BCFFPA Board of Directors Meeting Summary
November 5, 2007
1.
Acceptance of Minutes from October 19, 2007
a.
Minutes accepted as written unanimous
2.
Additions to Agenda
a.
Add to January agenda – Honorary Membership Vote
b.
Motions for President
c.
CFFA Budget
d.
Meetings for Youth Christmas Party
3.
Treasurer’s Report
a.
The Treasurer explained how the financial statements are now laid out
b.
Expenditures are over slightly It is not necessary to have large amounts of unexpended funds
however it is good to have an amount in reserve. We will revisit the business plan and negotiate
with MCFD for more funding in the next fiscal.
c.
The Federation needs to look at funding for future Idea Forums, and a Provincial Advocate
position. The contracted support workers are constrained in their ability to support foster parents.
The office will write the rational for the position.
d.
Fundraising Status
i.
Submission to the North
01/11/07:MSC: (J. Chapman) Move to accept the draft letter to Johanna Clorec and instruct ED to forward it.
02/11/07: MSC: (J. Chapman) Move that the Expense reports be changed to reflect the new meal and mileage
rates of 15/15/25 and $.46 km.
03/11/07:MSH: (S. Davis) Move that two CFFA delegates be sent to Winnipeg in 2008.
The Delegates would go for the first three days, and return to attend our AGM in Kamloops on the Thursday of
that week.
Ellaine will look at costs, and will inform the board. BF in December
04/11/07:MSC: (S. Davis) Monthly financial reports to be forwarded to the Executive. Carried
05/11/07:MSC: (S. Davis) The Executive Director to attend Executive Meetings by invitation. Carried
06/11/07: MSC: (S. Davis) Minutes of Executive Meetings to be held by the Secretary
BF in December. This will be looked into
It was decided that the BCFFPA would send a letter of thank you to Kids Up Front.
The Child and Youth Rep has contacted Melanie and is sending blankets for foster parent appreciation. They
are also trying to get sports tickets for foster families.
Sheila, Jan and Ellaine are to work on policy around donations.
A Kids Up Front blurb will be included in each Newsletter. This will also go on the BCFFPA web site.
4.
President’s Report
a.
Meetings Attended
i.
Adoption Meeting – Willy attended. Representatives from several groups attended. The
conclusion reached is that it is very difficult to get kids adopted. People recognize the
need to educate young mothers around drinking and drug use during pregnancy. FAS can
now be detected within 17 days of conception. Is enough being done? Financial issues
also play a part in adoptions. Many children are in care for up to three years prior to
adoption. We would like to see kids going right to a Restricted Adoptive home from the
hospital. Adoptive parents need much more education and information. There are too
many failed adoptions. The Federation needs to take a political stand in court in terms of
allowing these kids to be adopted early rather than late. The youth in care are going to
take a position, and the Federation could do so as well.
ii.
FAFP AGM – Willy attended for the first time. Judy and Fred Chiasson were honoured
on behalf of all foster parents caring for Aboriginal children. The Director of Operations
for the North, Del Graaf attended as well.
b.
Christmas Office Closure
07/11/07:MSC: (W. Neal) Move that the provincial office be closed from noon on December 21 to 8:30 am
January 2, 2008
The Youth in Care Christmas Dinner is being arranged. Ellaine is sending out requests for donations.
c.
CFFA request for Because they are Children
i.
The CFFA would like to put their logo on the video and use it for their benefit.
1.
This will be BF in December for discussion
d.
Staff reports submitted to the Board
08/11/07: MSC: (S. Davis) Staff Summary Reports are due September 30th and March 31 with other annual
reports from the Board.
e.
AFABC AGM
It was suggested that the two boards get together in February, however their board only gets
together occasionally so this may be possible.
f.
Idea Forums
i.
The next Idea Forum is the 8th
of November at the Croation Cultural Centre in
Vancouver. PGT, PFPSL, FBCYICN, Ralph Libby, Rep for Children and Youth will be
joining us.
ii.
Jim Randall – Jim has sent a suggestion that the database be turned over to him to
administer and put in a trust, where the BCFFPA is the guardian of the trust. Further
clarification needs to be received. BF in December
iii.
The Downtown Vancouver Association is hosting the launch of the fosterchildren.ca
February 14, 2008 at the SFU downtown campus. Various business leaders will be
invited.
A letter will be written to Annette suggesting that the Rights of Foster Parents be launched in conjunction with
the Rights of Youth in Care.
A letter will be written to the Federation of Child and Family Services of BC thanking them for the prints they
sent to the Board of Directors.
A position paper will be written addressing the BCFFPA’s disagreement that youth are pushed out of care at age
16.
A letter will be written to Kula Zervos regarding a legal defense fund for foster parents in response to her e-mail
regarding the Keane case.
A letter will be written to the lawyer for Patricia Keane informing him that there are no more funds to assist.
5.
Regional Reports
a.
Fraser – Jan Chapman was Foster Parent of the Year in Burnaby New Westminster.
A foster parent has an issue with one of the contracts she holds for a relief bed. She can now
only be paid if she has direct face-to-face contact with the youth. She is now expected to spend
countless hours making arrangements and assisting her in accessing services instead of going and
picking her up when she wants to come to Debbie’s house. This is an unacceptable expectation
on the part of the Ministry. The board will write a position paper stating that the BCFFPA does
not condone the behaviours of the Ministry related to budget cuts that are reflected in the number
of youth on the streets. Melanie to write.
b.
Interior – In the Kootenays file reviews are taking place. They have now got a replacement for
the Quality of Care Protocol. It is no longer called a Quality of Care but is punitive in the same
way the Quality of Care Protocol was punitive. The Federation will write a letter addressing the
issue.
The Interior Macro Board is drifting and will be holding a face-to-face meeting. Regional
MCFD personnel have been invited, but have failed to respond. Nancy McComb is the liaison
from MCFD to the Macro board.
The foster parent appreciation event in the Kelowna area was lacking. It was put on by the Lions
Club as a barbeque and kids attended which is not what the event is for. The event was to
appreciate Foster Parents and it was felt that this was not done. There were no speeches or
recognition.
c.
North – In the North (Dawson Creek area) a dinner was held with the MCFD staff as the
entertainment. The function was enjoyed by all.
There is a shortage of staff in the area with many off on stress leave. This is resulting in long
turn around times for callbacks. There needs to be some work around a standard length of time
expected regarding call backs.
d.
Island – In this area the ministry worked with the Aboriginal agency to provide a nice event for
Foster Family Month.
There are many variances in contracts. Foster Parents are feeling that there are massive
amounts of training in the North and South and little in the Central Island. Staff changes are
resulting in confusion for caregivers. There is a need to develop consistency. There continues to
be a power struggle on the Island with very little networking taking place between all
stakeholders. Louise and Sheila will be attending the next partnership meeting via an invitation
from the Ministry.
