DCF Secretary David Wilkins To Speak To Foster/Adoptive Parents In Tallahassee

Online, April 4, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Contact:
Peter Pazer
FSFAPA Advocacy Chair
[email protected]
954.646.8004

Statewide Foster/Adoptive Parent Association Prepares for Children's Week

Children's Week serves as a reminder that improving the lives of Florida's children requires dedication and perseverance and as one of the partners of this grassroots event, the Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association (FSFAPA) looks forward to meeting with other statewide children's advocates and policymakers to share its vision and goals for those who take care of Florida's most vulnerable.

The FSFAPA board, along with numerous foster and adoptive families across the state, will grace the Capitol grounds on Tuesday, April 5 for Children's Capitol for a Day.

FSFAPA will participate in the IHOP Pancake Breakfast; will have a booth to share materials and/or help foster/adoptive parents with issues; will walk the halls of the Capitol to hand out a FSFAPA talking points sheet (attached); and will conduct its quarterly meeting on the grounds of the Capitol, where Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary David Wilkins will serve as the guest speaker.

Our time in Tallahassee will also provide an opportunity to talk to legislators about the bill (HB 1241/SB 1902) that we are watching. We are very much in support of DCF providing needed services to children in care until their 21st birthday.

Children in care deserve to have foster/adoptive parents who are informed, and embarking on the Capitol for Children's Week is just one of the ways our parents stay in the loop.

For additional information, contact Peter Pazer at [email protected] or 954.646.8004.

About FSFAPA
The Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association is a statewide membership association for foster and adoptive parents. All foster and adoptive parents in the state of Florida are automatically members of FSFAPA. If they choose to do so, they may also register to become voting members of the association. Visit www.floridafapa.org for more information.

FSFAPA Talking Points
Children's Week 2011

Who we are:

FSFAPA is the Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association. For more information, go to www.floridafapa.org.

Our mission is to provide supportive services to all caregiver (foster, adoptive, non-relative & kinship) associations in the State of Florida; to bring about better communication to families through support, training and advocacy with the aim of nurturing children's safety, well-being and stability; and to work in partnership with the entire community we serve.

By the numbers:

As of early 2011, there were approximately 18,000 children in out-of-home care. This number includes approximately 6,000 children in licensed foster family care and another 2,000 in licensed facility (group) based care with the remainder of the children in kinship settings. In addition, another 11,800 children were receiving services through the in-home care program.

In 2010, approximately 3,700 former foster youth aged 18 through 22 received services through the Road to Independence Program and other aftercare/transitional support programs.

Over the last three years, more than 10,819 children have been adopted out of the dependency system in the State of Florida, bringing Florida national recognition.

How we compare: *

Florida ranks 4th among all states in the number of children in out-of-home care.

Florida ranks approximately 30th among all states in the amount of monthly foster care board rate subsidy provided for children in licensed foster care.

Florida ranks 40th among all states in the amount of adoption subsidy offered to families adopting children out of state care.

Florida is one of only nine states to qualify for and receive Title IV-E waiver federal funds and is the only state to have a statewide waiver.

* Data was obtained through 2009 federal Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). Rankings are not inclusive of all 50 states.

The issues:

FSFAPA has identified the following bill about extending foster care to the 21st birthday as one to watch and support. We do continue to monitor the bills in the event there are others that may need our support.

HB# 1241/SB# 1902
FSFAPA recognizes that young people who age out of the state's foster care system at age 18 need continued structure, guidance and support to mature and transition to adulthood and self-sufficiency, just as we understand our biological children do. These bills provide for a new source of federal funds to states to help foster families and child welfare systems provide the needed services and oversight for former foster youth from their 18th to their 21st birthday.

Additionally, FSFAPA strongly urges the Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Community-Based Care (CBC) agencies to seek ways to expand support for foster families, adoptive families and kinship caregivers who provide high quality care to children in/from the state's child welfare system. Our families expect and want to be partners with and key members of the decision-making team for children.

We expect DCF to continue to support FSFAPA and our families through:

Staff support and financial support for the volunteer foster/adoptive families to operate and sustain the Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association

Staff support and funds for continuation of the Quality Parenting Initiative (www.qpiflorida.com) including implementation of the Partnership Plan and the Just in Time Web-Based Training Project