Recent News & Updates

Survey for Summer Scholarship Recipients

(July 22, 2010) - In April 2010, IFAPA received a grant from the Polk County Decategorization to offer scholarships for Polk County children to participate in summer activities. If your child or children received a scholarship, we ask that you please complete this quick online survey. Your feedback will help IFAPA make future improvements if we receive funding to provide this opportunity to children again next summer. Please click on the following link to complete this survey: SUMMER SCHOLARSHIP SURVEY
The survey will end on Friday, August 6th.

IFAPA Satisfaction Survey

(July 9, 2010) - Every three months, IFAPA puts out a new quarterly satisfaction survey. In each survey, IFAPA is requesting your feedback on any trainings, support, publications, etc. that you received from the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association during the previous three month period (April, May & June 2010). We want to hear about services you have utilized and areas that are working or in need of improvement. If you have completed a previous survey - but have used any of IFAPA's support services during this last quarter, we would appreciate if you would fill out this new survey as well. This survey will close on Friday, July 23. PLEASE REMEMBER - This survey is anonymous. If you want to talk to someone about your feedback, please be sure to include your name and contact information on the survey, so IFAPA knows how to get in touch with you.

To complete this survey, click on the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5FYBKK7

 

July 2010 eNewsletter

(July 7, 2010) - The July issue of the IFAPA eNewsletter has been added to the website. To read, visit the following link: July 2010 eNewsletter

 

Updated Guide for Mandatory Reporters

(June 30, 2010) - Effective July 1, 2010 a new category "Allows Access to Obscene Material" has been added to the child abuse law. This type of abuse is defined as a caretaker knowingly allowing a child access to obscene material, exhibiting obscene material to a child, or disseminating obscene material to a child, as defined in Iowa Code Section 728.1. To view the full DHS Guide for Mandatory Reporters, click here.

 

DHS Payment Increases

(June 29, 2010) - Beginning July 1, 2010, families will receive a 1.31% increase in foster care and subsidy payments. To view the new foster care maintenance rates, visit our Foster Care Resources page.

 

Summer 2010 News & Views

(June 28, 2010) - The Summer issue of the IFAPA News & Views newsletter been added to the website. To read, visit the following link: Summer 2010 News & Views

 

IFAPA is No Longer Accepting Summer Program Applications

(June 2, 2010) - On April 19, 2010, IFAPA received a grant from the Polk County Decategorization to offer scholarships for Polk County children to participate in summer activities. IFAPA had set a goal to provide summer scholarships to 225 Polk County children. We have exceeded our goal and were able to offer summer scholarships to over 270 children this summer!!

PLEASE NOTE: As of June 2, 2010, IFAPA has spent all of the remaining grant funds. We are no longer able to process any additional applications / scholarship requests.


New DHS Service Areas

(May 19, 2010) - As of July 1, 2010, the Iowa Department of Human Services will be changing the layout of their service areas. The DHS Service Areas will be reduced from eight areas to five and some of their counties offices will go from being a full-time office to less than full-time. View the new DHS Service Area Map

 

Stride for Foster Care Walk Was a Success!

(May 18, 2010) - IFAPA and the Iowa Friends of Foster Children Foundation would like to thank all of the sponsors, participants, donors and volunteers for contributing to the Stride for Foster Care Walk on Saturday, May 1st at Gray's Lake Park in Des Moines. You helped us raise over $20,000! Click here to see a few photos from our event.

 

May eNewsletter

(May 7, 2010) - The May issue of the IFAPA eNewsletter has been added to the website. To read, visit the following link: May 2010 eNewsletter

 

Support IFAPA by Eating at Chili's

(April 28, 2010) - Chili's Restaurants in Iowa are teaming up with IFAPA to celebrate May as National Foster Care Month. During the entire month of May, when you visit any of the Chili's listed below and bring this VOUCHER with you, Chili's will donate 10% of your purchase (excluding taxes) to IFAPA. Vouchers will be accepted for dining in & orders to go. PRINT VOUCHER

Vouchers can be used at any of the following Chili's locations:

ANKENY (2601 SE Delaware Ave)
CEDAR RAPIDS (1250 Collins Rd NE)
CLIVE (11411 Forest Ave)
CORALVILLE (2651 2nd St)
DAVENPORT (4020 E. 53rd St)
SIOUX CITY (110 Nebraska St)

To request a voucher or free kids meal coupons, please contact Crystal Thomason (800-277-8145 ext. 5 or cthomason@ifapa.org). Remember, you must bring the voucher with you in order for IFAPA to receive the proceeds. Anyone can use these vouchers. Thanks for your support!

