Foster Parents Association of Washington State Receives $180,000 Gift from Bill and Melinda Gates

RENTON, Wash. -- Foster Parents Association of Washington State (FPAWS) announced today that it has received a $180,000 gift from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The grant will support programs designed to enhance the working relationship between foster parents and state social workers, and expand these services throughout Washington state.

"We are grateful to Bill and Melinda Gates for their support of nonprofit programs throughout our state," said V. Darlene Flowers, executive director for FPAWS. "This grant will allow FPAWS to strengthen its commitment to foster care by offering these services to more foster parents throughout Washington state."

In 1997, after seven years of lobbying, the Legislature passed a law allowing for the implementation of the Foster Parent Liaison program. FPAWS was awarded the contract in four of the six regions in the state and as a result of additional private foundation support has enhanced the program to 17 positions. The goal of the Liaison is to enhance the working relationship between the Division of Children and Family Services, the foster parent, and the Division of Licensed Resources.

Foster Parent Liaisons in the FPAWS program assisted 1,827 foster families in the fiscal year 1998-1999.