NFPA ConnectU Newsletter Archive
Networking, Education and Advocacy News for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parents
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ConnectU Archive – 2026
ConnectU October, 2026
In this edition:
- Domestic Violence Awareness & CyberSecurity Month
- Webinar Invitations for Caregiver Learning
- Free 3-month subscription to Fostering Families Today Digital
- Together for Impact Highlights
- NCMEC 2025 Annual Report – Stats & Impact
- 30 Years of Amber Alerts
- NEW! State & Local Updates & Webinars
ConnectU September, 2026
In this edition:
- ‘Together for Impact’ Conference is This Month!
- Use code 250NFPA to attend for just $250
- Sign up for Hill Visitation Day & Tour of NCMEC
- September is Kinship Care Appreciation Month & FASD Awareness Month
- NCMEC: ‘Back to School Checklist: Talk About AI ‘Nudify’ Apps
- Families Rising: Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Status
- National Working Group on Foster Care and Education: How Addressing Education Needs Can Link to Improved Permanency Outcomes; What Data and Practice Tell Us
- And more.
ConnectU August, 2026
In this edition:
- Conference special $250 rate in celebration of our country’s 250th Anniversary!
- Conference scholarships are available
- NFPAOnline.org refresh
- Annie E. Casey Foundation releases the 2026 KIDS COUNT Data Book
- New NFPATI Training 8/14: Roots & Wings, Building the Skills that Help Your Child Thrive in School – and in Life
- ACF and Treasury Release Updated Guidance to Help States Implement
- Fostering the Future Accounts
- IRS Info regarding Trump Accounts
- And more.
ConnectU July, 2026
In this edition:
- Conference special $250 rate in celebration of our country’s 250th Anniversary!
- Loyola University survey invitation
- Resources for Sleep for children in care
- NCMEC Spotlight: Conversation with Arnie Eby
- NFPA Dondiego Family Youth Scholarship Winners Announcement
- New Course on NFPATI! ‘Growing Brains All Summer Long’
- Important Reading: CCAI’s Anchored in Permancy Policy Recommendations
- Administration for Children & Families: 50 States Join A Home for Every Child
- USDOE: Returning Education to the States
ConnectU Mid-June, 2026
In this mid-month Legislative Update edition:
- S.162 Passes the Senate
- Fostering the Future Accounts sponsored by First Lady Melania Trump
- Administration for Children and Families Guidance Documents
- Brief: How Addressing Education Needs Can Link to Improved Permanency Outcomes: What Data and Practice Tells Us
- Go!Digital Youth Toolkit
- Fostering-related Bills to Watch
- Together for Impact Registration
ConnectU June, 2026
In this edition:
- June is a month of celebration! PRIDE, Father’s Day & Family Reunification
- Together for Impact – 55th Education Conference Registration is Open
- NCMEC & the NFPA Working Together for Foster Parents
- SSA Go Digital! ‘Supporting Youth in Foster Care as They Transition to Adulthood’
- know2protect – Built T.R.U.S.T., How2Be a Trusted Adult
- Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network celebrated Older American’s Month in May
- World Largest Blanket Fort!… Making memories for foster and kinship families
- Scholarship: Foster the Bear Foundation
- Bills to Watch
ConnectU Mid-May, 2026
In this edition:
- H.R. 7432 Passes the House of Representatives!
- New Bill to Watch
- 55th Education Conference Registration is Open
- New NFPATI Training – ‘Protecting Children and Youth from Sexual Exploitation in the Digital Age’
ConnectU May, 2026
In this edition:
- May is National Foster Parent Appreciation Month
- White House Proclamation
- OPM Supports Efforts to Provide Support to Foster and Adoptive Families
- Together for Impact – 55th Education Conference Registration is Open
- Early Registration Discount
- know2protect Resources
- National Working Group on Foster Care and Education
- Don’t Miss the Earned Income Tax Credit
- ACF Online Platform for Foster Youth
ConnectU April, 2026
In this edition:
- April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Autism Awareness Month
- Together for Impact, 55th Education Conference, Sept 27 – 30
- In Memory of Child Welfare Advocate Sue Dondiego
- Know2Protect -Child Exploitation Awareness and Prevention
- C.A.S.E. and the NFPA attend the hearing, ‘Advancing Permanency in Child Welfare; Leveraging Federal Funding for Adoption Programs’
- Senator Chuck Grassley speaks about S. 162, ‘Recruiting Families Using Data Act’
- Families Rising – New $5k Tax Credit Refundability from Adoptions 2020-2024
- And more.
