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email: ifapa@ifapa.org


About IFAPA:

IFAPA is a membership organization serving foster and adoptive parents in Iowa. Membership in the association is FREE for Iowa's licensed foster parents and adoptive parents.  Social workers, agencies, and other interested parties may join the association as a supporting member for $25 per year.

Membership benefits include:

  • Free Training Classes Beneficial to Foster/Adoptive Parents

  • Foster Care and Adoption Related Publications

  • FREE or Low-Cost Events

  • Monthly & Bi-Monthly Newsletters

  • Legislative Bulletin

  • Peer Support from Foster/Adoptive Parent Liaisons

 

What's New at IFAPA:

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ATTENTION FOSTER PARENTS - Changes to Training for Foster Parents

Important changes are happening at the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association (IFAPA) in the training arena for foster parents.  In the past, DHS has provided the majority of IFAPA’s funding.  DHS is now changing how they will fund the work that IFAPA has done in the areas of support and training.  DHS is now allowing other organizations to apply for the funding contract that has been previously given to IFAPA.  Organizations (including IFAPA) will bid on the contract, and DHS will choose the organization they believe will best meet the contract requirements.  In the event that IFAPA does not receive the contract, there could be a gap in time before trainings are resumed by the new contractor.  How training will be offered beyond September 2008 has not been decided yet, so please plan accordingly. 

 

If your foster home license is due before the end of 2008, it is CRITICAL that you get your training hours completed before the end of September to avoid any problems with re-licensure.  There might be limited foster parent training opportunities during the months of October through December.  Click here for different options available to complete your foster parent training hours prior to September 30, 2008.  IFAPA is currently making arrangements for six-hours trainings to be held in August and September.  Please watch the training section of our website for more details to come.

 

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May is National Foster Care Month
IFAPA would like to thank all Iowa’s foster families for caring for Iowa’s children in care and helping them to safely reunite with their parents, be cared for by relatives, or be adopted by loving families.  Thank you for making a difference!! 
In honor of foster care month, Governor Culver is sending a thank you letter to all of Iowa’s foster families.  Read Governor Culver’s letter to foster families

 

IFAPA will hold our annual appreciation day for foster and adoptive families on September 6th at Adventureland Park in Altoona.  SAVE THE DATE!  Watch your mail for more details.

 

Iowa KidsNet will hold appreciation events throughout Iowa this May, including a special celebration on the steps of the Iowa Capitol building on Thursday, May 29 at 4:00 p.m. Keep checking out their events page for upcoming details.  Iowa KidsNet is creating an online family photo album in celebration of National Foster Care Month.  To participate, visit their online family photo album.  You will also have a chance to win a $50 Casey’s gas card!  For more details visit: www.iowakidsnet.com.

 

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Legislative Update - May 2008

Read the latest legislative updates on foster care maintenance payments, adoption subsidy, Medicaid, additional DHS Workers, etc.  Click here to read the May 2008 Legislative Update.

Mark your calendars for the 2009 IFAPA Legislative Breakfast - Tuesday, February 17, 2009.

 

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Walk Me Home...to the place I belong

A walk fundraiser to benefit the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association and the National Foster Parent Association.

 

Thanks to the Following Sponsors for

Supporting Foster & Adoptive Families!!

SILVER SPONSORS ($500)

Cellular Advantage

Community First Bank

Community State Bank

Gold Rush Advertising

John Deere Des Moines Operations

Per Mar Security Systems

Vermeer Manufacturing

 

BRONZE SPONSORS ($250)

Cafe Diem

Heartland Technologies

Holmes Murphy & Associates

LMC Insurance

Mahaska Drug

Shill Electric

Beverly & Glenn Smith

 

A special thank you to foster and adoptive families

for your fundraising efforts!!

 

 

 

Need Lower Cost Health Insurance for You

or Your Family?

Iowa’s Foster and Adoptive Families informed us they want more health insurance choices for their families – IFAPA has found a company who can give you just that…more choices. Group Benefits, Ltd. will help you find a well-known insurance company that can protect you and your family against high medical bills at a reasonable price. There are times when group insurance is not an option for employees and their families. Employees then seek out other alternatives to provide insurance options for themselves and their family. Group Benefits Ltd.’s (GBL) website is designed for those who want access to individual insurance products that meet their individual or their families’ specific needs.  Visit the GBL website

 

GBL representatives are trained, licensed and appointed on every products they sell.  They will shop various insurance companies to find the lowest priced benefits that best fit your need.  Visit their Ask for Advice section to obtain advice or have information sent to you.

 

 

Group Benefits Ltd.

1-877-899-5325 Just say "IFAPA said to call".

 

 

Make a Donation to IFAPA

IFAPA accepts financial donations to help provide training

and support to Iowa's foster and adoptive families.
CLICK HERE TO MAKE ONLINE DONATION

 

 

 

INTERESTED IN FOSTER PARENTING AND/OR ADOPTION?

If you are interested in becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please contact Iowa KidsNet

at 800-243-0756 or visit their website: www.iowakidsnet.com.

 

 

 


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