Advocate on behalf of foster and adoptive parents.
Provide and promote quality training and education.
Promote the development of local foster and / or adoptive parent associations throughout the state.
Develop partnerships with other child advocacy agencies and organizations.
Actively participate in the recruitment and retention of foster and adoptive parents.
Inform foster and adoptive parents and others of the general public of current information pertaining to the well-being of children in care and their families
Develop ways to track and increase the number of foster family and adoptive homes.
Maintain a secure financial base to support association goals.
Develop a resource network for foster and adoptive parents.
Some of the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association values and beliefs are:
Treating children and families with dignity and respect.
Providing safe living environments for Alabama’s children.
Promoting respectful partnerships between foster and adoptive families and local and state agencies.
AFAPA offers $1,000 dollar scholarships to graduating seniors and college-age students,(21 years or younger as of June 1st in the year of application). Students who are currently in foster care, birth and adopted children of foster parents, and those adopted from the Alabama DHR system, are eligible to apply for the AFAPA scholarship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Could the scholarship be used for trade school?
Most definitely! Can the funds be used for books? Yes, the scholarship funds can be used for tuition, books, lab fees, or supplies purchased thorough the school account.
When should I apply?
The deadline for applications is March 1st of the year you will be entering the school. Please check afapa.org web site for the application.
Do my grades matter?
AFAPA scholarships are not based on academic achievement. Rather, our review committee will be looking at each individual’s needs and goals. You must, however, maintain the GPA the University requires to stay a student.
What can the scholarship funds be used toward?
Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, maintenance fees, books, and or school supplies.
What if I decide not to attend school the year I am granted the scholarship?
You would not be able to use the scholarship, you would be able to apply for another scholarship when you did start back to school if you are under age 22 as of June 1st in year of scholarship award.
Can I re-apply for the scholarship?
Yes as long as you meet the criteria you can apply for the scholarship each year until you 21 years old.
How will the scholarship be paid?
If chosen to receive scholarship, provide proof of acceptance into a college/university/trade or vocational school is required along with student ID#. Scholarships funds are paid directly to the college/university or vocational school and are deposited into students account. Funds are not paid directly to student and may not be used for personal items.
What happens if there is an unused portion of the scholarship?
Unused portion or appropriate percentage of funds must be returned if recipient withdraws or does not report to school as scheduled. Otherwise the amount should roll over in the account of the student.
What if there is something incorrect in my scholarship application?
Scholarship Committee will collect applications and check for correct information. Attempts will be documented to contact students with missing or incorrect information
The Department of Human Resources shall ensure that each foster parent shall have all of the following rights:
(1) The right to be treated with dignity, respect, trust, value, and consideration as a primary provider of foster care and a member of the professional team caring for foster children.
(2) The right to receive information concerning the rights enumerated in this section.
(3) The right to a concise written explanation of their role as foster parents in partnership with children and their families, the department, and other providers, the role of the department, and the rights and role of the members of the birth family of a child in foster care.
(4) The right to training and support for the purpose of improving skills in providing daily care and meeting the needs of the child in foster care.
(5) The right to training, consultation, and assistance in evaluating, identifying, and accessing services to meet their needs related to their role as foster care providers. This includes, but is not limited to, all foster care polices, the Foster Parent Handbook, Foster Family Homes Minimum Standards, the Therapeutic Foster Care Manual, and a mediation process.
(6) The right to provide input to the department in identifying the types of resources and services that would meet the needs of children currently in their care and of their families, and advocate for the same without threat of reprisal.
(7) The right to information concerning behavioral problems, health history, educational status, cultural and family background, and other issues relative to the child which are known to the department at the time the child is placed in foster care prior to the child’s placement with a foster parent or parents. When the department knows such information after placement, the department shall make that information available to the foster parent as soon as practicable.
(8) The right to a written explanation of the plan concerning the placement of a child in the foster parent’s home. For emergency placements where time does not allow prior preparation of the explanation, the department shall provide such explanation within 72 hours. Prior to placement, the department shall allow the foster parent to review a written summary of information concerning the child, including, but not limited to, assessments, evaluations, and case plans, and allow the foster parent to assist in determining if the child would be a proper placement for the prospective foster family. For emergency placements where time does not allow prior review of the information, the department shall provide the information within 72 hours of placement. Confidential information shall be kept confidential by the foster parents, except as determined through the individualized service plan (ISP) process to promote the health and welfare of the child.
(9) The right to a staff person representing the department on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for the purpose of aiding the foster parent in receiving departmental assistance.
(10) The right to fair and equitable board payments based on a system of daily board rates and other financial reimbursement as specified in a plan adopted by the department after consultation with foster parents, subject to the availability of funds.
(11) The right to accept or refuse placement within their home, or to request, upon reasonable notice to the department, the removal of a child from their home for good cause without threat of reprisal for acting on such good cause.
(12) The right to information of scheduled meetings and appointments concerning the foster child and permission for the foster parent to actively participate in and provide input to be used by the ISP team in the case planning and decision-making process regarding the child in foster care, including, but not limited to, individual service planning meetings, foster care reviews, individual educational planning meetings, and medical appointments.
(13) The right to request that a person or persons serve as a volunteer advocate and to be present at all meetings with the department, including, but not limited to, individualized service planning, administrative hearings, the grievance/mediation process, the adoption process, and the allegation process where the foster parent is present. All communications received by the volunteer advocate shall be in strict confidence.
(14) The right to notice and an opportunity to be heard, including timely information concerning all court hearings. This notification may include, but is not limited to, notice of the date and time of the court hearing, the name of the judge or hearing officer assigned to the case, the guardian ad litem, the location of the hearing, and the court docket number. The notification shall be made upon receipt of this information by the department. Although not a party to the case, the foster parent may attend court hearings at the discretion of the judge.
(15) The right to communication with professionals who work with the foster child, including, but not limited to, therapists, physicians, and teachers who work directly with the child.
(16) The right to communicate with the child’s birth family, other foster parents of the child, and prospective and finalized adoptive parents of the child with ISP team approval and without the threat of reprisal.
(17) The right to necessary information on an ongoing basis which is relevant to the care of the child, including timely information on changes in the case plan or termination of the placement and reasons for the changes or termination of placement to the foster parent, except in the instances of immediate response of child protective service.
(18) The right to first consideration as the resource for a child in a foster parent’s home who becomes free for adoption or another planned permanent living arrangement.
(19) The right to a period of respite upon the request of a foster parent. The foster parent shall provide reasonable notice of a request for respite.
(20) The right to information, in person and in writing, of any allegations of maltreatment of children in the home of the foster parent alleged to have been perpetrated by a member of the foster parent’s household, the process for disposition of these allegations, and any review process for repo
rts of indicated child abuse and neglect upon receipt of the allegations. A written notification of any report in which a finding is not indicated on the county level shall be provided to a foster parent within five days of the findings.
(21) The right to copies of all information relative to their family and services contained in the personal foster home record.
(22) The right to mediation procedures that may be developed and adopted by the department and the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association Board. The foster parent may request mediation in accordance with any mediation policy adopted by the department and the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association Board without threat of reprisal.
(23) The right to appeal the closing of a foster family home by the department in accordance with any appeal procedure adopted by the department and the Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association Board without threat of reprisal.
The Department of Human Resources shall ensure that each foster parent shall have all of the following rights:
