BCFFPA Information Kit
Contents:
Roles and Responsibilities
The Federation Office
Structure
History and Background
Support for Foster Parents
Education
Community Development
Status of Fostering
Roles and Responsibilities
The Federation
- Foster Parents Provide for the physical, emotional & social needs of children placed in care.
- Local Associations are made up of foster parent members in a
community. Each association has elected officers, holds regular
meetings and sends representatives to the regional/macro council
meetings. The role of the local is to strengthen the foster care
program by receiving direct input from individual foster parents in all
parts of BC and to provide peer support to foster parents.
- Regional Councils are made up of 2 foster parent members from each local association in the region.
.
- The Board of Directors is the general governing body, legally
charged with the direct control and operation of the Federation. The
Board is responsible for development & implementation of policies,
programs and practices of the Federation.
Ministry of Children and Family Development
- Social Workers hold the formal responsibility (delegated by the
Director) for the provision of all necessary services to the child
& birth family.
- The Team Leader is responsible for seeing the intent of the
legislation, regulations and policy are carried out in practice. Duties
include office management, case consultations and participation in
integrated service planning.
- Managers are responsible in a specific geographic area for
planning, organizing and monitoring of service delivery; development,
allocation and monitoring of budget; recruitment, and training of
staff.
- Regional Executive Directors ensure the requirements of policy and legislation are implemented in a particular geographic area.
- The Director of Child Protection is responsible for the
administration of the Child, Family and Community Services Act and has
the authority to enter into voluntarily custody agreements with
families, or to apprehend a child who is in need of protection. The
authority of the Director is delegated to protection social workers.
- The Minister of Children and Family Development is an elected
member of the legislative assembly and is responsible for all Ministry
functions.
The Federation Office
The Federation office employs 2 full time staff- the Operations
Manager and an Office Assistant. The Federation staff is responsible
for providing information and assistance to its members and the general
public in all matters relating to foster care. The Federation office,
located in
Burnaby, is open Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:00
PM.
Some of our activities include
- Distributing a complete range of foster care information such as foster care material, the
BCFFPA InfoLetter, and the "In Your Grasp" database of
available community resources
- Providing information to prospective foster parents
- Managing the insurance rider providing coverage for losses incurred by foster parents
- Answering questions from foster parents, social workers and the public on policy pertaining to foster care
- Promoting and encouraging the establishment and growth of local associations and
Macro councils
- Providing a supportive network and open channel of communication for foster parents
- Organizing and sponsoring various training opportunities
- Sponsoring the Camps for Kids Program
- Providing Bursaries to Foster Children and birth and adopted children
of Foster Parent members
- Support to the Board of Directors
Structure
The BCFFPA restructured and downsized in 2003 with the
Ministry's move
to a regional governance model, wherein some of the services to foster
parents
transferred from the BCFFPA to regional contracted for profit and not
for profit
agencies. The Federation still continues to facilitate contact
with foster parents throughout the
Province by acting as a clearinghouse of information. Today, the
Federation includes foster parent representation from all regions in
BC. Approximately
30 local associations and various Regional and Macro councils continue
to play a key role in maintaining an extensive network of support to
foster parents. All positions on local associations and councils are
voluntary and are elected by foster parent members.
The BCFFPA maintains active links with the ministry and assists in
the development and policy and practice around foster care. A strong
partnership between foster parent and social workers is seen as the
basis of quality planning and care of children in need.
History and Background
The BCFFPA was formed in 1967 to be a support and service
organization for foster parents, Ministry staff and others with an
interest in the foster care system. The BCFFPA is a registered
non-profit society.
Since 1967 the Federation has been involved in the revision of
policies and practices relating to foster care. Accomplishments of our
work with the ministry include:
- Presentation of numerous briefs over the years on topics such as legislation relating to foster care; concerns of foster
parents, payment rates, taxation, contracts, and treatment of foster parents
- Provision of a Foster Parent Insurance Rider for Extended Property Damages
(1984) for all Foster Parents
- Participation in the development of the Family Care Home Model and the Levels of Care program (1990-95)
- Participation in the development of Family Care Home Standards (implemented 1998)
and Caregiver Support Service Standards (2005)
- Assistance with the revised policy handbook for foster parents: Foster Family Handbook (1997)
- Joint development of an Orientation Manual for foster parent orientation
- Joint development of the Protocol for investigation of Allegations of Abuse in foster homes (revised 1998)
- Joint development of policy and procedures for "Resolving Difficulties between Foster Parents and Ministry Staff" (revised 1998)
- Co-host of the International Foster Care Organization
Conference with the Ministry and Canadian Foster Families Association
attended by 825 participants (1997)
- Joint development of Fostercare 2000, an overall plan for the improvement of foster care in BC (1997)
Support for Foster Parents
A primary concern for foster parents is reducing risks to foster families, including prevention of false allegations.
- Development of a safeguarding pamphlet for foster parents
- Completion of "Coping with Violence" a video for foster parents and BCFFPA staff (1997)
- Joint committee work with the Ministry to revise the Protocol for Investigation Allegations of Abuse
- Joint committee with the Ministry to determine the feasibility
of a third party review for foster home closures and decisions to move
a child who has lived in the home for more than 6 months
- Joint committee work with the Ministry to revise the policy
and procedures for resolving issues between foster parents and ministry
staff
- Joint Committee work with the Ministry in development of a 24-hour provincial after-hours support line for all foster parents
Education
Foster parents face more challenges today than ever before. In
keeping with the gradual professionalization of foster care, foster
parents have an interest in ensuring that their knowledge and skills
are current and continue to grow to meet the complex needs of children.
The Education Committee, was previously a standing committee of the
Board. Committee members collaborated with the Ministry to develop
Provincial training for foster parents. Assistance and guidance
was provided by the Educational Consultant to the Federation.
The Federation believes that:
- Every foster parent is entitled to foster care education.
- Foster care education is necessary for foster parents and social workers.
- Beyond the provision of core training for foster parents, local communities
and regions can best identify local foster parent needs and interests.
Community Development
The BCFFPA offers a process for problem solving to fostering
communities in BC. The process works towards enhancing cooperative
relationships. Foster parent groups may invite Ministry staff, other
agencies and community groups to discussions addressing local issues
related to fostering.
- Issues Identification
On invitation, BCFFPA Executive
and staff meet with groups in the community where concerns have been
expressed to begin to define the issues
- Education & Problem-Solving
BCFFPA Executive
and staff facilitate joint discussions where participants learn a
process for conflict resolution and are introduced to communication
skills for problem-solving
- A Plan For Action
Through facilitation,
participants develop an action plan that addresses the issues to the
satisfaction of those present. Solutions come from the group.
Status of Fostering
The Status Committee was struck in 1985 in recognition of the
evolution towards a professionalized foster care system. Activities
have included:
- Development of the BCFFPA Code of Ethics and Practice Standards (currently under revision)
- Joint work with the Ministry on the Guidelines for Foster Homes
- Continued work on the status of the BCFFPA as the official voice of fostering in BC
