North Florida FAPA (Circuit 3)
Coordinates events and trainings in both Circuits 3 and 8. The North Florida FAPA is a CarePortal Requesting Agency in Circuits 3 & 8 Executive Board President – Jerrod Pfefferjerrod@northfloridafapa.org Vice President – Lori Listzwanlori@northfloridafapa.org Secretary – Yvonne Scottyvonne@northfloridafapa.org Treasurer – Allison Carterallison@northfloridafapa.org Board Members Christy VanValey Conner – CBC LiasonChristy.Vanvaley@pfsf.org Tiffany Philippus – Social Media Managertiffany@northfloridafapa.org Ron Locke
Child Welfare Regional Trainings from the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Click on the flyer for information on upcoming Child Welfare Regional Trainings from the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence (FCADV). Each regional event includes a two hour evening training specifically for former, current, or future Foster Parents and Guardian Ad Litem (GAL). The purpose of this training is to enhance both the understanding and response to domestic violence as it relates to survivors and children of survivors. This training will focus on developing skills that are conducive to perpetuating a positive environment for survivors and their children while simultaneously providing empowerment based advocacy and effective solutions in cases involving the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse.
Adoption Month Resources
From our friends at the Florida Guardian Ad Litem Program: We’ve got some great video & radio for National Adoption Month that we’re hoping you’ll post for your followers. There is a video, “The Power of Adoption,” that is 6:15 long. Here is the link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jb0fixnbzl649ks/GAL_Michelle%20Scott%20v3.mp4?dl=0 And there is an excellent call-in show on adoption on WFSU-FM, followed by a feature story that includes the same voices. Here are the links: Perspectives: Adoption From All Sides http://news.wfsu.org/post/perspectives-adoption-all-sides Adoption Awareness Month: Building Strong Foster and Adoptive Families http://news.wfsu.org/post/adoption-awareness-month-building-strong-foster-and-adoptive-families
Smile! Amazon offering 10x the benefit to charities
Follow this link to set your smile.amazon.com account to support FloridaFAPA … and we’ll get 10 times the regular benefit (5%) until Nov. 2 (back to .5% of each purchase after that time frame.) smile.amazon.com/ch/59-3401538
Another way to help Panhandle foster/adoptive families
The Florida Coalition for Children has set up an Amazon Wishlist to allow people to donate directly to Hurricane Michael victims. https://www.amazon.com/registry/wishlist/37OLWZJX13OXB/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_awwl_s_iDZYBbDD9DD8W Per Victoria Vangalis Zepp, Florida Coalition for Children’s EVP & Chief Policy and Research Officer, “Purchases will be shipped to FCC and we’ll either move to the warehouse or our teams can pick up from there (for distribution.)”
ELECTION RESULTS: New President in 2019
FloridaFAPA’s election results are in, and Amanda Williams will lead the organization as President starting on Jan. 1, 2019. Amanda has been a foster parent for the last 7 years in Gainesville. She has served on the FloridaFAPA board as regional vice president, independent living chair and has led the teen programs at our conferences for the last few years. She is also a past president of the Alachua County Foster and Adoptive Parent Association.
Donate to Support Panhandle Families
A core part of FloridaFAPA’s mission is to support foster and adoptive families in Florida, and in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael many of our families in the Panhandle are in need. Donations to FloridaFAPA will be used to support these foster and adoptive families through direct support, assistance in locating/coordinating services and other needs as we become aware of them. We will also use these resources to support our member foster/adoptive parent associations in this region so that they may also better support the foster and adoptive families in their service areas. Check back to this site and our Facebook Page for updates. FloridaFAPA (formerly The Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association) is a 501(c)3 volunteer organization established in 1987 to address the needs of foster and adoptive families in Florida.
