Purpose, Mission, Bylaws, Goals & Objectives

Purpose, Mission, Bylaws, Goals & Objectives

* Purpose
* Mission Statement
* Bylaws
* Goals & Objectives

Purpose

The National Foster Parent Association is the only national
organization which strives to support foster parents, and remains
a consistently strong voice on behalf of all children.

* To bring together foster parents, agency representatives
and community people who wish to work together to improve the
foster care system and enhance the lives of all children and families
* To promote mutual coordination, cooperation and
communication among foster parents, Foster Parent Associations,
child care agencies and other child advocates.
* To encourage the recruitment and retention of foster parents.
* To inform the membership and general public of current
issues regarding foster care.

Membership in the NFPA is open to anyone interested in improving
the foster care system and enhancing the lives of children and
families.




Mission Statement
The NFPA strengthens foster families through nationally focused
legislative advocacy, training and education, publications, and
networking among foster parents, state and local foster parent
associations, and child welfare organizations.

The purpose of NFPA is:

To bring together foster parents, agency representatives and
community people who wish to work together to improve the foster
care system and enhance the lives of all children and families.
To promote mutual coordination, cooperation and communication
among foster parents, Foster Parent Associations, child care
agencies and other child advocates.
To encourage the recruitment and retention of foster parents.
To inform the membership and general public of current issues
regarding foster care.

The National Foster Parent Association, a nonprofit, volunteer
organization, is the only national organization which strives to
support foster parents and remains a consistently strong voice on
behalf of all children.

The Association works to advance the professional role of foster
parents and speaks out in order to protect the children they
serve. By advocation for improvement in the child welfare system,
the NFPA helps to ensure that foster homes remain the best
possible alternative for children needing foster care placement.

Association programs and activities offer friendship, support and
the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences. In addition to
the Annual Training conference, held each Spring and attended by
over 1,000 foster and adoptive parents, child agency staff and
others interested in the well-being of children, the NFPA provides
keynote speakers, workshop facilitators, and hosts local conferences.

Membership in the NFPA is open to anyone interested in improving
the foster care system and enhancing the lives of children and
families.




NATIONAL FOSTER PARENT ASSOCIATION BYLAWS

ARTICLE I -- NAME

The name of the corporation shall be National Foster Parent
Association, sometimes referred to in these bylaws as the Association.

ARTICLE II -- MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1. "FOSTER PARENT" DEFINED.

A "foster parent" shall be defined for purposes of these bylaws as
a person licensed or recognized by a child-placing agency to care
for children in a family home, non-institutional in character.

SECTION 2. TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP.

1. REGULAR MEMBERSHIP.

Revised May 15, 2003
Regular membership shall be available to all foster
parents, child welfare personnel and other individuals concerned
with the welfare of children in the foster care system.

Regular members shall have the right to vote on all matters
brought to the members of the Association, and each shall receive
all information and mailings about national activities of the
Association.

Regular membership is obtained by registering with the NFPA
and upon payment of established dues.

2. ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIP.
Revised April 7, 2000

1. NFPA AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP.

Affiliate membership shall be available to all local,
county, regional, state or other types of foster parent associations.

The benefits of this membership include auditing
meetings and receiving mailings, for local affiliates, one
representative vote on the Council of Local Affiliates; for state
affiliates, one representative vote on the Council of State
Affiliates ? each an advisory council to the NFPA Board of
Directors. This membership does not include corporate voting
rights or individual membership enrollment for members of
affiliate organizations.

2. SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Supporting organizational membership shall be
available to organizations or agencies wishing to support the
purposes and efforts of this Association. The benefits of this
membership include auditing meetings and receiving mailings. This
membership does not include voting rights or individual membership
enrollment for members of the supporting organization or agency.

3. HONORARY MEMBERSHIP.

Honorary memberships may be awarded from time to time by
the Association. Recipients of honorary memberships shall have
full regular membership privileges, including right to vote on all
matters brought to the members of the Association, and each shall
receive all information and mailings about national activities of
the Association. Revised May 9, 1997

SECTION 3. DUES.

Revised May 15, 2003
Annual dues for all types of membership will be determined and set
by the Board of Directors of the Association and ratified by the
members at the annual training conference.

