About Us – What is the National Foster Parent Association?

Our Mission is to be a respected national voice for foster, kinship, and adoptive families through networking, education, and advocacy.

The National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) is a non-profit organization established in 1972 to address the concerns of several independent groups of foster parents and child welfare professionals to provide foster families with opportunities for advocacy, networking, and education. Organized by Helen D. Stone, MSW, Foster Care Program Director at the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA), and Beatrice L. Garrett, MSW, Specialist on Foster Family Services at the U.S. Children’s Bureau, the NFPA was created as a non-profit association with a volunteer Board of Directors and paid staff. The NFPA has grown from an original group of 926 foster parents, 210 social workers, and 59 other professionals to an organization that represents thousands of foster families nationwide through foster parent affiliate associations organized by a Council of State Affiliates.

To embrace our Mission and become a respected source of timely and quality education focused on the children in our care and to provide technical support to state parent organizations.

Our vision is supported through the emphasis that family foster care is an integral component of the child welfare system; therefore our vision includes advocating for outcomes that ensure foster, kinship and adoptive families are recruited, assessed, trained, and supported with evidence-based or informed best practices and receive timely comprehensive resources so the children in their care are safe, nurtured, and have lasting relationships.  

• Promote the delivery of services and supports to foster families
• Support quality foster care by promoting excellence and best practice
• Provide services and supports to state and local foster parent associations
• Develop and provide education and training, information, dissemination of information to the public
• Advocate at the local, state and national level; promote networking and collaboration
• Promote positive image of family foster care; greater visibility; encourage active involvement

NFPA does not discriminate against a person because of age, race, ethnic heritage, gender, religion or sexual orientation. NFPA adheres to the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Visit our Position Statements for additional statements regarding other key areas related to the effective care of children.