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National Foster Parent Association Newsletter - May 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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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA - A PROCLAMATION
Across our Nation, hundreds of thousands of American children depend upon the foster care system to shelter them, nurture them, and prepare them for lives of purpose and promise.
This National Foster Care Month, the First Lady and I join with countless Americans in celebrating the foster families whose devotion carries our youngest citizens forward by helping them realize the full potential of their unique American Dream.
Read the full proclamation at WhiteHouse.gov. |
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OPM Partners With First Lady and HHS to Launch New Support for Foster and Adoptive Families Across the Federal Workforce
WASHINGTON, DC — In a coordinated effort led by First Lady Melania Trump and the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today announced new actions to expand workplace flexibilities and support for foster and adoptive families across the federal workforce.
Read more about this initiative at https://www.opm.gov/news/news-releases/opm-partners-with-first-lady-and-hhs/ |
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Arnie Eby, NFPA Executive Director |
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Celebrating Foster Families This Month 💙
May is National Foster Family Appreciation Month - a time to step back and intentionally recognize the incredible impact you make every day.
From providing stability to offering patience and care, your role changes lives in ways that sometimes go unseen - but in ways that are never unimportant.
On behalf of the National Foster Parent Association, thank you for opening your homes and hearts. We’re proud to stand with you, to advocate for your core needs, to provide support in any way we can, and to amplify your valuable voice every step of the way. |
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Registration Is Open for our 55th Education Conference!
The first 25 registrants will receive a discount of $25 off of the full 3-day session.
Dates: September 27th - 30th
Location: Crystal City, Virginia
Cost
This year’s focus: Creating Real Impact for Caregivers
Join fellow foster, adoptive, and kinship families, along with policymakers and experts, for powerful learning and connection.
Highlights
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Advocacy Day (Sept 28): Join the NFPA and take your voice to Capitol Hill
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Workshops & Sessions: Core supports, education, and adoption-competent care
👉 Schedule and updates: nfpaeducation.com
Sessions are being finalized and will be posted on our conference site by June 1st. They will include:
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Financial Matters - Adoption Tax Credit, Negotiating Adoption Subsidies
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What Kids Involved with Foster Homes Want You to Know
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Adoption Competent Care
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Housing and Transitioning out of Foster Care
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Post-Adoption Services, How to Access Them
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Sleep Study Follow Up
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Lived-Experience Panels
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Managing Problematic Sexual Behaviors in Children in Foster Care
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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)
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IEPs and 504s
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And more!
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| Register for the Conference |
We are proud to be partnering with C.A.S.E, and express our gratitude to our event sponsor, Centene. |
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What is Know2Protect?
Online safety matters more than ever.
Know2Protect, a national campaign, helps families:
Explore tools, videos, and guides to protect the children in your care. |
Know2Protect: Not Everyone Online Is Who They Say They Are |
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| Download How2Spot Peer-2-Peer Risks: A Guide for Teens |
Know2Protect® Digital Safety Series
In the DHS Know2Protect Digital Safety Series, Homeland Security Investigations special agents provide an overview of Project iGuardian®’s parent presentation to educate the public on how to stay safe online.
Topics include Know the Threats, How Exploitation Happens, Personal Information and Data Permanency, Sexting and Sextortion, and What to Do if It Happens. |
| View the Digital Safety Series Videos |
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The National Working Group on Foster Care and Education is bringing together leaders across the country to improve outcomes for youth in care.
Their goal:
👉 Help students build support systems and succeed in school—and beyond.
Per their website:
The National Working Group encourages its members and the broader community to take action in solidarity with students in foster care to help them connect to supportive networks and achieve success in school and beyond.
The working group is facilitated by the Legal Center for Foster Care & Education. |
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Have you signed up yet?
With a FREE NFPATI account, you get:
✨ Over 44,000 certificates already awarded!
👉 Start learning today. |
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Executive Director Arnie Eby attended the 2026 ATTACh conference in San Antonio, TX, where he presented sessions and spent time with our esteemed Past Executive Director Irene Clements and current Board of Director President Tammy Wells.
Irene was the recipient of the Linda Eisele Award for Advocacy, which is presented in honor of a past ATTACh Executive Director, and recognizes leaders who work tirelessly to meet the needs of the children that they parent or assist.
We were also joined by three of our NFPA CoSA affiliates.
The 39th ATTACh conference is already scheduled for April 8 - 10, 2027 in Virginia Beach, VA.
Follow ATTACh, the Association for Training on Trauma and Attachment in Children, on Facebook. |
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💡 Financial Tip: Don’t Miss the EITC
Did you know foster parents may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)?
If a child lived with you for more than half the year, you could:
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Reduce your tax bill
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Increase your refund
👉 Learn more: irs.gov/eitc
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S. 162 - Recruiting Families Using Data Act |
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Learn More >> S.162 - Recruiting Families Using Data Act
Status: Formerly HR 579 This bill has passed the House and is now known as S 162 now that it's in the Senate, and is sponsored by Senator Chuck Grassley.
This important legislation:
- Strengthens foster parent recruitment
- Uses data-driven strategies to find and support families
The NFPA continues to actively support this bill as it moves through the Senate.
The NFPA has been actively involved in the presentation of this bill to the House of Representatives, and will continue to follow and support it now that it's in the Senate. |
| Sign Up for Alerts at the CWLA Action Center |
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Under the leadership of President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, ACF is building an online resource platform for foster youth — and young people with lived experience are helping shape it!
ACF was honored to welcome 30+ lived experts to our offices in D.C. to work alongside the web designers to shape the Fostering the Future online platform. The feedback from this working session will translate into concrete design and user experience decisions.
(From the ACF Facebook Page). |
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Share ConnectU With Your Network! |
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Visit the NFPA ConnectU Archive of past editions HERE. |
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Received this newsletter via a forward? Subscribe to ConnectU HERE. |
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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 |
💙 Get Involved - Become a Friend of the NFPA
Support foster families nationwide:
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Champion – $50/mo
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Hero – $25/mo
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Advocate – $15/mo
Your support helps us deliver the resources families need. |
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Need copies of our NFPA Trifold for your next event?? |
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Would you like to include information about the National Foster Parent Association in your conference or meeting materials?
Please see THIS PAGE to either download a printable file that you can print directly (feel free to print any number you'd like), or to request copies of the TriFold from the NFPA. Requests are subject to our available inventory. |
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