New Jersey Foster Parents Association is founded 

Foster parents Sue and Bernie Dondiego and Hattie Talley sit at a kitchen table and discuss issues facing foster parents and how to work together to bring about positive change for the children in their homes.

NJFPA is incorporated 

Foster parents Sue and Bernie Dondiego and Hattie Talley sit at a kitchen table and discuss issues facing foster parents and how to work together to bring about positive change for the children in their homes.

NJFPA holds its first meeting at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, NJ

NJFPA takes part in NJ Action for Foster Children in State Chambers, State House and members march to the State House to meet with Governor Byrne

NJFPA holds first statewide training conference on foster care

NJFPA receives state funding through the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), now known as the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (CP&P)

NJFPA establishes State level committees developed to serve foster parents

NJFPA representatives serve on the committee that establishes uniform statewide mandatory pre-service training for foster parents

NJFPA representatives serve on a committee to establish Child Placement Review Boards

NJFPA representative and other child advocates testify at Joint Appropriation Hearing and successfully receive a 26% increase in reimbursement rates for children in foster care

NJFPA's partnership with DYFS (now known as Department of Children and Families) begins

NJFPA becomes the first state association to receive state funding for advocacy, in-service training, and recruitment of foster homes 

The Hattie Talley Scholarship Fund is founded 

NJFPA receives DYFS (now known as CP&P) policy regarding foster care for review and comment before implementation

Support Groups for Foster Parents (now known as Connecting Families Meetings) are in every county in NJ 

Legislation on foster care programs/services amounting to over four million dollars introduced in Senate and Assembly

Governor Thomas Kean designates May as Foster Parent Month in NJ

Governor Thomas H. Kean accepts the national "Team Player Award" from Sue Dondiego

New Jersey became the first recipient of the award which recognizes the state's innovative foster parent training and recruitment programs.

Touch A Life (Become a Foster Parent) ad campaign debuts

Created for NJFPA from donations of professional service through the NJ Council on Advertising

Liability insurance program for foster parents established

Support Workers (now known as embrella Family Support Advocates) added to staffing of NJFPA

NJFPA Training Meeting June 9, Proposed adding new staff position, training specialist, under supervision of Training Coordinators.

NJFPA worked with the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA) on the National Commission on Family Foster Care. 

The Circle of Support – Caring for Children and Families with HIV conference held – NJFPA sponsored (with many others) 

The Foster Allegation Support Team (FAST) Program – created by NJFPA in cooperation with DYFS, the program provides non-judgmental support to foster parents coping with abuse and neglect allegations

NJFPA sponsored bus from Newark to Washington for AIDS awareness day

NJFPA office moved to Monmouth Junction

Dozens of foster parents and staff representing 15 counties, met with their New Jersey Legislators on March 13, 1995, to voice their concerns on issues involving foster care and adoption

Over 125 people enjoyed a day of recreation and entertainment at Johnson Park in Middlesex County at the annual picnic

Over 82 foster parents and staff met with their New Jersey legislators on May 22, 1997 to voice their concens on issues involving foster care and adoption

Backpack Program launches in partnership with Senator Vitale and Stand for Children

Private Scholarship Program is launched to provide financial assistance, as a scholarship for academic purposes or funding for living expenses for those in school or working

DYFS (now known as CP&P) Info line contracted -- NJFPA was now responsible for running the recruitment hotline: 1-877-NJFOSTERS

NJFPA rebrands to FAFS (Foster and Adoptive Family Services) 

Long Valley Presbyterian Church makes donation To help foster parents provide their children in care with the "little extras" that all children deserve but may not be able to receive due to financial constraints. The program offers up to one $75 mini-grant per year per child 

First Annual Holiday Toy Drive

Fostering Wishes for Children is started in partnership with Long Valley Presbyterian Church

In July, FAFS added staffing to begin the The New Jersey Foster Care (NJFC) Scholars Program. The NJFC program was put into place after Governor McGreevey signed the Tuition Waiver Bill. Through the passing of this legislation, eligible foster and homeless youth may receive assistance with tuition and fees (not including room and board) at a public New Jersey college, university, or vocational school.

FAFS holds first annual car show, Rev Your Engines For Our Kids, which raised over $2,600 for FAFS' privately-funded programs and services and helped raise awareness about foster care in New Jersey

Camp Scholarships launched in partnership with Zion Baptist Church, Long Valley Presbyterian Church, and Camp Johnsonburg.

FAFS Foundation hosts its inaugural A Day at the Races - A Kentucky Derby Celebration to Support Children in Foster Care event

FAFS gets social by joining Facebook and Twitter

FAFS offers new training modality - webinars

FAFS' staff participates in DCF Private Scholarship Committee to assist in establishing scholarship criteria for a limited DCF Scholarship Fund

FAFS selected as Foster Parent Association of the Year by NFPA (photo of Sue accepting award) for the organization’s nearly 40 years of unwavering support of foster parents

FAFS begins Blogging

FAFS Launches our foster care newsletter, News from Our Heart -- now known as Otterly embrella News (OEN), which spotlights topics of interest to the foster care community from both a local and a national perspective

FAFS launches the Self Esteem Dreams (now Dreamers and Believers) program, which allows children who are, or were in foster care, the opportunity to try out their dreams, with a grant from the Dreams R Us Foundation

FAFS celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the NJFC Scholars Program

FAFS 40th Anniversary!

Breaking the Housing/Textbook barrier Educational supports introduced to provide semester based awards for textbooks and educational necessities, not covered by financial aid, to students who have resided in transitional housing or independent living programs due to homelessness

The Dreams R Us Foundation increases program offerings to $600 per year per child in foster, kinship, or adoptive care

FAFS introduces A Place in Our Heart, a fund reserved for foster, kinship, and adoptive families who experience a catastrophic event, such as a house fire, etc.

FAFS launches redesigned mobile friendly www.fafsonline.org

FAFS' staff participate in DCF Resource Family Retention Task Force charged with identifying and recommending the action steps for the framework of New Jersey's Resource Family Retention Plan

FAFS receives grant from Junior League of the Oranges and Short Hills (JLOSH) for backpack distribution event in Essex county

DCF connects FAFS with Photosafe, a nonprofit organization who captures and prints digital images to preserve memories for children in care. Photosafe begins attending FAFS recreational events.

FAFS creates PRIDE video to be shown at PRIDE trainings throughout NJ

FAFS expands peer to peer services to include the Resource Parents Speakers Bureau and introduces the Heart to Heart Mentoring program, pairing new and experienced foster parents to help retain resource homes.

As of 8/30/16, undocumented/visa students who meet case history eligibility are now eligible to use State Tuition Waiver funding in the NJFC Scholars Program.

Scholarship expanded with PACES program ; embrella employee sponsored scholarship created.

NJFC 15th Anniversary

FAFS Family Support and Community Education Dept merge and introduce 9 Family Support Advocates

FAFS rebrands to embrella

Hosted weekly webinars "Caregivers Dealing with COVID-19" to share updates and policy changes to caregivers as well as reviewed areas such as stress mgmt for caregivers, how to talk to youth in their home about COVID and how to prevent COVID in their home

embrella DEIB Committee Initiated

embrella onboards The Bag Project as a new program

NJFC 20th Anniversary

embrella's P.E.A.C.E. Initiative program begins

embrella celebrates 50 years of Community and Connection!