Foster and Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center 1438 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC  20018            (202) 269-9441 Fax: (202) 269-9451 info (at) dcfapac.org   PROGRAMS   To support, empower and advocate for foster, kinship and adoptive parents of DC's children, FAPAC provides the following programs: Systemic Advocacy: FAPAC works towards systemic improvement in the DC child welfare system by identifying issues that are barriers to our families in receiving the necessary supports and services for the children in their homes. Systemic advocacy areas include but are not limited to: Health and Mental Health advocacy Policy advocacy Court advocacy Educational advocacy Inclusion of foster parents into decision-making about the children in their homes and into policies and regulations that effect them. Issues of practice and relationships between foster parents and their agencies. Individual Advocacy: FAPAC provides individual advocacy and troubleshooting for foster, kinship and adoptive parents of DC's children who are having trouble accessing quality services for their children, or who need support and guidance. Foster Parent Training: FAPAC provides individual training sessions on topics related to advocacy and access of services. Trainings may be "stand-alone" half-day or day-long workshops. In addition, FAPAC's Peer Advocacy Training Program described below provides an opportunity for more comprehensive training. All FAPAC foster parent trainings are offered free of charge to our community of families service DC's children. Childcare and meals are usually provided. Parent Advocate Project: FAPAC is partnering with Adoptions Together for their new Parent Advocate Project. We will be working to facilitate co-parenting between foster and birth parents, and to help to train birth parent leaders in advocacy skills.. Peer Advocacy and Support Program: FAPAC hosts Peer Advocacy weekend training opportunities to empower foster, kinship and adoptive parents of DC children to become better advocates for the children in their homes and for each other. In addition, foster parents who complete this training program become eligible to volunteer as a Peer Advocate for FAPAC's individual case advocacy and systemic projects. Professional Training Workshops: FAPAC facilitates workshops for social workers and other child welfare professionals on how to better work in partnership with foster parents to provide better service for children and families. Home | About Us | Calendar & Events | Reports & Newsletters | Testimonies | Programs | Supporters & Resources | Contact Us