BCFFPA Board of Directors
Teleconference Summary
October 20, 2009
1.
Acceptance of Minutes of September 22, 2009 – H. Bayes/L. Dol – carried
2.
Additions or changes to the agenda
a.
Add Kids Up Front
b.
MCFD Liaison
3.
Treasurer’s Report
a.
Federation is approximately $7,000 in the black at present.
4.
President’s Report
a.
Period of Purple Crying media release – President to attend. Provided a
quote for the Press Release
i.
This is new training around Shaken Baby Syndrome
b.
Rights Document will be signed off by October 30, 2009 with a press
release going out. President and Vice President to attend legislature for
signature.
c.
Conference Call October 26th with Jane Cowell to discuss Rights. The
Board was requested to get their input back to the office as soon as
possible. This document is subject to change and additions as necessary
going forward.
d.
Foster Parent Appreciation events – Reps from BCFFPA attended in
Coquitlam and Vancouver events and will attend the media release for the
Period of Purple Crying.
e.
Once again the Federation is doing a membership draw, this time for a lap
top computer. The membership mail out of 2008 encouraged new and
returning members from years past. Foster parents who are current
members can participate in the draw if they pay another year of
membership
5.
Regional Delegates
Vancouver Coastal – Peter Dueck
The board will look at paid lifetime memberships
Attended the FAFP AGM and feels that there may be some things
around processes that the Federation may want to borrow.
The foster parent appreciation dinner is taking place October 22nd
Fraser – Debbie Drewitz
Lots of protocols still taking place in Fraser
Attended the Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents as a member.
Kids Up Front will be charging a $150 membership fee starting
January 11, 2010
01/10/2009: MSC: (D. Drewitz/S. Jones) Move to pay $150 for 2010
membership in Kids Up Front.
All foster parent members need to be informed that the tickets for Kids Up
Front are available to them.
This will be discussed in the next face-to-face meeting.
Interior – Marcia Perron
Lots of Protocols taking place throughout the region
There was a good turn out for the Foster Parent Appreciation events
taking place throughout the region.
Foster Parent meetings in Kelowna will resume October 21st
Concerns have been raised by foster parents regarding information
contained in their files and the difficulty viewing that information.
Penticton MCFD is working on a new format for Partnership Meetings
Having problems getting information from Kamloops
Williams Lake homes still continue to experience overages
North – Sherrie Jones
Foster homes continue to close as less and less children are being
taken into care, yet it is reported that there are 60-70 youth couch
surfing on any given night in the Dawson area.
Chetwyn has only one foster homes
Only newborns are being taken in
No kids, no protocols
Sherrie reported difficulty getting information from the North West
MCFD in Dawson hosted an appreciation event. 11 foster parents and
20 social workers attended.
There is discussion around claw backs taking place. Groups are
advised not to hold unused funds.
Vancouver Island - Sheila Davis
The Island is not providing the required 60 days notice to cancel
contracts. In a lot of cases they are waiting until the contract expires
and then renewing for a lower number of beds.
It appears that the number of Level II beds also on the decline. This
has already happened to the Level III beds.
A foster parent appreciation event was held in Nanaimo
There is a concern that kids are being returned home too early and may
be unsafe. Sheila will keep the office updated
6.
Old Business
a.
Iezzi – waiting for legal draft.
b.
Insurance Training – Ellaine provided insurance training in Nanaimo, Port
Alberni
c.
Melanie will draft a letter to the Coalition of Concerned Caregivers asking
them for their issues in writing.
d.
The board was asked to consider January for a face-to-face meeting. All
agreed that January would work. Date to be decided. Not sure of the
location yet
