The National Family Preservation Network (NFPN) celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Throughout the year, we'll share bits of our history and how that still impacts all of us today.
To begin, NFPN was founded by the pioneers of Intensive Family Preservation Services (IFPS). And 20 years later, NFPN remains the primary national voice for the preservation of families!
The first issue of News Notes in 2012 provides an overview of NFPN's projects and resources.
Key Projects
Reunification
Currently neglected in research, the field of reunification is critical in that most children placed out of home are returned to their parents. NFPN will undertake a study of the factors of reunification that are most effective in reunifying families. The study will include development of a parental (completed by parents) assessment tool (PFS-R) that will complement the worker's assessment tool (NCFAS-R or NCFAS-G+R).
Here are the factors that will be included in the study:
- Parent/child visits
- Family group meetings
- Father Involvement
- Assessment tools (NCFAS-R or NCFAS-G+R, PFS-R)
- Clinical interventions
- Concrete services
- Peer mentoring
- Intensive services (maximum of 12 weeks)
- Step-down services
At least 6 sites nationwide will be selected to participate. While not all sites will include all of the factors listed above, the goal is to include as many factors as possible at each site.
If your agency fits well with this study and you are interested in participating, please let us know!
Father Involvement
There is still work to be done in the area of father involvement. Some key issues include implementation of father involvement initiatives, recruitment and retention of fathers in programs, and sustainability. NFPN will develop a manual with best practice on these issues.If your agency has been successful in implementing father involvement programs, especially in the areas of recruitment and retention, please let us know so that we can include you!
NFPN's Resources
Assessment Tools
NFPN offers three assessment tools that provide a pre/post measure of family functioning (NCFAS-G, NCFAS-R, NCFAS-G+R). The tools are in use in over 700 agencies nationwide and internationally. The broad types of services where the tools are used include prevention, preservation, and reunification programs, mental health, behavioral health, home visiting, schools, prisoner reentry, and many others.For more information on the tools, visit:
http://www.nfpn.org/assessment-tools.html
For a price quote, please complete the online form:
http://www.nfpn.org/assessment-tools-price-quote.html
Father Involvement
NFPN offers two fatherhood training curricula (Basic and Advanced), three online courses of the curricula for individual training, and the Complete Guide to Father Involvement.For more information on the training curricula, visit:
http://www.nfpn.org/father-involvement1/basic-training-package.html
To take the online father involvement courses, visit:
http://nfpn.cequick.com/Engaging-Fathers.aspx
To order the Complete Guide to Father Involvement:
http://www.nfpn.org/father-involvement1/guide-to-father-involvement.html
Training and Technical Assistance
NFPN offers onsite training on our resources for large-scale implementation (100+ workers) or research based projects.We're always available to answer questions about the resources. For additional help, technical assistance can be purchased in one-day increments. NFPN also offers data analysis, evaluation, and research services. We'd love to help you this year!
Contact information: For technical assistance or to inquire about participating in the reunification and father involvement projects, please contact:
Priscilla Martens, NFPN Executive Director
E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 888-498-9047