protect these children across the nation.
1-Lack of supportive services for children/youths.
2-Shortage/Lack of support for foster parents causing them to quit. Retailation when they make complaints. This has to stop.
3-Foster Care Corruption-Misconduct,false documentation, and no oversite is being done.
If your a foster parent.kinship.adoptive parent, foster youth or person in the community join us today. If your a organization join our movement give us a call. 1-646-402-6133
Speak Up,Speak Out,Speak Now
“I am Here”-Foster Care Awareness Event-Hear Our Voices
Friday May 3,2013 1:00pm-5:00pm New York State Office Building-163 W 125 Street Art Gallery-2nd floor
Come out and join us- May-Foster Care Month-Awareness Event- Join Us. We will honor foster parents with Appreciation Certificates & Awards who attend
May is Foster Care Month- Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved – as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways. The foster care system needs to be changed. Too many children spend too much of their childhoods in foster care. We need changes at the national and state levels to ensure that every child has a permanent, loving family, and all families have the support needed to raise their children. Foster youths & foster parents needs support. How can you help today? Come out if your a foster parent,adoptive
parent,kinship,or foster youth and join the discussion to discuss issues that foster youths and foster parents are facing in order to make changes. You will be able to ask the A.C.S Commissioner any questions or concerns that you may have. Lets start with a conversation.
“I am Here”-Foster Care Awareness Event-Hear Our Voices
Friday May 3,2013 1:00pm-5:00pm New York State Office Building-163 W 125 Street Art Gallery-2nd floor
Come out and join us- May-Foster Care Month-Awareness Event- Join Us. We will honor foster parents with Appreciation Certificates & Awards who attend
May is Foster Care Month- Each May, National Foster Care Month provides an opportunity to shine a light on the experiences of the more than 400,000 children and youth in the foster care system. The campaign raises awareness about the urgent needs of these young people and encourages citizens from every walk of life to get involved – as foster or adoptive parents, volunteers, mentors, employers or in other ways. The foster care system needs to be changed. Too many children spend too much of their childhoods in foster care. We need changes at the national and state levels to ensure that every child has a permanent, loving family, and all families have the support needed to raise their children. Foster youths & foster parents needs support. How can you help today? Come out if your a foster parent,adoptive
parent,kinship,or foster youth and join the discussion to discuss issues that foster youths and foster parents are facing in order to make changes. You will be able to ask the A.C.S Commissioner any questions or concerns that you may have. Lets start with a conversation.
Foster Care Reform Awareness Event May 3 ,2013 from 1pm-5pm
Youth Panel speaks Out about foster care
Youth Panel speaks Out about foster care
Foster Parent Panel-Speak out