BCFFPA Board of Directors

Teleconference Summary

January 12, 2005

 

1.     Minutes of November 24, 2004 accepted as written – consensus

 

2.     Additions – add daycare subsidy issue

 

3.     Treasurer’s Report – presented by Sheila Durnford

The Gaming Direct Access Application has been applied for. We won't hear until March whether we have been successful or not.

 

A committee was set up to include Lyn York, Debbie Drewitz, Melanie Filiatrault, Willy Neal, Sheila Davis and Sheila Durnford.  The committee will provide the board with feedback on ideas for investment opportunities.

 

If the board members have any questions/suggestions they are requested to forward them to the office by January 21^st.  A conference call can be set up subsequent to that date.

 

4.     President’s Report

 

a.     The board members are encouraged to complete the foster parent surveys and get them back to the office no later than January 21^st, as this issue is holding up other parts of the GOALS and OBJECTIVES from being worked on. 

b.     Support in Fraser

The President wrote to MCFD - HQ regarding the lack of support to foster parents in the Fraser Region.  HQ forwarded the letter to the contract manager for the Cascade area.  She responded to the President, who will follow up on the issue.

 

5.     Old Business

a.     Legal Custody Issue – bring forward for February 9^th.

b.     Programs and Services Progress Report – bring forward for February 9^th.  Suggestions for services are requested to be sent in with the survey.

c.     Interior Macro Regional Council Progress

                                               i.     There will be a conference call on January 19.  Representatives from the two foster parent support agencies in the Interior region, as well as 3 ministry reps will attend.

                                             ii.     Region G Area Council has made a motion to dissolve, however this will need to go to the area membership for approval.

                                            iii.     Locals now have report forms to be used to forward issues to the macro council via Frank Hetherington. 

                                            iv.     Good responses have been received regarding the Federation taking both the contract issue and the insurance issue forward.

                                             v.     Positive feedback has also been received regarding the InfoLetter

d.     Macro Regional Model & Criteria Progress Report – bring forward for February 9^th.

e.     National Survey Results – forwarded to board in summary report. 

                                               i.     One thing of note is that many other provinces and territories surveyed have automatic foster parent membership, with the ministry providing funds per home.  This is being brought forward for discussion at the February 9^th call.

f.      Training Update

                                               i.     The training is nearly completed, and looks excellent.  The board discussed the following:

1.     Several members of the board will be trained to facilitate the Grief Loss and Transition “Train the Trainer” in their regions

2.     Agencies will be offered the training at a cost of $150.00 per person, and will have the ability to purchase the materials for a fee of $350.00

 

6.     New Business

a.     Provincial Contract 2004/05

                                               i.     This is being addressed

b.     AGM 2005 – The AGM is being held May 27^th and 28^th at the Richmond Executive Plaza Hotel.  The board was asked to think of themes which could be used.

 

7.     Regional Update

a.     North – There has been an advisory committee established, which includes regional managers, FAFP, YIC, BCFFPA Northern Rep. North Central Family Services, Peter Cunningham, Del Graff and Maureen DePellegrin.

                                               i.     The committee is formed to advise MCFD on global issues as they arise regarding levels, contracts, medical coverage, 60 day notice, youth transferred to independent living etc.  Ministry at the HQ level has been invited to attend the next meeting via teleconference.

                                             ii.     The Northern RED is pushing to establish a Northern Native Aboriginal Authority by April 07.

                                            iii.     The Northern BCFFPA delegate will issue a report to the board requesting feedback

                                            iv.     The Region H and YIC combined offices in Quesnel with an open house scheduled for the 17^th of December

                                             v.     There has been a change in how childcare subsidy is applied for.  There is a lack of communication around the process.  The MCFD liaison to the BCFFPA will look into and send information.

b.     Vancouver Coastal

                                               i.     2 protocol investigations have wrapped up, with one having a negative outcome.

                                             ii.     Lack of support to foster parents is still a huge issue in this region.  Supervisors have now been asked to attend upcoming meetings to address the problems.

 

8.     Ministry Liaison Report

a.     Prescription Reimbursement is an issue, which requires clarification.  The MCFD liaison  will look into and forward the information to the board.

b.     The President expressed the thanks of the board to the MCFD liaison  for looking into the support issue in the Fraser region.

c.     Concurrent Planning Homes are being piloted in the Vancouver Coastal Region.  These homes are adoptive or foster parents who have indicated a desire to be the first placement for a child coming into care, where the likelihood is that the child will become CCO and be put up for adoption.  MCFD will send the info to the office.

d.     With the move to regionalization information is being lost.  This can have a significant impact on the Federations ability to share information with caregivers. – This will be brought forward in February.