Families First Newsletter
You can view our past newsletters by clicking on the link below. These newsletters can be viewed by using Adobe Acrobat.
NFAPA Newsletter - May-June 2008
This Newsletter has the following articles:
NFAPA Newsletter - March -April 2008
This newsletter has the following articles: Dealing with a challenging teenager by Gary Direnfiled; Educating Foster and Adoptive Parents by Kim Combes and Promoting Permanence for Children in Foster Care courtesy of NACAC. This newsletter also contains summer camps, emergency contact, in-service training and conference information.
***Please note that the phone number for the L5 Youth Ranch & Horse Rescue was misprinted. If you would like to contact Matt Lanston, please call him at 402-525-9963.
NFAPA Newsletter - January - February 2008
This newsletter has the following articles: Psychological Abuse: Hurt that doesn't leave a mark by Gary Dierenfield; Preparing for Adoption: Tips for Bonding to a Rejected Child from Children's Home Society Family Services and Kin-nection A Families Guide to the Child Welfare System by CWLA. Additional information includes Support Groups, Advocacy Day, Summer Camp and NFAPA.
NFAPA Newsletter - June - July 2007
This newsletter has the following articles: Some Frustration is Necessary by Gary Dierenfield; Allegations can Happen by Diane Martin-Hushman, NACAC; Basic Guidelines for Self-Care by Jane E. Ryan, RN; Advice for Potential Adoptive Parents by Brenda McCreight, PhD; and Is Kinship Care Good for Kids? by Tiffany Conway & Rutledge Hutson. Additional articles on What is Child Abuse, Eastern Service Area information and May is Foster Care Month-Proclamation.
NFAPA Newsletter - April - May 2007
This issue has information on the SIX System; "Therapy? Yes, but what type" by Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW; "Sex and the 7-10 Year Old" by Jennifer Shipp; "The Resource Parents Role in Court" by Barb Nissen; "What the heck were you thinking?" (and Survival Meditations for Parents of Teens) by Pamela Lowell; Let Your Voice Be Heard Survey and Summer Conference Registration form.
NFAPA Newsletter - February - March 2007
This newsletter has information on Foster Families working with Birth Families, Internet Safety, Scholarships and Summer Camps for your foster/adoptive child.
NFAPA Newsletter - December - January 2007
This newsletter has information on Family Centered Practice, %u201CBrain Development%u201D by Janie Pfeifer Watson, LCSW; %u201CFostering Progress%u201D by Mary Bissell & Rob Geen; and %u201CUnconditional Love for Teens%u201D by Pat O%u2019Brien. This issue also has a Spanish article.
NFAPA Newsletter - October - November 2006
This issue has an article by Nancy Thompson on %u201COverview of Attachment%u201D; Gary Direnfeld%u2019s article on %u201CHow Long Does It Take To Rebuild Trust%u201D; a story by an adopted child about his forever family and information on the Adoption Assistance Program.
NFAPA Newsletter - August - September 2006
This newsletter contains information on educating foster children, Adoption Conference and the following articles: %u201CThe Power of Pain%u201D by Nate Jensen; %u201CTeamworking with Your Child%u2019s Teachers%u201D by Deb England; and %u201CWhen isn%u2019t child sex play just sex play%u201D by Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW.
NFAPA Newsletter - June - July 2006
Information in this newsletter includes NFAPA Focus Mentors for Nebraska, Foster Care Payment Checklist, Policy, Summer Reading Suggestions, Report on Meth & Child Welfare and articles by Erin Wiedel and Gary Diernfeld, MSW,RSW.
NFAPA Newsletter - April - May 2006
Information in this newsletter includes the following articles: %u201CDangers of the Choking Game%u201D by Terry Jepsen; %u201CIgnorance Isn%u2019t Always Bliss%u201D by Kim Combes; %u201CWhen a Child With Special Needs and Complex Disabilities Surface with Behavior Problems%u201D by Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW; and %u201CFoster Care: A New Beginning%u201D by Alana Pearson.
