Our Team

Our NFPA Team is comprised of Staff, Board Members, volunteers, and more.

Staff

Arnold (Arnie) Eby

Executive Director

Arnie currently serves as the Executive Director of the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA). NFPA is a non-profit organization representing thousands of foster, adoptive and kinship parents, established to provide opportunities for advocacy, networking, and education.

Arnie’s role includes developing partnerships and building relationships that benefit foster parents by providing the resources, services and support they need to provide care for children in need.

He serves on multiple national, state, and local government committees, and strives to provide one voice in advocating for core needs for family-based care.

Arnie and his wife Donna have been foster parents for over 20 years and are the parents to three daughters and three sons, four of which are adopted into his family from the foster care system.

arnie@nfpaonline.org

Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Van Tassell

Board of Directors – Officers

Tammy Wells

President - Alma, Nebraska

A Message From Our President



It is my privilege and honor to be addressing you as the newly elected NFPA President. I look forward to spending my time serving NFPA constituents, families, and sponsors in this capacity through networking, advocacy, and education.

Well-supported, well-trained foster families are better equipped to advocate for their needs and those of the children they serve. By empowering families, we can effect meaningful change at all levels of the system, from local communities to state and federal governments.

My role in the foster care realm has been as a birth, foster, kinship, and adoptive parent. My husband and I started our journey of fostering families when our two birth children were young, and they asked if we could share our home and love with other children that needed a safe place and someone to connect with. As our journey began, we decided to open our hearts and home to sibling strips of three or more children or single children diagnosed with special needs. After a journey of just under 30 years, we find ourselves continuing the journey and learning to network, advocate, and educate our own families and families throughout our state.

In 2016 after being a part of the NFPA Council of State Affiliates I applied for a position on the NFPA Board of Directors. In July of that year I attended my first meeting as a board member and have been active in the board ever since. During my time serving I have held chair positions on the finance, audit, and strategic planning membership committees. I have also been active on the conference, scholarship, governance, and bylaw committees. Most recently I was the NFPA vice president until my election of president in January of this year.

May your days be filled with life, love, laughter, and memories!

Tammy

About Tammy’s Priorities

Tammy brings a wealth of leadership experience from her involvement with the Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parent Association which extends to mentoring foster parents, facilitating support groups, serving as a birth parent advocate, and engaging in legislative advocacy by discussing key issues with members of Congress and state representatives.

Tammy has highlighted several pressing issues facing foster families. She is dedicated to identifying, implementing and advocating for collaborative solutions during her tenure as NFPA President.

Systemic Issues

Overcrowding: Many children and youth linger without permanency.
Aging out: The percentage of foster youth that become homeless when they are no longer considered a ward is high and unjust.
LGBTQ youth: Face emotional concerns about where or how to live the life they have chosen without criticism.

Foster Parent Challenges

Building relationships: Although taxing for some a relationship with birth parents is on the rise.
Adjusting and emotional strain: The need for support groups and counseling would benefit the foster parents, in turn benefitting the family they are serving.
Child Care and Prudent Parenting: Cost of childcare and the need of more providers is a challenge when foster parents are being told that their prudent parenting options are not adequate.

Other Challenges

Reunification/Permanency
Mental health challenges
Educational needs

As NFPA President, Tammy will prioritize addressing these issues by fostering greater awareness and aligning with legislative agendas to drive systemic change.