Birth Parent National Network (BPNN)

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Promoting birth parents as leaders and strategic partners in prevention and child welfare systems reform

BPNN Celebrates Parent Voices at Quarterly Webinars

Save the Dates for BPNN’s August and October Webinars

The BPNN has two more webinars schedule for 2022. BPNN members – parents and organizational leaders – will lead the 90-minute interactive, educational sessions that start at 10am PT, 11am MT, 12pm CT and 1pm ET. The focus of the BPNN webinars is on the latest policy and developments affecting children and families. Please save the following dates:

  • Thursday, August 25, 2022
  • Thursday, October 27, 2022

Recording of BPNN May 17 Webinar Posted

The Birth Parent National Network (BPNN) heard from the Washington State Parent Ally Committee (WSPAC) at its May 17 webinar. A panel of alumni and current WSPAC members talked about the beginnings of WSPAC and the powerful impact it has today in bringing the parent voice into the development of child welfare policy and practice. The webinar video, PowerPoint slides and Zoom chat are posted in the Events section.

CARING CONVERSATIONS

Mondays

10 AM PT • 11 AM MT • 12 PM CT • 1 PM ET

Children’s Trust Fund Alliance is building a better normal by bringing together the powerful strengths within the Birth Parent National Network (BPNN). The Alliance is holding Caring Conversations every Monday to support us all and to facilitate our collective wisdom. Social connections are a powerful protective factor in our lives. However, because of the pandemic and other world events such as the Ukraine invasion, it is easy to feel isolated and stressed. Through these virtual meetings, we can come together and share our experiences, successes and concerns.

Register HERE to participate in the next Caring Conversation.

Updated Parent Partnership Organizations Directory

The BPNN’s directory of parent partnership organizations provides an overview of organizations nationwide that partner with parents to support, strengthen and sustain healthy families and communities. It was developed 5 years ago in partnership with the parent members of the BPNN. The 2022 update includes newly formed state parent advisory councils and other parenting initiatives, networks and national organizations that provide technical assistance, training and systems improvements. This is an evolving list and will be updated as new information is received. To submit new information, contact info@ctfalliance.org.

Download Directory

Help spread the word about the BPNN’s updated directory by downloading a social media image and sharing with your networks.

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We are a national network of hundreds of birth parents and organizations working together to strengthen families, communities and systems by engaging the voices of parents.

Promote Parent Voices

The Alliance’s BPNN recruits parents, individual stakeholders and organizations that work with parents to join together to promote and support the voices of parents to inform policies and practices that effect children and families. The dynamic BPNN membership consists of:

Parents who:

  • Are committed to a strength-based, preventative approach for systems that interact with families
  • Have high interest in engaging in policy work and drawing on their life experiences to inform and educate policymakers and other stakeholders
  • Have experienced challenges and have been at risk of child welfare involvement
  • Have been previously involved with the child welfare system

Organizations that:

  • Are committed to identifying and supporting parents as strategic partners in policy work and system reform
  • Have an interest in sharing materials and resources with their peers and colleagues nationally

BPNN Members meet four times a year by webinar for policy updates and information sharing. Also, the BPNN holds an annual virtual convening.

Join Us Now

Select the application form best suited to your role: Parent, Individual Stakeholder or Organization. You will be contacted once your application has been received. All forms will appear in a pop-up window.

Parent

Individual Stakeholder

Organization

Recruitment Flyer to Share

Resources

What Parents Say About…

The Children’s Trust Fund Alliance joined with a group of parents from the BPNN to produce these publications. They include the perspectives of parents with life experiences in using services to strengthen their families and focus on timely and important topics.

To download one or all seven of the popular What Parents Say About… issue briefs, click on the button below:

Download ALL 7 What Parents Say About…Publications

 

New What Parents Say About…

What Parents Say About…Advancing Equity and Support for Underserved Communities is a compilation of more than 70 responses from parents to a Request for Information (RFI) on Methods and Leading Practices for Advancing Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through Government. The RFI was issued by the Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President.

Parents from the Alliance National Parent Partnership Council, the Birth Parent National Network, the Birth and Foster Parent Partnership and the Birth Parent Advisory Committee took their time to offer meaningful and impactful responses.

