Category Archives: FAFS Founders

Remembering Hattie Talley

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FAFS’ surviving founders remember co-founder Hattie Talley as vibrant and committed.

hattie talleyFirst and foremost, Hattie Talley was the right person at the right time. Not only was she a very caring individual, but she was also an outstanding advocate for foster parents.

Hattie’s strength was her understanding of the importance of collaboration and partnerships.

She formed successful working relationships with DYFS (now DCP&P), the National Foster Parent Association (NFPA) and others.

She was instrumental in having DCP&P assign a Liaison to the New Jersey Foster Parents Association (NJFPA). That was our name before we became Foster and Adoptive Family Services, or FAFS. The Liaison attended our monthly Board meetings along with our State Officers and County Association Presidents. The Liaison would then bring the foster parents’ concerns and questions back to the DCP&P Director for a response or action.

By promoting the importance of collaboration and partnerships, Hattie Talley secured funding for our state foster parent representatives to attend national foster parent conferences. As a result, several state representatives served as Committee Chairs for the NFPA. That put the us in a good position to submit a successful bid to host the NFPA Conference in New Jersey.

Before hotels prohibited food from the outside being brought in, we had a “Hospitality Room” that was available to NJ representatives and others at the National Conferences. This led to a lot of interaction with foster parents and agency staff all across the US. As a result, ours was viewed as a progressive and well run organization.

Hattie Talley’s outgoing personality helped her secure donated space for our statewide meetings, where everyone would bring food and refreshments. While much work was accomplished, the support and encouragement received from networking with each other was invaluable to all the foster parents in attendance. Hattie always had a great sense of humor. It kept everyone going during the dark times.

Because she was so adept at partnering with others for the sake of foster families, Hattie Talley was the first foster parent to serve on the DCP&P Board of Trustees. Her leadership and organizational skills laid the foundation for many future accomplishments, including but not limited to:

  • FAFS becoming the first state association to be funded for recruitment, training and support
  •  Invitations from other states to speak to agencies and legislatures on our partnerships and ability to support foster parents
  • Monthly coordinating meetings, between DCP&P County/Local Office Managers and FAFS’ Board of Directors
  • FAFS’ recognition by the NJ Governor and NJ Legislature as the “go to” organization for information about foster care, and invitations to testify at Legislative Hearings

Without the good humor and commitment of Hattie Talley, FAFS would not be where it is today: one of the premiere foster care organizations in America celebrating forty years of service to foster families in New Jersey.

Milestones In Foster Care History The 1970s | NJFPA Holds First Meeting at Shiloh Baptist Church

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Milestones in Foster Care History in NJ – The 1970s – Foster parents Sue and Bernie Dondiego and Hattie Talley go from a kitchen table with just the 3 of them to a statewide meeting of concerned foster parents after forming the New Jersey Foster Parent Association (NJFPA), known today as Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS).

Milestones in Foster Care History in NJ – The 1970s – Memories of the NJFPA’s First Meeting at the Shiloh Baptist Church

What I remember most about that first meeting is how many people showed up, because it was only by word of mouth. At that time, we had no other way of getting the word out. We didn’t know who was who really. We knew some people, and we said if you know any foster parents, tell them to come. We told all the people we knew and they all brought people. We always had good meetings in the counties. We had a lot of representation. I would say, out of the twenty counties, we had at least twelve counties. Some were more strong then others. Middlesex was strong because we were from there, Burlington was strong because of Hattie, Camden was strong and Newark was strong – and Jersey City was strong. Some of the foster parents who came to that first meeting are still fostering today! Continue reading →

Milestones in Foster Care History in NJ The 1970s | Formation of the New Jersey Foster Parent Association

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Milestones in Foster Care History in NJ – The 1970s – 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. They create the New Jersey Foster Parent Association (NJFPA), known today as Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS).

Milestones in Foster Care History in NJ – The 1970s – Meeting with Hattie Talley and the Formation of the New Jersey Foster Parent Association

When we met at that kitchen table back in the early ’70’s, it was just a few foster parents talking. Hattie Talley, who went on to form the organization with us, Carol, and ourselves.  We were just telling war stories like we always did.  But then Hattie said, “This is how it’s always going to be if we don’t help one another. We have to support one another and reach out to one another.”  And that’s how it started that day. Continue reading →

NJ Foster Care History Timeline The 1970s

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History shows the early 1970s were a challenging time for foster parents in New Jersey. At the start of the decade, there was no local organization for foster parents to join to get support, advise them on advocating for foster children, or even provide training on parenting abused and neglected children and teens. This all began to change in 1972 when a few foster parents met and came to a conclusion.

“Someone has to stand up for the foster children. If not the foster parents, then who?”

NJ Foster Care History Timeline – The 1970s

1972 – 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. They create the New Jersey Foster Parent Association (NJFPA), known today as Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS).

1974 – FAFS (then known as NJFPA) is incorporated

1974 – FAFS (then known as NJFPA) holds its first meeting at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton, NJ

1974 –  FAFS (then known as 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

1974 – FAFS (then known as NJFPA) holds first statewide training conference on foster care

1974 – FAFS (then known as NJFPA) receives state funding through the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), now known as the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCP&P)

1975 – FAFS (then known as NJFPA) establishes State level committees developed to serve foster parents

1978 – FAFS (then known as NJFPA) representatives serve on committee that establishes uniform, statewide mandatory pre-service training for foster parents

1978 – FAFS (then known as NJFPA) representatives serve on committee to establish Child Placement Review Boards

1978 – FAFS (then known as 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

Over the last 4 decades, FAFS has made innovations that have greatly improved the quality of life for foster children and foster parents in New Jersey. To learn more, visit www.fafsonline.org.