This bi-monthly newsletter mailed to over 3,000 licensed and approved resource families, key HHS staff, agencies, and lawmakers. The newsletter provides articles to better assist families in caring for Nebraska’s abused and neglected children, as well as an understanding of the foster care and adoption systems. Resource parents may receive 30 minutes of in-service training hours by answering a simple quiz in each newsletter.

 

You can view our past newsletters by clicking on the link below. These newsletters can be viewed by using Adobe Acrobat.

NFAPA Newsletter-November-December 2011
This newsletter features articles about the holidays and children in foster care, National Adoption Day, DHHS Policy, Upcoming trainings,preparing foste youth for independent living and history of foster care in the US. 

NFAPA Newsletter-May-June 2011
This newsletter features articles about attachment, Family Navigator, legistative hearings, texting, disaster preparedness, and the NFAPA membership meeting/training.

NFAPA Newsletter-March-April 2011
This newsletter features articles about stress, bribery vs. reinforcement, scholarships, transportation changes, documentation and the Hastings & ScottsbluffOne Day Conferences.

NFAPA Newsletter- January-February 2011
This newsletter features articles about Revival Gear, scholarships, financial aid, Families Matter, Internet Safety and Panhandle Conference information.

 NFAPA Newsletter-November 2010
This newsletter features articles about Holiday Excitement, the Youth Court Questionnaire, Expanded Adoption Credit the hidden danger of Four Loko and and article from Todd Reckling,

NFAPA Newsletter - December - January - 2010

 NFAPA Newsletter - May-June 2008

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, “Brain Development” by Janie Pfeifer Watson, LCSW; “Fostering Progress” by Mary Bissell & Rob Geen; and “Unconditional Love for Teens” by Pat O’Brien. This issue also has a Spanish article.

NFAPA Newsletter - October - November 2006

This issue has an article by Nancy Thompson on “Overview of Attachment”; Gary Direnfeld’s article on “How Long Does It Take To Rebuild Trust”; 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: “The Power of Pain” by Nate Jensen; “Teamworking with Your Child’s Teachers” by Deb England; and “When isn’t child sex play just sex play” 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: “Dangers of the Choking Game” by Terry Jepsen; “Ignorance Isn’t Always Bliss” by Kim Combes; “When a Child With Special Needs and Complex Disabilities Surface with Behavior Problems” by Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW; and “Foster Care: A New Beginning” 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: “Raising Difficult Teens Five Survival Tips for Foster Parents” by Mary Goodearle, MS; “Television Changes our Brain Development” by Janie Pfeifer Watson, LCSW; and “Who’s in charge anyway” 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: “Tease proof Your Kids” by Jim Fay; “Understanding and Supporting Sibling Bonds” by Barb Nissen; “Life Beyond the Label by Kathie Snow; “The Consequences of Shaken Baby Syndrome: A Personal Experience” by Janet Goree; and “After the Holiday” 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: “Self-Injurious Behavior: A Cutter’s Story” by James Michael Nieman; “Help Stop the Pain” by Kim Combes; “ABC’s of Living With a Child With Invisible Special Needs” by Susan Badeau; and “Meant To Be” by Donna Stangl.

NFAPA Newsletter - August - September 2005

This issue contains homework tips, recommended immunization schedule, NFAPA Representatives, HHS Policies and the following articles: “10 Building Blocks to Handling Sexualized Behavior in Children” by Marcia Sindone; “Musings from Phoenix” by Lori Madrid; “Appreciating Developmental Milestones by Gary Direnfeld, MSW, RSW; A Foster Mother’s Cry: My Dear Sweet Baby Boy” by Nancy Shehu; “What makes a Resilient Child” 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: “How to Mean Business Without Being Mean” by Deborah Hage, MSW; “Providing Child Care for Foster Children with Special Needs” by Lisa Kraimer-Rickaby, M.A. and Preston A. Britner, PhD; “Fostering: Not a Job, But a Way of Life” by Dalene Myers; “Effects of Grief and Loss on Children in Foster Care” by Salina Berrier; “From Foster Care to Independence” by Roger Weisberg; “Foster Care Bill of Right” by Ishma Valenti; “Together in the Best Interest of Our Child” 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’s 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.