Download What Parents Say About…Advancing Equity and Support

Directory of Parent Partnership Organizations

The Parent Partnership Organizations Directory provides an overview of organizations nationwide that partner with parents to support, strengthen and sustain healthy families and communities. It was developed 5 years ago in partnership with the parent members of the BPNN. The 2022 update includes newly formed state parent advisory councils and other parenting initiatives, networks and national organizations that provide technical assistance, training and systems improvements. This is an evolving list and will be updated as new information is received. To submit new information, contact info@ctfalliance.org.

Download Directory

Parents Impact Policy

Family First Prevention Services Act

The Family First Prevention Services Act was passed by Congress in February 2018. This groundbreaking legislation changes the way child welfare systems can support families and provides new resources for prevention of foster care. The Alliance and our parent partners are working hard to educate policymakers charged with implementing this new legislation.

See additional information about FFPSA, including both a short and detailed summary of the legislation, an implementation timeline and the law language. Check out the resources below:

Opioid Crisis

The opioid crisis is a serious problem for many families and our nation. The Alliance and our partners are speaking out about strong supports for families facing this challenge. Casey Family Programs’ CEO William C. Bell testified at a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the impact of the opioid crisis on children and families.

Events

2022 BPNN Quarterly Webinars

February 17, 2022 – Celebrating Parent Leadership: Tools, Resources and Exciting Updates

Introduction and Public Policy (34 minutes)

Exciting News: Book Club Guide, Georgia PAC and Dr. Bruce Perry (32 minutes)

National Parent Leadership Month Materials and Closing Comments (19 minutes)

 

Webinar Materials:

May 17, 2022 – Bringing Parent Voice to Policy and Practice

(Zoom recording: 1:33:27)

Webinar Materials:

BPNN Webinars Archive

2021 Webinars

February 25, 2021 – Celebrating National Leadership Month and Black History Month

May 27, 2021 – The Power and Impact of Parent Voice

August 26, 2021 – Impacts on Parents, Children and Communities

October 28, 2021 – A Focus on Fathers

2020 Webinars

May 26, 2020 – Parent Advisory Councils and Authentic Partnerships

July 14, 2020 – Policy Discussions and Developments Affecting Children and Families

July 29, 2020 – Elevating the Impact of COVID on Parents Involved in Child Welfare

July 30, 2020 – Parent Advisory Councils and Authentic Partnerships Part 2

October 22, 2020 – Race Talk: Facilitating Effective Conversations for Addressing Racial Justice and System Inequities

2019 Webinars

February 2019 – Celebrate National Parent Leadership Month with the BPNN and ANPPC

May 2019 – Parent Partnerships

August 2019 – Practice Changes in Sonoma County

October 2019 – Update on Family First Prevention Services Act (FFPSA)

BPNN Virtual Convenings

2021 7th Annual Virtual Convening

STRUCTURAL RACISM AND CURRENT DAY IMPLICATIONS: How We Got Here and a Better Path Forward

The Birth Parent National Network (BPNN) 7th Annual Virtual Convening examined core concepts related to race/ethnic equity and inclusion issues. The December 2 convening was led by the W. Haywood Burns Institute (BI) which is a black-led national, nonprofit that works to transform the notion of what justice means.

We heard from Michael Finley and Samantha Mellerson about the historical perspective of structural racism on the development of human services work. They also discussed what we need to consider to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities within systems. They also shared strategies and tactics to establish a community-centered approach of justice administration that is anchored in structural well-being.

The following materials are available to download:

Previous BPNN Virtual Convenings

The Alliance’s Birth Parent National Network (BPNN) hosts a free virtual convening each year. BPNN members and keynote speakers share new ideas and strategies to create opportunities for parent voices to improve policies and practices impacting children and families nationwide.

2020 Virtual Convening

Creating Thriving Families and Communities in a 21st Century Child Well-Being System

December 3, 2020

Part 1 – Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors Framework: Bringing the Protective Factors to Life in Your Work

Part 2 – Communities of Hope

2019 Virtual Convening

Prevention Across the Continuum

December 3, 2019

2018 Virtual Convening

Putting Families First

November 27, 2018 – Session 1

December 4, 2018 – Session 2