NFAPA Newsletter - Februrary - March 2006
Information includes a book review by Gerry Merck, MHDL; SIX System information by Allan Albers; HHS Policies; Royal Family Kids Camp and Conference Information. Articles include: %u201CRaising Difficult Teens Five Survival Tips for Foster Parents%u201D by Mary Goodearle, MS; %u201CTelevision Changes our Brain Development%u201D by Janie Pfeifer Watson, LCSW; and %u201CWho%u2019s in charge anyway%u201D by Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW.
NFAPA Newsletter - December - Janurary 2006
Information includes HHS Policy, Celebration of Black History & Culture and 2006 Conference Dates. Articles include: %u201CTease proof Your Kids%u201D by Jim Fay; %u201CUnderstanding and Supporting Sibling Bonds%u201D by Barb Nissen; %u201CLife Beyond the Label by Kathie Snow; %u201CThe Consequences of Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Personal Experience%u201D by Janet Goree; and %u201CAfter the Holiday%u201D by Janie Pfeifer Watson, LCSW.
NFAPA Newsletter - October - November 2005
Newsletter information includes Transracial Adoption, skin care, HHS Policy, Support Groups & Area Mentors. Articles include: %u201CSelf-Injurious Behavior: A Cutter%u2019s Story%u201D by James Michael Nieman; %u201CHelp Stop the Pain%u201D by Kim Combes; %u201CABC%u2019s of Living With a Child With Invisible Special Needs%u201D by Susan Badeau; and %u201CMeant To Be%u201D by Donna Stangl.
NFAPA Newsletter - August - September 2005
This issue contains homework tips, recommended immunization schedule, NFAPA Representatives, HHS Policies and the following articles: %u201C10 Building Blocks to Handling Sexualized Behavior in Children%u201D by Marcia Sindone; %u201CMusings from Phoenix%u201D by Lori Madrid; %u201CAppreciating Developmental Milestones by Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW; A Foster Mother%u2019s Cry: My Dear Sweet Baby Boy%u201D by Nancy Shehu; %u201CWhat makes a Resilient Child%u201D by Tammy Ruggles, BSW, MA.
NFAPA Newsletter - June - July 2005
This issue discusses Family Centered Practice, support & information, and articles by Kim Combes, Deb England, Jackie Hammers, Gary Direnfeld and Aaron Weaver.
NFAPA Newsletter - April - May 2005
Articles: %u201CHow to Mean Business Without Being Mean%u201D by Deborah Hage, MSW; %u201CProviding Child Care for Foster Children with Special Needs%u201D by Lisa Kraimer-Rickaby, M.A. and Preston A. Britner, PhD; %u201CFostering: Not a Job, But a Way of Life%u201D by Dalene Myers; %u201CEffects of Grief and Loss on Children in Foster Care%u201D by Salina Berrier; %u201CFrom Foster Care to Independence%u201D by Roger Weisberg; %u201CFoster Care Bill of Right%u201D by Ishma Valenti; %u201CTogether in the Best Interest of Our Child%u201D by Betty Hasting.
NFAPA Newsletter - Februrary - March 2005
This newsletter contains information on Meth, Medicaid, Foster Parent Insurance, Child Care Subsidy, Support Groups, Foster Parent Conference, Camp Catch Up and a Foster Youth%u2019s Story.
NFAPA Newsletter - December 2004-January 2005
This newsletter shares information relating to Foster Parent Bill of Rights.
NFAPA Newsletter - October-November 2004
This newsletter is dedicated to adolescents living in foster care and those awaiting a forever family.
NFAPA Newsletter - August-September 2004.pdf
Information in this newsletter include attachment related articles written by Jane Ryan, photographing state wards, twelve skills for successful fostering and adopting, 2004 Adoption Conference and much more!
Families First\Winter 2004.pdf
Information in this newsletter include doing what is right for children, kinship foster families, and reactive attachment disorder.
Families First\Summer 2003.pdf
Information in this newsletter include how to transition a child from foster care to adoption, HHS policy on traveling with foster children, and American Indian Children article.
Families First\Spring 2003.pdf
Information in this newsletter include information on allegations and how to prevent them, guardianship explained, and stages of foster care disruption.
Families First\Winter 2003.pdf
Information in this newsletter include helping your child overcome bullying, helping children who have been separated from their siblings cope, and HHS information on required visits by Protection & Safety Workers.