Letter from the President of the Foster Care Association of Oklahoma
By Linda McDaniel
Thank you being a Resource Parent. You may never know how you are changing—or saving—a child’s life, but have faith and trust that you are. I appreciate you and the Foster Care Association of Oklahoma Board of Directors appreciates you.
Membership
The larger our organization is, the easier it will be to make Oklahoma the best state to foster and adopt. Therefore, in 2008 we are going to look at new ways to increase our membership. Every time we add new members we get excited about all the possibilities and things we are going to do for Oklahoma’s foster, adoptive, and kinship parents!
Conference
One of the things FCAO does for our families is the annual training conference. I continue to encounter people who have fostered for years but have never attended a conference. We need to change that. Many people who have been to other related conferences around the country tell me that Oklahoma’s conference is one of the best. You have a hard working team who strives to bring you the best trainers in the best environment possible.
Advocacy
In 2007 we brought the “Doll Project” to Oklahoma Legislator’s and it had a real positive effect on the lives of foster parents and the children in care they serve. In 2008 year we will continue our efforts with Senator Wilcoxson, in the “Shoe Project.” We are encouraged that this will bring awareness again to the Oklahoma Legislators and the citizens of this state. It will demonstrate the amount of children in care, their very important needs and their impact on this state. We look forward to everyone working together on this project.
Support
An old proverb says it takes a village to raise a child. For children in foster care and children that have been adopted, that can be especially true. It takes families, social workers, counselors, relatives, therapists and teachers to help each child reach his or her potential for greatness. It requires a village of support. FCAO wants to help you be the most successful foster and/or adoptive parent you can be. We are here to support you.
Information
We want to hear from you about what you want from FCAO. It means a lot to the FCAO Board of Directors that we stay up-to-date on issues and concerns that you may have. That is one of the reasons why we have developed this web site. Please give out the address to resource parents that you know and ask your workers to give it out also. If there is something that you feel needs to be added contact one of the board members at any time.
Oklahoma has some of the best Resource Families in the US. I encourage you to become involved in FCAO, each one of us will make a larger impact if we continue to work together.