SECTION 4. MEMBERSHIP YEAR.

All regular, supporting and affiliate memberships shall be for a
period of twelve consecutive months commencing with the month of
enrollment.

ARTICLE III -- OFFICERS AND DUTIES

SECTION 1. ENUMERATION AND QUALIFICATIONS.

The elected officers of the Association shall be a President, ten
(10) Regional Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. Each
officer must be a foster parent at the time of election to office
and a paid-up member in good standing of the National Foster
Parent Association at the time of nomination and while serving on
the NFPA Board of Directors. Presidential nominees must have
served on the NFPA Board of Directors. The ten Regional
Vice-Presidents must reside, and be nominated by a member residing
in their respective regions when nominated and /or while serving
as a board member. The respective geographic regions are as follows:
Revised May 2, 2002

Region 1 Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode
Island, Vermont;
Region 2 New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands;
Region 3 District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania,
Virginia, West Virginia;
Region 4 Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North
Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee;
Region 5 Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin;
Region 6 Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas;
Region 7 Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska;
Region 8 Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, North Dakota, South
Dakota;
Region 9 Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, Wake
Island;
Region 10 Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington

SECTION 2. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS.

Each outgoing officer must forward all records of the office to
the incoming officer within thirty (30) days after the last day in
office.

1. PRESIDENT.

The president shall be the chief executive officer, whose
duties and responsibilities include:
1. Preside at all regular, special or called meetings of
the Board, Executive Committee and the general membership.
1.

2.
Be responsible for the general management and
supervision of the affairs and operation of the association.

3.
Have the authority to appoint the chairmen of
all-standing committees and ad hoc committees as needed by the
Association, except the Nominating Committee. (The president
cannot be appointed chairperson of any committee).

4.
Be a member ex-officio with a vote on all the
committees except the Nominating Committee.

5.
With the elected Treasurer, sign all contracts on
obligations authorized by the Board of Directors.

6.
Cast the deciding vote in the event of any tied issue
at the Board of Directors or general membership meetings.

7.
Officially and publicly represent the National
Association.

8.
Perform such other duties as provided by these bylaws
or as commonly appertain to the office of president.

9.
The Past President shall agree to remain as a
non-voting advisory member of the Board of Directors for a period
not to exceed two years.

Revised May 2, 1985

2.
EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT.

1. The executive vice-president is a regional
vice-president and shall be elected by the ten regional
vice-presidents. The executive vice-president assumes the office
of President in the event of vacancy or absence of the NFPA President.
1.

2.
The executive vice-president shall have one year of
board experience before becoming eligible for election to this office.
Revised May 2, 2002

3.
REGIONAL VICE-PRESIDENT.

The regional vice-president shall:

1. Chair the respective regional meeting(s).
1.

2.
Represent the interests of the foster parents within
the respective region.

3.
Upon request, assist in the development and growth of
local foster parent associations.

4.
Perform such other duties as provided by these bylaws
or as commonly appertain to the office of Vice President.

4.
SECRETARY.
Revised May 15, 2003

The secretary shall:

1. Keep all the records of the Board of Directors'
meetings and general membership meetings.
1.

2.
Submit to the President, members of the Board and
those others the President might designate, a copy of minutes taken.

3.
Be prepared, on call, to inform the President of the
number of members in good standing at Board, Executive Committee
and general membership meetings.

4.
Perform such other duties as provided by these bylaws
or as commonly appertain to the office of Secretary

5.
TREASURER.

The treasurer shall:

1. Be responsible for collecting and safeguarding all
the funds of the Association.
1.

2.
Be responsible for all disbursement of national funds
as authorized by the Board of Directors.

3.
Submit all financial records to the Board of
Directors for audit on call.

4.
Make regular reports to the general membership at the
annual meetings.

5.
Be properly bonded at the discretion of the Board of
Directors.

SECTION 3. NOMINATION AND ELECTION.

1. NOMINATION COMMITTEE.

1.

