BCFFPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
TELECONFERENCE
JANUARY 15, 2007
1.
Minutes of November 23/24 accepted
2.
President’s Report
a.
Updates
i.
Media – Canadian Press has been contacting the President with regard to
children who are now in care as they related to the missing women in the
Pickton case.
1.
The press is asking what rights the children have regarding the receipt
of full and frank information around their parents. Foster Parents need
to have the right to support these children through this traumatic event.
As well many of these children may now have been adopted so the
question is should they be informed.
b.
Upcoming Meetings
i.
Minister Christensen – the Federation is trying to set up a meeting with both
Minister Christensen and the new ADM – M. Hedlund, for February 21st
while attending the FCFS meetings in Victoria.
ii.
A meeting with A. Harding has been scheduled for February 8th to discuss
budgets.
3.
Treasurer’s Report
a.
The Federation is in excellent financial condition. The money for the Provincial
Recruitment and Retention has now been received, as well as the $44,000 to offset the
cost of the AGM in May. The total amount budgeted is $88,000. Financial
Statements will be available at the face-to-face meeting in February. The Treasurer
and Executive Director to discussing moving back to Simply Accounting as it is
much more user friendly
b.
The Treasurers Report was moved and accepted. T. Leboe/R. Nelson
5.
Old Business
a.
Youth Christmas Party – there were approximately 53 people in attendance. In
addition to the gifts bought by the BCFFPA each youth moving to independence was
given a wish list which was fulfilled. So the youth went away with many useful
household items to help them in their move. G. Smith was recognized for all her hard
work cooking the food. All youth were able to take home extras.
b.
Conference Call phone – this has now been purchased and will save the Federation
money going forward
c.
Directors Code of Conduct – the President is working on revisions and will have the
amended document available for February 9th.
d.
Roconteur – D. Randall will begin his work once the Federation has provided him
with a letter. The next homeless forum meeting is January 30
th
. The Executive
Director to attend again.
e.
Smoking Committee – R. Nelson
a.
The committee met via teleconference January 9th. L. Anderson is the new
chairperson as L. Monheer has resigned from MCFD. This necessitated some
catching up so has held up the process somewhat.
b.
The original intent by MCFD and Health was to have the Standard whereby
foster parents cannot smoke in their homes and cars by June 30, 2007. In
view of the slowness in the committee moving forward, this does not look
likely however.
c.
The reps were asked to collect information and concerns in their regions
related to this committee and send to the board via the office.
d.
The Legal Services Branch of the government will be involved in the next
call.
e.
More information will be included in the Newsletter and at the Stand Together
Conference in order to keep foster parents informed on the dangers of second
hand smoke.
4.
AGM – CFFA 2007
a.
The AGM motions from 2006 will be worked on at the Feb Board Meeting. The
Executive Director will do a summary report on issues already addressed. S. Davis to
do a Resolution Report for the 2007 AGM.
5.
New Business
a.
Respite and Relief Payments
i.
The Vice President would like information around issues with respite and
relief for the Retention Committee meeting on January 24th.
ii.
At the committee the Vice President had brought up the suggestion of taking
respite right out of the contract and having it provided by PODs or rotating
nannies which would give foster parents a needed break, where they would
not have to be responsible for finding and recruiting their own relief provider.
This is being worked on as a priority at Retention.
b.
Protocols – D. Drewitz will address in her report
c.
New Membership Perk
i.
The Vice President has found a hotel in downtown Vancouver willing to give
reduced rates to Foster Parents $79.00 in winter, $129.00 in summer. The
Federation may want to use as meeting space on occasion, as catering costs
are much lower than other hotels and the location is very central.
d.
CLBC
i.
The courts have thrown out the IQ testing for children and youth related to
CLBC services. We will now use this information to request services for
children and youth.
ii.
The board would like to send a letter of thanks to the parent who initiated this
issue. The Vice President and Executive Director to draft. Executive Director
will contact P. Jenkinson to find out the contact information.
6.
CFFA/AGM 2007 Update
a.
The invitation card is now ready for posting on the web.
b.
A postcard is being developed for distribution. Reps will receive at the February
board meeting to distribute in regions
c.
Conference posters will be sent to agencies
d.
Packages will go out 90 days prior to the event
e.
Entertainment ideas are being worked on
f.
A professional MC will be interviewed Feb 9th
g.
Pins and stickers will be looked at on the 9th as well
h.
The deadline for the VIP list is Wed January 17th
i.
The deadline for the kit feedback is January 19th
j.
A professional photographer will do the video work as this is a special event in our
history
k.
Next teleconference is January 23 am.
l.
$88,000 is allocated for this event 50% was given by MCFD
7.
KIDS UP FRONT
a.
D. Drewitz is issuing tickets. If anyone knows of a foster parent who will be in from
out of town, if sufficient notice is given, she may be able to get them some event
tickets. The Executive Director will do a write up for the newsletter and the web, to
share with Debbie.
8.
Ministry Liaison
a.
Duty to Report release
i.
