HISTORY OF WISCONSIN FEDERATION OF FOSTER PARENT ORGANIZATIONS

(1971-1975)

Foster parent organizations began to appear in Wisconsin in the mid– 50s and, by January, 1971, the need for some type of tie between the groups became apparent. At this time, there were 15 known foster parent groups functioning in Wisconsin. A group of 19 foster parents and agency representatives met in Madison at the Wisconsin Center on January 9, 1971, at the invitation of Professor Mary Reistroffer, Dept. of Social Work UW–Ext. At this first meeting, many problems of organizing were discussed, but all felt it was time to establish a state–wide Steering Committee to proceed with all planning phases necessary to establishing a state–wide structure.

Simultaneous with this planning, the first National Foster Parents meeting was being set up to meet in Chicago in May of that same year.

At the next meeting of the Steering Committee in late February, 1971, in Fond du Lac, Prof. Mary Reistroffer was nominated and elected to serve as Interim Chairperson until the federation was formed. This meeting primarily considered membership, funding, and purpose for the organization.

The March meeting took up the problem of organizational structure. The April meeting found the Constitution and By–laws to be the center of discussion. The Federation was declared formed as of April 20, 1971. The rough draft by–laws will serve as guidelines for operation until the start of the membership year, October 1, 1971. At this meeting, a display was also put together for the Chicago Conference. On May 7 – 9, approximately 20 Wisconsinites attended the First National Conference of Foster Parents at the LaSalle Hotel in Chicago.

On June 12, the Steering Committee met again in Madison where the proposed Constitution was reviewed, amended, and accepted as “guidelines” until the first organized meeting after October 1, when member voting would be available.

The first annual Conference of the Wisconsin Federation of Foster Parent Organizations (WFFPO) was held on Saturday, October 16, 1971, at the Moravian Church in Wisconsin Rapids. Most areas of the state were represented by foster parents and social workers. The founding officers elected were: President– Kenneth Brost, Madison;Vice–President– Lee Adams, Eau Claire;Secretary– James Wenz, Oregon;and Treasurer– Mrs. Art Henry, Oakfield. The following Committee chairpeople were appointed: Membership– Mr. and Mrs. Carl Jones, Mazomanie;Programs and Conference– Daniel Mattison;Finance– Mrs. Ray Pagel, Fond du Lac;Communications– Mrs. Ray Martin (replaced by Anne Jacobson, Milwaukee). Prof. Mary Reistroffer volunteered to serve as Social Work liaison and correspondent. It was decided that during the first year, efforts should be toward building membership, starting a newsletter, and pursuing means of having a large number of Wisconsin foster parents attend the 2nd National Conference of Foster Parents to be held in Denver, CO, May 5 – 7, 1972.

By the time of the next semi–annual meeting of WFFPO on Saturday,February 26, at the Wisconsin Center in Madison, plans were well underway to share a charter jet with Illinois and Indiana to get our members to Denver. By this time, our membership had grown to include approximately 500 members. As the February 26th meeting opened, Prof. Mary Reistroffer presented President Ken Brost with the State Gavel upon which was engraved the date of WFFPO’s organization. Several money–raising projects were discussed and the Foster Parent Coloring Book and Foster Parent Button projects were approved to finance our operations. Several timely subjects were discussed and National Action of Foster Children Week was announced as being April 9– 15 by order of the President. A nominating committee was elected to report at the fall meeting.

Thirty or more foster parents and six social workers represented Wisconsin at the 2nd National Conference in Denver, CO. Ken Brost, Madison, and Jean Roszina, Oak Creek, were on the program and Prof. Mary Reistroffer was program chairperson and elected to serve as professional representative from the Midwest Region on the Board of Governors of the new NFPA. Rev. Charles Garel of Madison was appointed area consultant on the Region V council with Robert Rickaby of Green Bay as alternate.

Due to the death of Mrs. Arthur (Sophie) Henry during the summer of 1972, Mrs. Jean Roszina was appointed to fill the unexpired term as Treasurer.

On Sept. 20 – 21, two identical 2nd Annual Foster Family Care Conferences were held: one in Milwaukee and the other in Wausau. At this time, all foster parents were urged to attend the 2nd Annual Meeting of WFFPO in Madison on October 21. Helen Stone, Director of the Foster Parent Project, Child Welfare League of America would be the speaker.

At the annual meeting the following officers were elected for the year 72 – 73 : President– Carl Jones, Mazomanie; Vice–President– Robert Rauscher, Schofield;Secretary– Robert Rickaby, Green Bay;and Treasurer– Jean Roszina.

The mid–year meeting of WFFPO was held February 17, 1973 in Green Bay. Sister Kevin O’Rourke spoke on the subject of “Reading and the Learning Process“. The need for Foster Parent Insurance or a protection plan was brought up very pointedly at this meeting and Ken Brost as Chairman of the Insurance Committee will continue to work on the subject investigating the possibility of a policy held by WFFPO for all its members. It was decided at this time to try and tie our fall meeting in with the Foster Care Conference.

The 3rd National Foster Parent Conference was held April 26 – 29 in Philadelphia, PA, with a delegation from Wisconsin in attendance. Records do not show just how many.

On October 4, 1973, at the 3rd Annual Foster Care Conference in Wausau, the WFFPO held its fall meeting and election of officers. Robert Rauscher, Schofield, was elected President;Vice–President– Robert Barnett, Caledonia;Secretary– Mrs. Vi Rauscher;Treasurer– Marguerite Jones, Mazomanie.

It was announced in January, 1974, that Title 4A funds would be available for foster parents attending the 4th National Foster Parent Conference April 25 – 28 in Spokane, WA.

On April 2, 1974, WFFPO was incorporated as a non–stock, non–profit organization. WFFPO’s spring meeting was held at the Homestead Supper Club near Wisconsin Rapids. At this meeting, it was announced that insurance was available through the organization.

At the fall meeting of WFFPO, in conjunction with the 4th Annual Foster Care Conference in Wausau, Mrs. Vi Rauscher was elected President;Vice–President– Carol Behm, Lomira;Secretary– Robert Rauscher;Treasurer– Carl Jones. Marguerite Jones was appointed Chairman of the membership committee and the other committee appointments were vacant.

March 16, 1975 found the Executive Committee meeting in Madison at which time the President and Secretary submitted their resignations. Mrs. Carol Behm was named as acting President and Mrs. Jean Brost, Madison, as acting Secretary. Considerable time was spent discussing ways to obtain funds for representation at the 5th Annual Conference in Atlanta, GA, April 30 –May 3. Mrs. Betty Davis, Stoughton, was to be Wisconsin’s official representative and was in charge of the display.

On May 24th, WFFPO, Inc. held its spring meeting in Stevens Point. Several reports were given on the Foster Parent Protection plan being introduced in the Senate by Senator Hollander (S 382) and in the Assembly at the request of the Department. (A 881). Constitution and By–Laws were discussed and would be voted on at the fall meeting. Mrs. Linda McDonald, Madison, agreed to work on the Federation Footnotes. Mr. Ed Davis, Stoughton, was appointed Chairman of the Program and Conference Committee.

WFFPO urged all member associations to participate in the educational sessions of the Fifth Annual Foster Parent Workshops series in 1975 and to send 2 voting delegates and all others interested to the fall WFFPO Annual Meeting on November 15th at the Stevens Point Holiday Inn.

In closing, let us point out that WFFPO is only in existence to serve the Foster Parents and children of Wisconsin. It can do for you only what you ask it to do and help it to do. Only with the continual cooperation of all local organizations, both financially and by your presence and suggestions at its two yearly meetings can we continue to accomplish our goals.