IFAPA employs three Family Resource and Information Specialists who provide information and resources to families on a variety of topics. They are available to answer questions on adoption and foster care issues.   They also research and develop materials and resources for foster and adoptive families. 

Each Family Resource and Information Specialist is a foster and/or adoptive parent so they have personal experience and understand the issues that can challenge resource families.  All three can provide information on a variety of topics such as working with birth families, explaining foster care and adoption to children, understanding children’s mental health, seeking out respite options, dealing with behavior challenges, choosing a therapist who is adoption/foster care sensitive, and more.  They also have specific areas of expertise as listed below:

Adoption Subsidy and Adoption Tax Credit:  Angela

Allegations of Abuse:  Angela

Educational Advocacy and Special Education:  Nancy

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder:  Erica

HIV/AIDS:  Nancy

Kinship or Relative Care:  Erica

Learning Disabilities:  Nancy

Public Policy:  Angela

Sibling Relationships:  Erica

Support Group Facilitation:  Nancy

Each Family Resource and Information Specialist has a toll-free telephone number and email so families can easily contact them if they have a question or are seeking information or resources on a particular topic.  They work out of their homes so are available to speak to families outside of regular business hours.

IFAPA’s three Family Resource and Information Specialists are:

Angela Stark

5035 Copper Creek Drive

Pleasant Hill, IA 50327

Phone:  877-788-7255 or 515-261-7255

Email:  starkifapa@aol.com

Erica Zito

1711 Grande Ave. SE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52403

Phone:  888-366-0439 or 319-366-0439

Email:  zitoifapa@yahoo.com

Nancy Magnall

2004 11^th Street SE

Waverly, IA 50677

Phone:  877-467-4100 or 319-352-3600

Email:  magnall_ifapa@msn.com