A. Harding will check on the status of the release of information
b.
Redesign of HQ
i.
A. Harding is very busy at the moment with the redesign of the provincial
office. It is not fully outlined where contracts will be held. Mark is the head
of the Integrated Policy and Legislative team under which Annette’s current
work fits
ii.
Doug Hayman will be Regional Services and the new ADM will be Child
Care.
iii.
A. Harding is unsure who she will be under, as the Federation really brings
forward Practice and Policy Issues, as well as the CSSS Framework Project.
Annette will continue to do the new contract negotiations for this year. It was
suggested that the Federation and MCFD embark on a Continuing Agreement.
This will be discussed at the budget meeting on the 8th of February.
iv.
The provincial Retention Advisory group is meeting January 23 to divide into
working groups.
v.
The Education Committee is meeting for 2 days. The various modules will be
delegated out to the regions
vi.
The Provincial recruitment meeting will be held on Feb 8th.
vii.
A. Harding is currently working on estimates and notes for the MCFD budget.
c.
Daycare Update
i.
The daycare policy people now have the information from the last meeting.
They seem to like the idea of a sequential identifier number. This is still in
progress, and once it is complete a letter will go to all foster parents. In the
interim FP need to keep using their SIN as this is regulation which will take
time to change. They will be working on an exemption to regulations for
foster parents. This issue also came up in the CSSS meetings where MCFD
staff are complaining about the problems associated with the issue of daycare.
This has also gone to the policy people. If board members are gathering
information please forward it to the office.
d.
Protocols
i.
There is still an issue of the Q of C Protocol continuing to be used. This is
going to be addressed as a priority at the Provincial Retention Committee. All
reviews should be addressed through Quality Assurance not protocols. There
are flaws in the Provincial Protocol Framework which need to be addressed.
9.
Regional Reports
a.
Fraser
i.
Respite and Relief Payments
1.
Caregivers are still not getting paid in a timely manner despite the
Regional Financial Managers assuring HQ that they now have a
financial system in place that should take no more than 2 weeks to
reimburse caregivers. This is still taking place all over the province.
There is now first hand experience with this issue from a board
member. That and the lack of respect on the part of Social Workers
toward foster parents addressing the lack of payment, led to much
discussion.
2.
It was felt that Protocols need to stay provincial and this is a perfect
example of why that needs to happen. In the long term there needs to
be a provincial solution to this issue.
3.
It was agreed that caregivers need to go to the complaints manager if
they do not receive respite payments in a timely manner. This will
enable the issue to be tracked for systemic problems in certain offices,
and should lead to the issue being rectified.
ii.
Fridge Magnets
1.
D. Drewitz suggested that a fridge magnet be developed which would
have regional focus. This may go to the Retention Committee or may
be covered off by the Federation as a service to Foster Parents.
b.
Interior
i.
Despite repeated requests to the Interior Regional Office the Macro Board still
does not have a Liaison assigned. There are not partnerships at the regional
level and inconsistencies in partnerships at the local level throughout this
region. This is continuing to be worked on.
ii.
Some issue still continue to arise regarding the signing of 54.1’s
iii.
A. Harding will be training MCFD workers and foster parents in the Interior
Region around CSSS beginning the end of January and continuing into
February. She will send a schedule to the office for distribution by the
Executive Director. There will be day and evening meetings.
c.
North
i.
The Northern Advisory Teleconference will take place on the 22
nd
of January.
Annette will be attending. These same items will be discussed. It appears
there is a better communication system in the North than in many other areas.
d.
Vancouver Island
i.
There are still many issues arising related to the move to make Foster Homes
and vehicles non smoking. People feel it is a violation of their rights.
ii.
Foster Parents are still not being treated as part of the childcare team and their
views continue to be discounted.
iii.
Respite availability is a huge issue in this area. Foster Parents are looking for
a respite provider list from MCFD of approved homes.
iv.
The BCFFPA Delegate is still not being included in the Regional Partnership
Meetings. L. Dol will call the FPSSS to see if she can arrange a
teleconference among the local groups in order to gather and share
information.
10.
Extended Health Plan for Caregivers
a.
Information around this plan is on the web site and included in all newsletters. There
continue to be complaints coming forward from caregivers regarding the lack of
communication from the provider when phone calls are made. The Executive
Director will look at other providers for the February 9th meeting.
11.
Relief Issues
a.
Caregivers are still expected to be on call when they are taking days off as relief.
MCFD has stated in some areas that they do not want to be involved if things happen,
causing the caregiver to have to return home. In view of the new standard which
gives MCFD the power to approve the relief provider, it was felt that issues arising
then become the responsibility of MCFD. Foster Parents need a break from their
responsibility and should not have to return home from holidays when issues arise.
The issues should be handled by the social worker.
b.
The Federation will work at creating a new information document around the do’s
and don’t for caregivers beginning with the information that Quality of Care
Protocols no longer exist. This will go in the Newsletter and on the Web Page.
Next meeting face to face February 9th, 2007 Executive Hotel Burnaby.
