BC Federation of Foster Parent Associations

Conference Call Summary

July 7, 2004

1. Introductions

   • Frank Hetherington is acting as alternate rep for the Interior Region

   • Lyn York is new to the Board, and has agreed to take on the position of Treasurer

   • David Annis is a guest, present to discuss the Strategic Planning Sessions

2. Acceptance of June 11, 2004 minutes – accepted without changes

3. Additions/Changes – Macro update (Interior Region)

4. Strategic Planning

   • The summary report was discussed briefly.

   • A vision statement and catch phrase were chosen. They are “Supporting children & youth to reach their full potential through excellence in foster care”, and Resilient Foster Parents = empowered children and youth.

   • The mission statement is reconfirmed as “THE BCFFPA REPRESENTS AND SUPPORTS ALL FOSTERPARENTS TO PROVIDE QUALITY IN – HOME FOSTERCARE IN BRITISH COLUMBIA”

   • These will go out to the all foster parents and members in the Info Letter for their information.

   • The President will continue to deal with the issue of continuing the re-emergence of the membership driven, credible, proactive, provincial association.

   • The Vice President and Interior delegate will develop a framework, to implement and support a macro region model

   • The Northern delegate and Secretary will identify Programs and Services provided by the Provincial Organization. What is the range and what new ones will add value to members?

   • The Treasurer and the office staff will address the issue of acquiring stable, ongoing funding

   • The President the Treasurer, the Vice President and the office will address public relations, communication, marketing, with the President being the primary and spokesperson as per policy

   • Each committee will build a work plan for their individual projects and bring it to the Board meeting at the end of August. Work plans will include the hoped for outcomes and benchmarks.

   • Dave is available by telephone for consultation purposes, and clarification. He stressed the need to continue with the momentum over the summer in order to save time in August.

5. President’s Report

Meetings Attended

• The President met with the Treasurer to welcome and update her on the work of the Federation

• FAFP is looking for support for their Aboriginal Doll Project. The President explained the project briefly, with the board agreeing to support it.

Upcoming Meetings

• The President and the Vice President will be meeting with Minister Clark on September 28^th, there is also a meeting scheduled that day with the FPSSS, the Island Representative, and various ministry staff.

• There is a face to face board meeting scheduled for August 30^th and 31^st at the Federation office.

• The President will be meeting with Ministry HQ staff at the Provincial office, July 29^th at 10 AM.

Camps for Kids

• The Camps for Kids committee will involve the delegates from Vancouver Island, Vancouver Coastal, and the Interior as well as the Office Administrator. The purpose of the committee will be to develop criteria for the program. The Treasurer will look at the cost factor.

Macro Regional Funding

• The board has agreed that $5,000/region will be earmarked for regions to begin development of Macro Regional Councils

• Criteria around the process will be developed, with regions putting forward business plans to access the monies

Correspondence

• The President has sent thank you letters to those individuals who donated goods for the loonie auction.

• A resource worker from the Interior Region, sent a letter to other resource workers encouraging them to become members of the Federation. A copy of this letter was sent to other workers to request their assistance in sharing it within their regions.

• Delegates are to send e-mail addresses for resource and guardianship workers in their areas.

• The ministry liaison will attempt to get office lists from systems.

Web site quotes

• The office is in the process of gathering quotes to re-do the web page to make it more staff friendly. The executive will make the decision as per the board’s agreement

InfoLetter

• the board and ministry was reminded that reports are due by July 10^th. The minister has indicated she may be able to send a report as well.

2004 AGM Fundraising

• the fundraising efforts netted $697.00, 10% of which has been sent to the CFFA.

ATS Fundraising

• the 2004/05 contract has been signed with work beginning in September.

Safeguarding Brochure

• the new Safeguarding brochure has been completed.

6. Office Equipment and Supplies

01/07/04:MSC: (The Vice President) Move to authorize Ellaine to spend up to $1000 to purchase new computer monitors for the office. Unanimous

The need for the President to having a means of communicating easily with the office, while out of town, was discussed.

02/07/04:MSC: (The Vice President) Move that the Federation purchase a blackberry and services for the President’s use unanimous

7. Bursaries

   • Natural Child Bursary and William Curtis Bursary have been awarded There is a recognized need to update the wording of the criteria for the WM Curtis bursary. A committee has been formed for this purpose.

8. Ministry Liaison

   • 54.1 Transfer of Guardianship. MCFD HQ is very concerned that foster parents may be being pushed into taking over custody of CICs. MCFD HQ is looking into the issue. They are requesting any information the Federation can supply.

   • Contract issues will also be looked at. MCFD is requesting clearer information around this issue as well.

   • The President, Ministry HQ staff, and BCFFPA staff will work to develop strategies to gather feedback when necessary.

   • Caregiver Resource Service Standards will be launched in July.

   • MCFD is looking into mileage compensation

   • The issue of $5000 deductible for liability claims will be included in the next issue of the InfoLetter

   • A youth in care letter has been sent to MCFD to explore legal ramifications of including it in the InfoLetter

9. Database Update

   • Letter of Intent

     1. The Treasurer and office staff will work on this issue.

10. 2005 AGM

    • The AGM must be held in the Lower Mainland once every three years. The decision of the board is to hold the AGM in Kelowna if possible. Efforts will be made to do this.

11. Regional Feedback

Interior

Update of the Interior Macro Council

• there has been no more face-to-face meetings to date, however e-mail are flowing freely and a conference call will be held soon.

• As there are many concerns arising within the fostering community it was felt that the forming of this council was very timely

• There is a new Resource Manager in the Kootenay area. Going forward level 3 homes will only house cic’s for a short period for stabilization. They cic’s will then be moved or the caregiver will need to drop to a lower level. The danger is that moving kids from a stable home to a lower level may cause the cic to destabilize thereby causing a yo-yo effect, which is detrimental to the cic.

Vancouver Coastal

• This area has been very quiet.

• There was a very large turn out for the ff picnic in June.

Social Work Survey

Reps were encouraged to contact individuals who took surveys so that they can be completed and returned to Tanya Strubin

Foster Family Month

Foster Family month is coming. Caregivers are requested to contact local papers for good news stories.

Meeting adjourned at 1:30 pm