BCFFPA Board of Directors
Teleconference Summary
February 13, 2006
1.
Louise Dol was introduced to the board as the new Vancouver Island Regional
Delegate.
2.
Acceptance of Minutes January 9, 2006 – carried
3.
No Additions/Changes
4.
Treasurers Report
a.
Agency Agreement – Melanie has completed. Ellaine to send to board for
feedback to the office no later than February 20th.
b.
Financial Statements – Lyn has the 3rd quarter financials, however she will
be meeting with the Bookkeeper on the 17th to discuss breaking down
accounts to reflect the allocation of funds into separate areas.
c.
Tracking Tool – there was some issues getting the tracking tool returned
as some people did not complete, were no longer fostering, or could not be
contacted. The board will decide if they would like to redo the tracking
tool again with a different group, or chose some additional participants
d.
Local boards not in good standing – there are several locals still not in
good standing. Letters have been sent to all and there are some results
coming in, with one of the locals not in good standing being the one that
has requested a $200 grant to assist them. The office continues to work on
this.
01/02/06: (Melanie Filiatrault/Louise Dol) MSC: Any local in good standing by March
31, 2006 to receive a $200 one time only grant to assist in building the local. Carried
e.
Wage replacement – it was verified that there is wage replacement
available to those executive members who need to attend board meetings
during their working hours.
5.
President’s Report
a.
Issues – Several issues were sent to the board asking if they felt these
should be addressed prior to a member bringing them to the AGM. The
issues included:
i.
Length of time it takes to receive payment when individuals
provide respite services to MCFD – the board agreed that a formal
letter will be written to MCFD around this issue
ii.
Placements over the allowable maximum being paid for at regular
rates. In some regions there is a sliding scale being used to help
offset some costs for these CIC’s. It is not being done in all
regions. MCFD to be asked when they attend the call.
iii.
Shelter – this is not specifically included in the policy manual. A
letter has already been sent to MCFD regarding this. Clarification
will be given in the Caregiver Support Services Standards.
b.
Upcoming Meetings
i.
February 27, 2006 meeting with the Public Guardianship and
Trustee and Paul Jenkinson the Chairman of the BCASW Child
Welfare and Family Committee to discuss issues related to
fostering and how foster parents, social workers, and PGT can
work together for the benefit of CIC’s
ii.
Ministry meetings will take place on the 22nd of February.
Federation representatives will meet with Ministry HQ staff for
budget discussions, followed by a meeting with Minister Hagen the
same day.
iii.
FCFS – The President and Operations Manager will attend these
meetings in Victoria the 23rd and 24th of February.
6.
Old Business
a.
Survey – this is still being worked on. The common themes emerging are
the need for further government lobbying for financial compensation, lack
of networking opportunities, lack of supports to foster families and youth
in care, and the lack of respect, communication, networking, and support
for foster parents from MCFD staff.
b.
Membership assistance for new foster parents – this issue is unresolved
with MCFD suggesting the BCFFPA include this in budget discussions.
Further work is needed.
c.
Policy and Procedures letter to local presidents stating who can speak on
behalf of the organization. The Secretary is still working on a draft.
d.
Policy and Procedures motion to accept – February revised draft
02/02/2006 (Sheila Davis/Melanie Filiatrault) Move to accept the newly revised copy of
Policy and Procedures dated February 2006. Carried
e.
AGM 2006 – Workshops include, Cultural awareness, FASD, Teens, Sex,
and Cyberspace, Drug Use, Talking to Your Teen, and Attachment and
Bonding. There has also been a boat cruise arranged for the evening of
the 26th. The cost is $20.00. Kelowna local FPA will supply food. There
will also be a Board Orientation on Sunday, May 28th. Reps will have
room, travel and registration covered.
f.
Trade and Vocational Bursary – The board decided that for the first year
this bursary award would be $500.00 to fall in line with the other bursary
amounts.
03/02/2006 (Claude Cuff/Louise Dol) MSC: Move to accept the Trade and Vocational
Training Bursary as written. Carried
04/02/2006 (Claude Cuff/Sheila Davis) Move to award $500 per year for the Trade and
Vocational Training Bursary. Carried.
g.