NEW! ConnectU March, 2026
In this edition:
- Together for Impact, 55th Education Conference Sept 27 – 30
- Journey to Success – Bipartisan Foster Youth Agenda Landing Page
- March is Social Worker Appreciation Month!
- 2025 Federal Tax Guide is Available
- Congratulations to our CoSA Lead, Amanda Cruce, on achieving her Doctorate!
- Pets in Homes That Are Providing Foster Care – Survey Summary
- Dondiego Youth Scholarships – Deadline April 1st
- know2protect – ‘Real Love Doesn’t Trick You’
- ATTACh Conference last call! April 9 – 11
- And more.
ConnectU February, 2026
In this edition:
- Celebrating Black History Month
- 2026 is about creating and advocating for resources for caregivers
- 2025 Tax Guide is Now Available
- Resources for Impact Library of information is online, Invitation to provide feedback
- NFPA’s 55th Education Conference September 28 – 20, Crystal City, Virginia
- Administration for Children and Families (ACF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Public Dashboard
- FFTA Conference announcement
- Dondiego Youth Scholarships open February 6th
- And more!
ConnectU January, 2026
In this edition:
- Happy New Year from the NFPA!
- YOU ARE INVITED to our Town Hall (1/14) and Annual BOD Meeting (1/23)
- CCAI Data-Driven Strategies to Recruit, Retain and Support Foster Families
- Blue Campaign – One Voice. One Mission. End Human Trafficking.
- Tax Resources for the 2025 Filing Season
- Dondiego Youth Scholarships Open February 6th
- C.A.S.E Webinar – Holidays Through the Eyes of Adoptees, a 4-part Series
- ATTACh Conference 2026
- CWLA updates, sign up for alerts, bills to follow in the 119th Congress
ConnectU Archive – 2025
ConnectU December, 2025
In this edition:
- Happy Holidays from the NFPA!
- SAVE THE DATE for our January 23 – 24 Town Hall and Annual BOD Meeting
- ‘Tis the Season for End of Year Giving
- NCMEC Generative AI and Internet Safety
- There’s still time to enjoy the 54th Education (Virtual) Conference!
- Holiday Gift Ideas – Books for Caregivers
- Get Involved – Survey Opportunity, BOD Member Applications, and more
- ATTACh Conference 2026
- CWLA updates, sign up for alerts, bills to follow in the 119th Congress
ConnectU November, 2025
In this edition:
- November is National Adoption Month!
- ‘Becoming a Foster Parent’ Resources
- 54th Education Conference Extended to the End of Year
- ‘Tis the Season for End of Year Giving (Combined Federal Campaign)
- NFPA is accepting new Board of Director member applications
- ATTACh Conference 2026
- CWLA updates, sign up for alerts, bills to follow in the 119th Congress
ConnectU October, 2025
In this edition:
- NFPA’s 54th Education Conference opens Friday, October 10th!
- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- NFPA is accepting new Board of Director member applications!
- New Identity Theft Chat Feature on NFPATI.org, + New Resource – Identity Theft: The Impact on Children and Foster Youth
- Survey Invitation: Data Analytics in Foster Care (NSU Florida)
- ATTACh Conference 2026
- CWLA updates, sign up for alerts, bills to follow in the 119th Congress
ConnectU September, 2025
In this edition:
- September is Kinship Care Month and FASD Awareness Month
- NFPA is accepting Board of Directors applications
- A Survey invitation from our friends at the IRS
- 54th Education Conference registration is open! See https://nfpaeducation.com for details.
