About FCAO
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About The Project

The goal of this project was to increase legislator and public awareness of the responsibilities, demands, challenges, and expectations of foster parents; to increase legislators' and news media's understanding of foster care policy and rationale as related to the best interest of children and families; and to encourage legislative and fiscal support of all efforts to meet children's needs and to support professionals and paraprofessionals as they serve children.

On February 13, 2007, volunteers from the Foster Care Association of Oklahoma launched the Foster Doll Project. Volunteers pushed baby strollers and pulled wagons filled with used dolls to present to state legislators the Governor, Lt. Governor and the DHS Director. These policy makers became the doll's foster parent (resource parent) for a 12-week period.

Senator Wilcoxson supported this project and is well acquainted with the foster care system in Oklahoma. She and her husband, Lynden, opened their home and their hearts to a foster child whom they later adopted. Now Sen. Wilcoxson is hoping to bring attention to the need for others to do the same. Wilcoxson and Foster Care Association of Oklahoma (F.C.A.O.) have teamed up to give legislators a foster doll to care for until May of 2007.

Throughout the coming weeks, those receiving foster dolls will receive updated case plans as well as information relating to adoption. After the dolls are collected in May, they'll be taken to malls and stores throughout the state and displayed to help continue to raise awareness about the need for foster parents in Oklahoma.

• Christmas Project-For the last six years the FCAO has provided toys and other items to foster children throughout the state.Many of the state's poorer counties do not have the resources to buy for all the children in their care. That is when the FCAO steps in to support our kids in-care and our families who care for them.
• Foster Parent FAQ's-A booklet designed and maintained for foster parents most frequently asked questions. "A must have."
• Meeting with DHS officials-FCAO works to have a cooperative relationship with DHS and meets regularly with officials at the State and local levels on foster care issues.
• Respite and Reimbursement-An ongoing project of FCAO is to find ways for foster parents to receive much needed respite and much needed increases in reimbursements.
• Newsletter-A Quarterly publication designed to communicate helpful information and news to member/sponsors.
• Web Site-An informational site to help inform the Resource Families concerning FCAO and Foster Care Issues.
• Conference-FCAO is a partner in the Pathways to Adulthood Together We Can! Conference and collaborative effort to bring together fellow care providers.