There shall be a Nominating Committee of ten (10) members,
one from each of the regions as described in Article III, Section
1. Members of the Nominating Committee and their alternates shall
be elected for a two-year term in the same years as the regional
Vice Presidents in the respective regions, by the members
attending the regional meetings held at the annual training
conference.
Revised April 10, 1993

2.
ELECTION PROCESS.

The election of the national officers shall be by a ballot
sent to the total regular membership. The election of regional
Vice-presidents shall be by a ballot sent to the NFPA members of
that specific region. The President and Treasurer of NFPA and
regional Vice-presidents from Regions 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 shall be
elected in even-numbered years. The Secretary of NFPA and regional
Vice-presidents from Regions 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 shall be elected in
odd-numbered years. The Secretary or president's designee shall
send a ballot for election of officers to each regular member. The
candidate for each office receiving the plurality of votes cast
shall be elected to that office.
Revised May 15, 2003

3.
TERM OF OFFICE.

The term of office for elected officers of the Association
shall be for two years beginning on the last day of the election
year conference and ends the last day of the 2nd annual conference
thereafter. In no event shall the transition take place after June
1. No officer shall be elected for more than two consecutive terms.
Revised May 9, 1997

ARTICLE IV -- BOARD OF DIRECTORS, COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY COUNCILS

SECTION 1.
The authority of the Association shall be invested in the Board of
Directors, which shall be responsible for the management and
property of the Association. The Board of Directors shall consist
of the following members

1. President, ten (10) Regional Vice Presidents, Secretary and
Treasurer;
Revised May 2, 2002

1.

2.
Chairpersons of the standing committees;

3.
Chair, Council of State Affiliates;
Revised April 30, 1993

4.
Chair, Council of Local Affiliates.

SECTION 2. REGIONAL ADVISORS.
There shall be ten (10) regional advisors, one designated by each
regional Vice-President, to serve the Vice-President and the board
in an advisory capacity. The regional advisors shall be from the
child welfare profession.

SECTION 3. STANDING COMMITTEES.

1. The Board of Directors shall establish such Standing
Committees as deemed necessary to further the goals of the
Association and carry out the objectives of the board in
performing its duties.

1.

2.
Establishment of such Standing Committees shall be on a
motion, seconded and carried by a majority of the board.

3.
The authority of each Standing Committee terminates and the
committee dissolves every two years beginning May 31, 1980.
(Provisions of Article III, Section 3C will apply.

SECTION 4.

All members of the Board of Directors must be members of the
National Foster Parent Association. The majority of the Board of
Directors' members voting on any issue must be foster parents.

1. Membership requirement

1.

Any NFPA Board member whose dues are in arrears for 45 days
or more will be removed from office on the board. If the position
was elected by the membership, the full board will appoint a
replacement to fill the remainder of the term. If the position was
an appointed one, the president will appoint another person to
fill the remainder of the term; and if the position has a
vice-chair (Council of Local/State Affiliates), the vice-chair
will assume the vacant position for the remainder of the term of
office.
Revised May 4, 2000

SECTION 5.

The Board of Directors shall hold its regular meeting at the
annual training conference, or at the call of the President. A
written notice of the time and place of all meetings of the board
shall be mailed to each member by the Secretary not less than
twenty (20) days prior to the date of the meeting. The board shall
also meet at the call of any member having the written request of
four (4) additional members.
Revised May 4, 2002

1. ATTENDANCE. An NFPA Board member may be removed from office
for unexcused absence, as defined in the Policy and Procedure Manual.
Revised May 4, 2000

1.

SECTION 6.
The Board of Directors may, without meeting in person, transact
business by voting upon proposed resolutions sent to them by the
Secretary with the approval of the President.
Revised May 15, 2003

SECTION 7.

Duties of the Board of Directors shall be:

1.
To interpret and enforce the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation and bylaws of the Association.

2.
To promote by attitude and action constructive social
action needed to bring about changes and improvements in child
welfare systems and legislation pertaining to all children and
families.

3.
To act as an information center and research body regarding
constitutional matters, finance, education and legislative actions
and to disseminate such information.

4.
To provide a vehicle for communication among foster
parents, local foster parent associations, and child welfare agencies.

5.
To cooperate with other organizations which have similar
objectives in whole or in part to those of this Association.

6.
To elect a National Foster Parent Association member to
fill any unexpired or vacant office, except the office of
President which is provided for in Article III, Section 2- B-2.

7.
To formulate such rules and regulations as in the opinion
of the Board of Directors are essential to the interests and
objective of the Association.

