May 11, 2005

1. Acceptance of Minutes March 9^th 2005 – accepted. Copies will be taken to May 26^th meeting for full board participation.

2. Treasurer’s Report

We ended the year with a small deficit of $4,184. We have cash and investment assets ($11,000 interest income will help fund the camp for kids project and the various bursaries.

The Federation has received the $15,000 access gaming grant for the communication, networking and database needs and has an account set up to administer the funds, which will be reported on at the end of the 2005/06 fiscal year.

The Federation received government funding for 2005-06

4. President’s Report

a. Contract – The issue of 60-day notice for modifications was discussed and the decision was made to write another letter to the ADM stating that the BCFFPA would like acknowledgement of the issue, and asking if there is a moratorium on the use of this type of modification. CC letter to other high level MCFD staff, as the membership may bring up the issue at the AGM and MCFD will need to be informed in order to answer questions.

b. Meetings Attended

- Vancouver Coastal

- Aboriginal Foster Doll Project – Hon. Stan Hagen made Honourary foster parent

c. Upcoming Meetings

- Federation of Child and Family Services – Will be held in Penticton in June. The Vice President may attend meetings on Thursday of that week as well.

- CYO – GAPS meeting. This meeting will start to address the issues of gaps in services to 17-18 year olds with IQ’s over 70. Currently this group is falling through the cracks.

- Updates

- CSAE – Employers Council is having a Professional Development training around non-profit legal and personnel issues. Two representative of the Federation will attend

- Safeguarding – The President facilitated a safeguarding workshop in the Fraser Valley. She also passed on information regarding the AGM and Federation itself.

- The Vancouver Coast Delegate will be unable to continue as rep Claude Cuff has agreed to take over the position after the AGM

- MCFD made a request for a foster parent in the Victoria Region to sit on a CLS curriculum committee for the 53 hours of training. A long time member from Victoria will attend.

4. Personnel

Sarah Mills has been hired as the new office assistant.

5. New Business

a. Newsletter Advertising – b/f to May 26^th meeting

b. AGM 2007 – b/f to May 26^th meeting

c. Ad Astra put on agenda for May 26^th 2:30 – 3:00. Ellaine to contact

6. Ongoing Business

a. Legal Custody Issue – if foster parents go for legal custody they are advised to seek legal advise prior to making any commitments. There are many issues to consider.

b. Programs and Services – BF to May 26

c. Interior Macro Region Council Progress Report – BF to May 26

d. Macro Regional Model & Criteria – BF to May 26

e. Training Update – The Grief and Loss training was very successful and well attended. Further training was offered by the OKFPA in Vernon.

f. AGM – The May 26 agenda is set. There will be a drop in reception on Friday night. Room TBA. Board members are expected to attend. Clara Robbins will be the keynote speaker at the AGM, replacing Jeremy Berland, who is unavailable. 10% of fundraising will go to the CFFA as a donation. Clothing will be available for sale all three days. This is a fundraising initiative of the BCFFPA Burnaby/New West Local with 10% of the proceeds going to the BCFFPA provincial board.

7. Ministry Liaison

a. Regional Protocols have not all been received from the Regions. The MCFD liaison will follow up. The Protocols from the Island include Quality of Care, which is not used anymore. In the draft standards this protocol is built into ongoing work. It is not a special protocol. Originally regions would follow the old protocols until they had finished their own. As the island’s is complete the Quality of Care should no longer be in use.

b. Education – all foster parents named in the contract are required to complete the 53 hours of training. This is mandatory. MCFD will continue to look into the changes to the training as outlined on the FPSSS website. Regional Managers are making decisions that differ from the original intent. The education program is currently under review province wide by the Education Working group. Wording will be cleaned up. There are currently no consequences for not completing the training, as foster parents in BC are not licensed.

c. Money to reorder foster parent recognition pin s has been requested

d. No date yet for the development of a provincial table. The process will begin with conference calls.

e. The printing of the Recruitment Brochures is a priority. MCFD will look into the issue, and the Liaison will provide information on the status of the work within two weeks.

f. The insurance deductible issue is being worked on and clarity will be given in the Standards Document. The BCFFPA will receive the rewording prior to having it incorporated. Foster Parents should not be out of pocket for expenses related to caring for ministry children.

g. Liability Insurance will now be government funded effective June 1^st, 2005

h. The MCFD liaison will attend the BCFFPA board meeting May 26^th, 2005 from 3-5 pm via teleconference.

8. Regional Issues

a. A foster parent in Fraser region would like to bring forward the issue of assessment of foster homes as it pertains to raising a level. She has already addressed it in her region. The BCFFPA will address it with her input.

b. Cost of living was discussed

c. Counselling for birth and foster parents was brought up

d. Aboriginal Authorities may choose to cancel all levels and pay what they feel they should. This will be addressed if the issue arises.

e. Use of the 24-hour clock regarding respite is an issue that has arisen. The policy states that respite is the equivalent of three days, and does not address either calendar or 24-hour clock. It is up to the discretion of the ministry to choose payments based on their wishes at this time.