- Families Rising Adoption and Foster Care Conference
- PLEDGE2PROTECT – Back to School, Back to Safety
- ATTACh Conference 2026
- CWLA updates, sign up for alerts, bills to follow in the 119th Congress
ConnectU August, 2025
In this edition:
- It’s Back to School Season!
- University of Pittsburgh Survey Invitation, ‘Pets in the Foster Home’
- know2Protect – Stop Online Exploitation & PLEDGE2PROTECT – Be a part of the movement to keep kids safe online
- ATTACh Conference 2026
- NFPA Virtual Conference 2025 Update – Many Stories, One Community
- Digital Safety for Children in Foster & Kinship Care
- ABA Center on Children and the Law Webinar: Helping Mental Health Providers Achieve Outcomes that Matter Most, resources for Education for Students in Foster Care
- Advocacy roundup, bills to follow, Journey to Success input on the ‘Supporting America’s Children and Families Act’
ConnectU July, 2025
In this edition:
- Summer Fun and Family Time
- ATTACh Summer Newsletter, book resource, ‘Healing Connections’
- Casey Community Opportunity Map: A Data Tool for Community Leaders
- NFPA Collaboration with ATTACh for their April, 2026 Conference in San Antonio, TX
- Request for Presenters
- NFPA ‘Many Stories, One Community’ Conference Update
- CWLA: Bills to Follow in the 119th Congress
ConnectU June, 2025
In this edition:
- June is a month of celebration, including Pride Month, Reunification Month and Father’s Day!
- C.A.S.E. invites you to help shape the future of adoption-competent mental health care. Take their survey and contribute your voice!
- Update on our 54th Education Conference, ‘Many Stories, One Community’
- Workshop recording available: ‘Everyone Plays a Role: Elevating Education for PK-12 Students in Foster Care Through Lived Expertise, Practice and Policy’.
- FASD Respect Act passes the House!
- New Release! Journey to Success Policy Milestone Report
- CWLA webinar: InstruMENtal: Recognizing the Importance of the Male Role in Child Welfare
ConnectU May, 2025
In this edition:
- May is National Foster Family Appreciation Month!
- Former Board President Karen Poteet has been nominated to the Board of FASD United
- C.A.S.E. adoption-competent mental health care survey invitation
- Eby Family honored by C.A.S.E. for contributions over 25 years of foster care
- Arnie Eby becomes a member of the National Working Group on Foster Care and Education, a team formed by the American Bar Association
- NFPA 2025 Virtual Conference
- Vital Legislative Updates – HHS restructuring, Bills to follow, and much more
ConnectU April, 2025
In this edition:
- NFPA’s Community of Support
- National Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Autism Awareness Month
- A Message from New Board President, Tammy Wells
- Friends of the NFPA
- Virtual Education Conference – October, 2025
- HHS Restructuring, Impact
ConnectU March, 2025
In this edition:
- January is National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
- NFPA Dondiego Youth Scholarships Open in February
- No In-person NFPA Education Conference this year
- Virtual conference scheduled for October, date is TBD
- NFPA continues to foster strategic relationships and Advocate for the needs of Foster, Adoptive and Kinship parents
- Save the Date: January 21, 1 – 2pm ET Part II Strategies of Engagement for Families Working for Better Mental Health Care Services
ConnectU February, 2025
In this edition:
- Strengthening Our Communities and Networks
- This Year’s Theme: Many Stories, One Community
- Celebrating Black History Month
- 2024 Tax Guide for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Parents
- 2025 Virtual Conference in October – Date TBD
- ATTACh Conference in Nashville, TN
- Dondiego Family Youth Scholarship applications are now being accepted!
ConnectU January, 2025
In this edition:
- What 2025 has in store for the NFPA
- Relationships built in 2024
- Continuing to build alliances in 2025
- ‘Wear Blue on Jan 11th’ to raise awareness of human trafficking
- Education Conference 2025 plans
- Partner conferences for 2025
- Dondiego Youth Scholarships update
- Senate passes HR 9076, ‘Supporting America’s Children and Families Act’ unanimously!