 

IFAPA's Receives a Summer Activities Grant

(April 22, 2010) - The Iowa Foster & Adoptive Parents Association (IFAPA) has received a grant from the Polk County Decategorization to offer scholarships for summer activities in 2010. Eligible children must be from Polk County and have an open DHS or JCS adjudication (or DHS Eligible) and reside with parents, in kinship care, in foster care or in residential placements. Subsidized adoptive children (from Polk County) also qualify to apply. To apply for a summer program scholarship, please complete a summer program application and mail to IFAPA by June 17. Scholarship requests are limited to $300 or less per child. Summer program scholarship requests can include: summer camps, swimming lessons, sports registration fees, pool passes, etc. Read more>>


IFAPA's Adventureland Fun Day

(April 12, 2010) - Mark your calendars - IFAPA's Appreciation Day will take place at Adventureland Park in Altoona on Saturday, August 28. Please watch for our registration / ticket order to arrive in the July News & Views newsletter. Families will receive this mailing around July 1st.

 

IFAPA's Satisfaction Survey

(April 9, 2010) - Every three months, IFAPA puts out a new quarterly satisfaction survey. In each survey, IFAPA is requesting your feedback on any trainings, support, publications, etc. that you received from the Iowa Foster and Adoptive Parents Association during the previous three month period (January, February & March 2010). We want to hear about services you have utilized and areas that are working or in need of improvement. If you have completed a previous survey – but have used any of IFAPA’s support services during this last quarter, we would appreciate if you would fill out this new survey as well. This survey will close on Friday, April 23. To complete the survey, click on the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CZXFJG3

 

April eNewsletter

(April 1, 2010) - The April issue of the IFAPA eNewsletter has been added to the website. To read, visit the following link: April 2010 eNewsletter

 

Need a Break?! Have You Used Your 5 Days of Adoption Respite?

(March 29, 2010) - Adoption Respite is a program available to adoptive families for their subsidized adopted children. Respite care provides adoptive parents with a break from the constant demands of caring for their special needs adopted child. Each adopted child who receives a subsidy is eligible to receive five days of respite care per fiscal year at $17 per day. After respite services have been provided, the adoptive parent should complete the Adoption Respite Billing Form and submit to IFAPA. The current fiscal year for the Adoption Respite Program runs from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010. All respite days must be used during these dates and the form must be submitted no later than July 15, 2010. Read more>>

 

April News & Views

(March 26, 2010) - The April issue of the IFAPA News & Views has been added to the website. To read, visit the following link: April News & Views

Stride for Foster Care Walk Fundraiser

(March 17, 2010) - Register for the Stride for Foster Care 2-mile walk fundraiser happening on Sat. May 1 at Gray’s Lake Park in Des Moines. Learn the 9 ways to fundraise $250 in 9 days and see how you can earn great prizes! Create your own walking team online! See our Stride for Foster Care webpage to learn more about this great fundraiser!!!
Won’t you take a walk on a child’s side?

 

March eNewsletter

(March 16, 2010) - The March issue of the IFAPA eNewsletter has been added to the website. To read, visit the following link: March 2010 eNewsletter

 

Conference Registration Deadline is Approaching

(February 11, 2010) - Parents and social workers are invited to attend the 2010 IFAPA Spring Conference in on March 5th & 6th at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in Ankeny. The IFAPA Spring Conference offers many great training opportunities from experts in the field. The conference rates are $60 per person (two-day) and $45 per person (one-day), lunch is provided both days. The conference registration deadline is Friday, February 19th. All registrations must be postmarked or dropped off at the IFAPA office by Friday, February 19, 2010 in order to avoid a late fee. If you opt to register after Friday, February 19, there will be a $10 LATE FEE added to the cost of each participant's registration. More about the conference

 

January eNewsletter

(January 22, 2010) - The January issue of the IFAPA eNewsletter has been added to the website. To read, visit the following link: January 2010 eNewsletter

 

Attend IFAPA's Legislative Breakfast - Feb. 16

(January 12, 2010) - This year Iowa faces a record budget shortfall. Iowa legislators will face a daunting task to try and provide services to so many in need with such limited funding. Children in the child welfare system are some of the most vulnerable children in Iowa. IFAPA will continue to work to be a voice for children and families, but we need your help. It is imperative that IFAPA members keep their legislators informed on the issues facing children in their care. Please consider attending our Legislative Breakfast on Tuesday, February 16 from 7am to 9am at the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines. To attend, call IFAPA at 800-277-8145 ext. 4. View Legislative Resources

 

IFAPA Bylaw Changes

(January 8, 2010) - IFAPA's Policy and Bylaw Committee has recommended some revisions be made to IFAPA's bylaws. These changes were then approved by the Board of Directors at the December board meeting, to be presented to foster and adoptive families for approval. These changes will be voted on at the next IFAPA General Membership meeting which will be held during the IFAPA Spring Conference on Friday, March 5th. VIEW BYLAW CHANGES

 

IFAPA's Spring Training Schedule

(December 29, 2009) - We have posted our spring training schedule on our website. The schedule includes trainings being offered February through June 2010. We are offering a couple new trainings this spring, including CPR & First Aid. IFAPA trainings are free, with the exception of the IFAPA Conference and the CPR & First Aid classes. Click on the links below to read about our new trainings.

