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National Foster Parent Association Newsletter - January 2026
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The NFPA is a respected national voice for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parents through Networking, Education and Advocacy. |
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Arnie Eby, NFPA Executive Director |
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Register and Reserve Your Spot
Our Town Hall is for YOU! We'll have updates that are designed just for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship parents. Join us from 9:30am to 1pm ET on Saturday, 1/24.
You must register in advance to join the meeting. Connection information will be emailed in advance of the session. |
| Town Hall - More Info & Registration |
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NFPA Town Hall Guests
We are excited to be joined for our Town Hall Meeting by key organizations who will present targeted, timely updates to our participants, including:
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National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
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Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
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FASD United
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Center for Adoption Support and Education (C.A.S.E.)
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Authors of a sleep study paper, 'How Are the Sleep Problems of Children in the US Foster Care System Addressed? See our 54th Education Conference session, 'Sleep Health for Children in Foster Care' for full details on the participants.
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| Town Hall - More Info & Registration |
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Arnie Eby has been invited to be an expert panelist for an upcoming Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI) session, a part of their 'Pathways to Permanency' Webinar.
The session is intended to be an update for Congressional staff, but is open to the public. We encourage you to register to listen in to this important panel discussion, and to learn more about the advocacy work being done on your behalf by the NFPA. |
| Register for the CCAI Event |
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Protect youth from traffickers this school year through awareness of vulnerabilities. Visit dhs.gov/blue-campaign to learn more. |
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January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and we invite you to join the fight to combat human trafficking with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign. Please share the following information with your networks.
Experts from Blue Campaign will be hosting two free webinars - one in English and one in Spanish - that will cover how to best recognize and report potential human trafficking cases. The webinars will also give you tips on how to get involved in raising awareness within your communities.
REGISTER HERE to join the English webinar on January 28, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. EST.
REGISTER HERE to join the Spanish webinar on January 29, 2026, at 2:30 p.m. EST.
Don’t miss out on this opportunity to become equipped as an advocate for change.
During these webinars, you will gain essential insights into:
- What human trafficking is and why it matters
- Myths and misconceptions about human trafficking
- Who trafficking affects and how traffickers operate
- Indicators of potential human trafficking situations
- Resources available to help supercharge awareness efforts in your communities
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to join the webinar. Due to the high number of anticipated participants, live Q&A and live chat will be disabled for this event. Please submit questions you’d like considered in the registration form. To learn more about the program, visit the Blue Campaign website: https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign. |
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Watch ConnectU, Facebook, X and our Website for resources that can help you get the best possible tax preparation results as a foster parent.
Our annual Tax Guide, prepared by our friends at Bill's Tax Service, will be available next week. The Guide is FREE to NFPA Members and Friends, and available for purchase on NFPATI. Stay tuned.
Here are some resources to get you started!
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Webinar Invitation: Holidays Through the Eyes of Adoptees: A Four-Part Series with Tony Hynes, Ph.D.
Holidays are often a time of joy and celebration for adoptive families. However, for adoptees, these same occasions can also bring a mix of emotions, including reminders of the losses they’ve experienced.
In this four-part series, Tony Hynes, Ph.D., who joined his family through adoption, will explore the unique emotional landscape holidays can create for adopted individuals.
LEARN MORE AND REGISTER >> |
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Have you signed up for a FREE NFPATI account? If not, head on over, sign up and start learning today! It's available 24/7, and you'll receive a certificate for each course that you complete. Almost 41,000 certificates of completion have been awarded! |
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ATTACh Conference 2026:
'Healing Connections, The Heart of the Matter'
Registration for the April, 2026 ATTACh conference is now open!
The NFPA is partnering in the development of the sessions that are dedicated to healing developmental trauma and attachment.
Visit their web page to learn more.
Print the event flyer HERE. |
| Register for the Conference |
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Bills to Follow in the 119th Congress |
Status: Passed the House, will go to the Senate as the next step.
Makes the diligent recruitment plan requirements of Title IV-B more robust and requires states to use a data-driven approach for identifying potential foster parents.
The NFPA has been actively involved in the presentation of this bill to the House of Representatives.
Status: Introduced to the House Ways and Means Committee
Creates a one-time per year tax credit for foster families providing short term care for children.
Status: Introduced to the House - Judiciary, Education and Workforce Committee
Would provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, TPS holders, and DED recipients.
Status: Introduced to the House - Education and Workforce; Oversight and Government Reform Committee
Modernizes the Federal poverty line to accurately reflect cost of living and regional adjustments.
Reauthorizations:
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We invite you to apply to join the Board of the National Foster Parent Assocation! |
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Our Board of Directors is dedicated to supporting Foster, Adoptive and Kinship parents.
Consider lending your voice, unique talents, experience and passion for children to our mission as we advocate for foster, adoptive and kinship families. |
| Apply Now! |
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Share ConnectU With Your Network! |
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Visit the NFPA ConnectU Archive of past editions HERE. |
Received this newsletter via a forward? Subscribe to ConnectU HERE. |
Wish to share this edition of ConnectU on your social networks? Visit THIS PAGE for an image and direct link to an online version. |
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Become a Friend of the NFPA |
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We are committed to working to ensure that foster families have the support and services they require to best meet the needs of the children in their care.
By joining as a Friend of the NFPA at the tier that best suits you - Champion ($50/mo), Hero ($25/mo) or Advocate ($15/mo) - you become a vital partner in helping us to provide those supports. |
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