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In May of 1989, foster care specialists from nineteen states came together for a two day symposium in Washington, D.C. which was federally funded and organized by the Child Welfare Institute. Foster care specialists participated in work groups around a range of subjects, including: practice, management, funding, and the importance of upgrading staff and foster parent training and role responsibilities; they also discussed liability and public image education concerns. Key issues that emerged from their discussions were their need for greater access to information and the importance of communication between the states. The participants unanimously agreed that regular meetings were essential to their effective operation. This conclusion led to the development of the National Association of State Foster Care Managers (NASFCM), which held its first Annual Association Meeting in Washington, D.C. in 1990. Mary Nelson, Ramona Foley, Jean Fiorito, Donna Petris, and Jean Doll played crucial roles in establishing the NASFCM; all of these pioneer organizers also served as President of the NASFCM in its early years. |
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