About NFCC
Established in 1998, the National Foster Care Coalition (NFCC) is a unique partnership of member organizations and individuals dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth, and adults in and from foster care through political and public will building. As part of their compassionate commitment, NFCC members advocate on behalf of children, youth, and families involved with the foster care system; support local, regional, and national foster care initiatives; offer significant levels of training and technical assistance; and provide education and information about foster care to decision makers at the local, state, and federal levels.
NFCC members are passionate about engaging youth in all levels of the foster care system, supporting their participation in their own case planning and on larger systems reform initiatives. NFCC believes that youth involvement must be an integral component of all child welfare efforts.
NFCC HISTORY
The National Foster Care Coalition’s roots are found in the child welfare community response to a nationally televised special on youth in foster care. The PBS documentary “Take This Heart,” which was funded by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Packard Foundation, and the Stuart Foundation, and originally aired in January 1998, became the center point of a multi-state public awareness campaign by Casey Family Programs. The momentum and hopeful outlook of the film garnered attention from child welfare organizations, including the Child Welfare League of America, and led to the formation of a collaborative working group: the National Foster Care Awareness Project (NFCAP).
In addition to promoting the need for foster families, NFCAP was instrumental in advocacy efforts that resulted in the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999 and the John H. Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. In addition, NFCAP developed and disseminated information about the landmark legislation.
Originally an initiative of Casey Family Programs, NFCAP grew in stature and influence, becoming the National Foster Care Coalition in December 2001. Robin Nixon, an accomplished child welfare advocate, led the coalition from its days with Casey Family Programs to its current incarnation. In February 2006, NFCC incorporated as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C.
NFCC FUNDERS
The National Foster Care Coalition is grateful for the ongoing financial support of the following funders:
The Annie E. Casey Foundation/Casey Family Services
Capital One Financial Corporation
Casey Family Programs
Freddie Mac Foundation
National Resource Center for Family-Centered Practice and Permanency Planning at the Hunter College School of Social Work
The William T. Grant Foundation
NFCC's 2006 Federal Form 990 is available for public review here.
NFCC MISSION AND VISION
The mission of NFCC is to provide a national collective voice, dedicated to building public and political will to improve the lives of children and youth from the foster care system.
NFCC envisions a nation in which:
- every child, youth, and young adult has a safe and stable home, and the skills, confidence, sense of purpose, and enduring relationships needed for successful interdependent life;
- every family has the strengths, supports, and resiliency to master life’s challenges;
- every community recognizes its duty to facilitate the development of strong families as essential ingredients in a healthy community; and
- every policymaker consistently demonstrates a commitment to the well being of children, youth, and families, and embraces this as part of the national agenda.
NFCC believes that supporting the positive development of children, youth, and families is the collective responsibility of the community. In carrying out our roles as advocates and educators, we will be:
- active partners with youth, recognizing their strengths and respecting their roles as leaders;
- flexible and dynamic in our response to the constantly changing environment;
- collaborative partners focused on our shared goals;
- inclusive of diverse people, ideas, and perspectives;
- respectful of each other and other organizations with whom we cooperate;
- mindful of our individual, organizational, and community responsibility for social justice; and
- good stewards of human and financial resources.