ConnectU Archive – 2024
ConnectU December, 2024
In this edition:
- A Look Back, a Look Forward
- Education updates – NFPATI, 2025 Conference plans, Partner conferences NFPA is attending in ’25
- Advocacy contributions, Legislation in the works
- National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services Webinar
- A big ‘Thank You! to Paycom for their generous donation of $25,000 to the NFPA!
ConnectU November, 2024
In this edition:
- We’re Talking Teens!
- Celebrating National Adoption Month
- A Study on Legal Protections for Sexual and Gender Minority Youth in Foster Care, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
- National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services Live Webinar: Understanding the Complex Mental Health Needs of Children in Child Welfare
- ATTACh Healing Connections Conference Save the Date
- The House Passes HR 3058 with Overwhelming Bipartisan Support – On to the Senate!
ConnectU October, 2024
In this edition:
- Using our network to assist friends in North Carolina, Florida and Georgia
- North Carolina Foster Alliance needs our help!
- Call for NFPA Board of Directors applications
- 5 Essential Core Supports for Foster, Adoptive and Kinship parents
- Day Care
- Mental Health Care
- Relief and Respite
- Peer-to-Peer Support
- Training
- October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month – Resources
- Hispanic Heritage Month Continues
- What’s New in the Mental Health Hub?
- Preventing Identity Theft for Foster Children (Webinar)
- Strengthening Families Act passes the House!
- And more!
ConnectU September, 2024
In this edition:
- History of NFPA, ways Foster Care has developed over the years
- Celebrating Success – Recruiting Families Using Data Act, bipartisan Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act, Congressional connections, advocacy relationships
ConnectU August, 2024
In this edition:
- New History page with a Timeline of Child-Care Milestones
- Celebrating Successes
- Networking – Congressional, Corporate and non-profits connection
- Advocacy opportunities, e.g. Protecting America’s Children by Strengthening Families Act
ConnectU July, 2024
In this edition:
- Happy 4th of July!
- Arnie’s Corner
- Photos from our Conference
- Free Memberships are still available!
- Stakeholder Survey Invitation
ConnectU June, 2024
In this edition:
- Arnie’s Corner
- June is a Month of Celebration! Reunification Month, Pride Month
- Countdown to the Conference! Only 4 Weeks Away…
- 53rd Conference Sponsor Highlights
ConnectU May, 2024
In this edition:
- Arnie’s Corner
- Celebrating Foster, Adoptive and Kinship Caregivers in the month of May
- 53rd Education Conference Update, Presenter Announcement, Sponsor Highlight, Focus Groups
ConnectU April, 2024
In this edition:
- Arnie’s Corner
- 53rd Education Conference Presenter Announcement
- CoSA Members Visit Capital Hill
- April is Child Abuse Prevention Month – Resources
- Stakeholder Survey Invitation
- Training Spotlight – The Impact of Social Media on Children
ConnectU March, 2024
In this edition:
- Arnie’s Corner
- Honoring Social Workers
- Dondiego Family Youth Scholarships Reminder
- 53rd Education Conference
- Board Highlight – Meet Leslie Stroud-Romero, Board Secretary
- Training Spotlight – Sleep Health for Foster Children
- Advocacy Update – S 1313 Recruiting Families Using Data Act
ConnectU February, 2024
In this edition:
- Arnie’s Corner
- Looking ahead to Black History Month
- Conference Update
- Dondiego Family Youth Scholarship – Accepting Applications
- Stakeholder Survey Invitation
- National Center for Adoption Competent Mental Health Services – New Website
- Free webinar on Adoption Tax Credit by Families Rising
ConnectU January, 2024
In this edition:
- Executive Director Arnie Eby discusses accomplishments in 2023, including CoSA, NFPAti and Advocacy gains.
- We look ahead to our 53rd Education Conference.
- Meet Board President Karen Poteet.
- We introduce our new CoSA website.
- Training Spotlight – Healthy Boundaries, Healthy Relationships
- NFPA / CoSA Fall Meeting
- We extend a big ‘thank you!’ to Paycom for their generous donation of $25,000
- Arnie attends FASD United’s ‘Red Shoe’ conference.