Board Structure – Face to Face Meetings – As the board feels it is
important to meet face to face more than once a year, as is the current
method, it was decided to meet in May (current) and November.
05/02/2006 (Heather Bayes/Louise Dol) MSC: Move to meet face to face twice a year,
once at the AGM and again in November. Carried
h.
Fundraising – The Fraser Regional Delegate is still attempting to ascertain
the best method of contacting production companies or studios as a
method of fundraising.
7.
New Business
a.
Annual reports are due in the office by April 30th to leave time for
completion and printing for the AGM
8.
Ministry Liaison
a.
Caregiver Support Services Standards – sent to the board and the office.
Feedback is requested from the Board by February 28th. A hard copy will
be mailed to the board today.
b.
Regional Partnership Agreement Draft needs work and signing off. Input
from the Board by March 15. Could also be a part of the bigger Provincial
Partnership in the next year?
c.
Concerns about placement overages in Level 2 and 3 homes. In some
areas the ministry has implemented a sliding scale to cover off some of the
extra expenses incurred for these homes with overages that are being paid
at regular rates. The Ministry liaisonwill look into this new practice. This
will be addressed at the provincial table.
d.
Caregiver Support System Framework (Provincial Table) needs to happen
by March 31st. Annette is arranging and HQ is willing to cover travel and
room costs for the representation from BCFFPA to attend. This will be a
two-day event with information coming forward in the near future.
9.
Regional Updates
a.
Vancouver Coastal – The Regional Delegate is trying to set up a meeting
with Richmond Foster Parents. Not all locals are in good standing;
however there appears to be some confusion around whether some of the
locals are now in good standing. Claude asked if people are aware that
MCFD is sponsoring several two and 3-day workshops around the
province for FAS? Also in Smithers the agency has created a job for a
Behavioral Consultant, much like the one Claude does in the Sunshine
Coast.
b.
Fraser – the Abbotsford local has managed to secure an office at no cost
and are working hard to revitalize the local. The Burnaby local hosted a
clothing give away through donations from movie sets. 11 families
benefited
c.
Interior – this area is still going strong. There are a few locals which are
not currently in good standing however. One problem they are up against
is the confusion around what the BCFFPA does and what the peer support
groups do from the agency side. The possibility of setting up joint
meetings was discussed.
There are issues regarding the lack of post majority financial supports
available to youth leaving care and planning on going to university. It was
clarified that CCO’s are able to apply for full student loans as young
adults.
The region is working on the guardianship model in the North Okanagan.
Several round table discussions have taken place around financial issues,
supports, and no assessments for behavioral needs, lack of respect towards
foster parents as professional members of the team.
Region G has disbanded. The Macro Regional Council is holding their
AGM on the evening of Thursday, May 25th at the Sandman as well.
06/02/06 (Heather Bayes/ Louise Dol) MSC: Move that the former Area G remaining
funds be distributed to the locals of the former Area G deemed to be in good standing by
the provincial office as of February 17th, 2006. Carried
d.
North – Willy Neal has visited some communities in the North West for
the Youth in Care, and has supplied some support to the North Central
area of the province. The scattered and isolated nature of the north is
starting to show itself in those communities. There is a need for the
Federation to go to the communities and meet with people. The Northern
Advisory Committee Terms of Reference outline the addressing of global
issues in the north but the communities are so isolated that a lot of things
are being missed.
e.
Vancouver Island – The issues here appear to follow the other regional
issues coming forward. It is difficult to get people to attend meetings, as
they do not understand the difference in services offered by the BCFFPA
and FPSSS. Some concerns arising are: payment delays, transportation
costs, kids placed in regular homes when their needs are higher than the
skills of the home, respite. The Federation met with FPSSS to clarify
services. The office will send Louise a list of services offered for sharing
with foster parents.
Foster parents interested in getting Husky Mohawk cards should call the
office so the cards can be tracked.
Next Meeting: In view of the Caregiver Support System Framework (Provincial Table)
meeting taking place in March, it may be possible for the board to meet face to face. A
tentative conference call has been set up for March 20th 7:30 – 9:30 pm, however it is
subject to cancellation if the face-to-face takes place.