SECTION 8. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee of the Association shall consist of the
President, Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Vice-president, and one
member-at-large to be selected from the board by the members of
the board.
Revised May 2, 2002

The executive authority of the Association shall be vested in the
executive committee. The executive committee shall be responsible
for the management and property of the Association, and will
report as directed to the Board of Directors.

SECTION 9. QUORUM

The Board of Directors shall have a quorum when one-half (1/2)
plus one of its members are present.

SECTION 10. COUNCIL OF STATE AFFILIATES
Revised May 2, 2002

There shall be a Council of State Affiliates who shall serve as an
advisory council to the Board of Directors. The council shall
consist of one (1) representative from each affiliated state
member, said representative to be designated in writing to the
Secretary annually. The representative shall be a regular member
of the National Foster Parent Association.

SECTION 11. COUNCIL OF LOCAL AFFILIATES.
Revised April 30, 1993

There shall be a Council of Local Affiliates which shall serve as
an advisory council to the Board of Directors. The Council shall
consist of one (1) representative from each affiliated local
member, said representative to be designated in writing to the
Secretary annually. The representative shall be a regular member
of the National Foster Parent Association.

SECTION 12. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER AT LARGE
Revised May 2, 2002

The NFPA Board will elect one board member in good standing of
NFPA to serve on the NFPA Executive Committee as Member at Large.
The Member at Large must have one year of board experience before
becoming eligible to be elected to this office. The election will
be held every year. Each individual will serve one year.

ARTICLE V -- MEETINGS

SECTION 1.
The members of the Association shall meet at least once annually
at such location and time as the Board of Directors shall determine.

SECTION 2.
Notice of meetings and the agenda shall be sent to the members by
the Secretary at least 30 days prior to the meeting.
Revised May 2, 2002

SECTION 3.
All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules
of Order Revised.

SECTION 4.
Except as otherwise specially provided by law, the Articles of
Incorporation or these bylaws, those members of the Association
who are present at the call of any meeting of the members and who
are entitled pursuant to these bylaws to vote at such meetings,
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business thereat.

Except as otherwise specially provided by law, the Articles of
Incorporation or these bylaws, a majority of those members present
and entitled to vote shall carry the question at any meeting of
the members of the Association. Members of the Association shall
not be permitted to vote by proxy at any meeting of the members.

SECTION 5. MEETINGS

Revised May 2, 2002

Members of the Association may, without meeting together, transact
business by mail by voting upon proposed resolutions mailed to
them by the Secretary with the approval of the President. If
within 40 days thereafter a majority of the members vote in favor
of such resolution, said resolution shall be deemed carried;
otherwise it shall fail.

ARTICLE VI -- AMENDMENT

SECTION 1.
The by-laws of this Association may be added to, or repealed, in
whole or in part, by a majority vote of the members present at any
regular or special meeting, provided however, that written notice
of intention to add to amend or repeal the bylaws in whole or in
part has been given each member at least 30 days prior to the
scheduled meeting.

SECTION 2.
Proposed bylaws amendments must be submitted in writing to the
president, in accordance with policy, 90 days prior to the annual
membership meeting.
Revised May 15,2003

ARTICLE VII -- POLICY

SECTION 1.
The Association shall be self-governing, nonprofit, nonpartisan
and nonsectarian, and shall not discriminate against any person on
account of sex, race, creed, religion or national origin.

SECTION 2.
The Association shall solicit and receive funds for the
accomplishment and furtherance of these bylaws.

SECTION 3.
The Association shall not engage in any activities or exercise any
powers that are contrary to law or to the primary purposes for
which this Association was formed.

SECTION 4. FISCAL YEAR.

The fiscal year of the association shall be January 1 to December 31.

January 1999
NFPA Goals and Objectives

Training of Foster Parents in Parenting Skills
NFPA will promote mandatory parenting skills training for all
foster parents in the United States. NFPA will promote training
for and implementation of the team approach in foster care.


The Establishment of a Model Recruitment Plan
NFPA will promote a model recruitment plan for effective
recruitment, development and retention of skilled foster family homes.

The Legal Rights of Foster Parents
NFPA will promote a legal standing for foster parents.

PopInJay wrote:
Purpose, Mission, Bylaws, Goals & Objectives