7 Ways to Foster Love, Respect and Communication

The Journey from Foster Care to Adoption and Beyond

Cultural Diversity

CPR & First Aid (Cost $25 per person, Must call 800-277-8145 ext. 1 to register two weeks in advance)

Click Here to View IFAPA’s Spring Training Schedule

 

New Lifebook Pages on IFAPA Website

(December 7, 2009) - IFAPA has recently added some new lifebook pages to our website and now offer the entire lifebook in one PDF document. This document is in English and in Spanish and can be downloaded for free. Visit lifebook page

 

Important Message from DHS Regarding Budget Cuts

(November 6, 2009) - The Department of Human Services is aware that many foster and adoptive parents have heard of the across the board 10% budget cuts directed by the Governor’s Executive order. In order to implement the Department’s required reduction, all budget items were reviewed and careful thought was put into making decisions that would be the least disruptive to children and families. To meet the required reduction, a 5% across the board rate reduction of foster care, adoption subsidy and subsidized guardianship payments has been approved by the Governor. Read more

 

November Issue of News & Views Newsletter

(October 29, 2009) - The November issue of the IFAPA News & Views newsletter has been added to the website. See Newsletter

 

IFAPA Website Adds Online Registration for Training

(October 21, 2009) - Want to register for an IFAPA training? Families can register for an IFAPA training by using our new online registration form. To register for a class, click here.

 

H1N1 Notice to Foster Care Providers

(October 20, 2009) - The Iowa Department of Human Services and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) have partnered to develop written materials for foster care providers regarding novel influenza A (H1N1). Please read the following H1N1 memorandum from DHS and the written materials created to help foster care providers decrease the spread of influenza:

DHS Memorandum to Foster Care Providers

IDPH Recommendations for Foster Care

Environmental Cleaning & Disinfection

Daily Health Check Guidance & Checklist

How to Properly Take a Child's Temperature

Caring for Someone with H1N1

 

IFAPA Provides Training on Caring for Children with HIV

(October 9, 2009) - When placement of an HIV-infected child occurs, foster parents are required to complete the course “Caring for Children with HIV”. This course contains information on the unique aspects of pediatric HIV disease, transmission and infection control, the spectrum of HIV disease, confidentiality and self-care for the caregiver. IFAPA will be offering this training on Thursday, November 19 in Waverly, Dubuque and Des Moines. Learn more

 

September eNewsletter

(September 28, 2009) - The September issue of the IFAPA eNewsletter has been added to the website. To read, visit the following link: www.ifapa.org/pdf_docs/Sept09ENews.pdf

 

IFAPA Publishes Two New Resources for Parents

(September 25, 2009) - IFAPA has posted the following new publications on our website.

Kinship Caretakers - How to Navigate Iowa's Child Welfare System
The Kinship Caretakers booklet was created to help Iowa kinship caretakers navigate the DHS and Juvenile Court systems when they are caring for a relative’s child. The booklet includes information on the different types of care a kinship caretaker can provide, financial assistance programs, community resources, and questions to ask DHS when considering a kinship placement.

Resource Parents Partnering with Birth Parents to Benefit Children
Why did you become a resource parent? Most people would answer this question by saying they want to help children and families, or they want to make a difference in a child’s life. One way you can have a big impact on a child’s life is by working with the birth parents to rebuild the family. There are enormous benefits for children and families when resource families and birth families work together. The information in this booklet will help resource parents gain a better understanding of the importance of positive connections with birth parents and ways resource parents can contribute to the success of these partnerships.

 

The Education of Children in Foster Care in Iowa

(September 24, 2009) - The Department of Education recognizes that children in foster care face additional educational barriers that their peers do not. The Department of Education has prepared a packet of resources as a courtesy to and for the use of school personnel, DHS workers, foster parents, etc.

This publication includes information on the following topics:

Read this publication

 

Upcoming Conferences / Trainings

(September 4, 2009) - Visit the Other Training section to learn about other non-IFAPA trainings and conferences that may be of importance to foster and adoptive parents. Some are approved for foster parent credit, such as The Hidden Epidemic: Sexually Transmitted Disease & Teen Pregnancy in the Foster Care System & Promoting Healthy Children Conference.
Learn More

 

New DHS Rules

(September 3, 2009) - DHS has new rule changes that will affect foster and adoptive families and will take affect on October 1, 2009. Read the New DHS Rules.

 

Foster Care Maintenance & Adoption Subsidy Payments

(September 1, 2009) - Do you want to know when you will receive your foster care maintenance and/or adoption subsidy payment? To find out how the payments are processed and to see the payment schedule for the following year, click here.

 

IFAPA Newsletters

To learn about other recent news and updates, read the latest IFAPA Newsletters.

 

 

 

 

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