Michael C. Williams Named Permanent President and Chief Executive Officer at Our Kids
(Miami, FL – Oct. 3, 2018) – The Board of Trustees for Our Kids of Miami-Dade/Monroe, Inc. (Our Kids) announced that Michael C. Williams has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the agency, effective immediately; erasing “interim” from his title after just over a month. Mr. Williams had been serving as Our Kids’ Interim President and CEO following the tragic and untimely passing of former CEO George H. Sheldon. Mr. Sheldon, who joined Our Kids in June 2017, handpicked Mr. Williams to fill the then-vacant role of Chief Operating Officer back in October 2017. “We have had the opportunity to get to know Michael first-hand for a year now; and it is clear to see why George was so set on hiring Michael last year. Michael is undoubtedly committed to protecting and advocating for all children and families – a quality that is invaluable to everyone at our agency,” said Kate Callahan, Chair of the Board of Trustees for Our Kids. “His knowledge of the child welfare system along with his professional experience make him the ideal person to lead our agency as we mourn the loss of George Sheldon, and beyond.” Prior to joining Our Kids, Mr. Williams was serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Operations for Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families where he was known as an innovator. A progressive leader, Mr. Williams has led system change efforts to meet children’s needs while simultaneously obtaining full community participation. With over 20 years of child welfare experience, Mr. Williams not only understands the intricacies of child welfare and behavioral health systems, he has a proven track record of creating culturally competent service systems that meet the needs of children and their families. “I am very grateful and excited for the opportunity to lead this agency as we approach the final stages of procuring a five-year lead agency contract with the Department; and look forward to building on the successes we have already seen from the implementation of our 2018-2021 Strategic Plan and furthering our goal of ensuring that all children grow up in safe, loving, nurturing, and permanent families,” concluded Mr. Williams. About Our Kids of Miami-Dade and Monroe, Inc.: Incorporated in 2002, Our Kids is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation created in response to the need for local leadership, oversight and coordination of the foster care system. As the non-profit lead agency for community based care in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, Our Kids oversees and directs a coordinated system of care that provides crucial services to abused, abandoned, and neglected children in the community. Our Kids’ mission is to create safe havens for these children and their families through adoption, foster/kindship care, and other related services.
DCF Issues Letter on Foster Parent Records
Deputy DCF Secretary David Fairbanks issued a letter to all foster parents regarding recent events, including the request for foster parent records by the Sarasota Herald Tribune. The text of the letter is below: September 11, 2018 Dear partners, The Department of Children and Families (DCF) is committed to ensuring the safety of all children, especially those involved in the child welfare system. The department’s most valued partners are the wonderful people who make the choice to bring a child into their homes and their hearts, with an understanding of the high levels of trust and responsibility that are being placed upon them. It is with deep sorrow that I must inform you that a foster parent was injured in a horrific attack last month by a biological parent of children in her care. As our most valued partners in child welfare, we too understand the level of trust that foster parents across the state place with the department when it relates to protecting their personal information and I can assure you that no information about this foster parent was released by DCF. As many of you are aware, a public records request was recently submitted to the DCF Office of Communications by the Sarasota Herald Tribune for a list of names for all licensed foster parents and corresponding counties. Our office worked closely with DCF’s legal counsel and the newspaper to explain the type of information being requested and how this could affect the states’ licensed foster parents. Because we are unable to ensure that the release of this information will not jeopardize the safety of foster parents or the children in their care, DCF will not be releasing any information regarding foster parents in Florida. Also, we will seek legislative action during the upcoming legislative session to put further protections in place for Florida’s foster parents. This legislative action will balance the need for transparency to ensure accountability within Florida’s foster system while still allowing the department to protect the safety of children, which is always our number one priority. As you are aware, foster parent’s identifying information in the wrong hands can lead to unsafe situations for foster parents and the children in their care. The State of Florida remains committed to protecting foster parents and will continue our fight to keep their information confidential. Sincerely, David L. Fairbanks Deputy Secretary Department of Children and Families FloridaFAPA Executive Director Trudy Petkovich said, “DCF has informed us that they expect some fall out from not honoring the records request, but we fully support their effort to stand up for our caregivers and the children in their homes.” FloridaFAPA is joining DCF and others in urging the legislature to strengthen the language protecting our families and records pertaining to those homes. Our goal is to have these records gain protection (public record exemption) under Chapter 119 of Florida Statutes in the next legislative session.
FloridaFAPA statement: Protect Foster Families
In light of recent events (public records request, foster parent attacked) FloridaFAPA’s board has released this statement: FloridaFAPA believes that Foster parents should be afforded high levels of protection, as they are crucial to the safety of our most vulnerable children. We are working with the Governor and Legislature to ensure protections increase in the near future.