Doug Hayman,
Assistant Deputy Minister
Delivered on behalf of:
Honourable Stan Hagen,
Minister of Children and Family Development
BC Federation of Foster Parents Associations
Saturday, May 27, 2007
Sandman Hotel, Kelowna, BC
After-Dinner speech
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Firstly I must convey that Minister Stan Hagen is very disappointed in not being here. He has been looking forward
to this banquet for sometime, and hopes you all understand that it is a family commitment that has kept him away
tonight.
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However, he has provided remarks, and I am honoured to deliver those on his behalf.
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There are three topics that the Minister has asked me to address tonight:
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Strengthening our relationship with foster parents;
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Transformation and new approaches for the Ministry; and
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The road ahead - together in partnership.
FOSTER PARENTING
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Parenting is one of the most challenging jobs we take on – but also one of the most rewarding.
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As some of you may know, Minister Hagen himself is a father of five – so he knows this only too well.
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But I’m sure we agree when I say foster parenting brings its own unique challenges and joys.
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That you willingly take on the additional challenges that come with looking after children in care is only because you
care about the children and families in your community who are in need.
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Last fall, Minister Hagen had the opportunity to meet dozens of foster parents during Foster Family Appreciation
Month. The message he delivered is that foster parents are our “unsung heroes” – and “superheroes” to many of
the children you take in.
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Foster parents offer a community service that is highly valued but too often not recognized nearly enough.
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You enter the lives of children who have often just come into care - they are afraid, angry, hurt, confused -- and you
provide them with comfort, unconditional care and support, security and guidance while their families attempt to
resolve their own difficulties.
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Whether the children you care for are with you for a short time or a long time, they remember you. And Minister
Hagen knows that you remember each of them.
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The Minister also knows there are emotional and social costs to foster parenting. When a child leaves your home,
even for the best of all possible reasons, you naturally experience loss and grief.
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Unfortunately, there are also times when foster parenting can be isolating from family events, social activities, and
community.
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That’s why support and networking with other foster parents – like you’ve been doing over these two days – is so
important.
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Minister Hagen knows you make these sacrifices because you care – because you want to help. He has found that
the foster parents he’s met are compassionate and committed to what they do and the children in their care.
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He also knows that, increasingly, you are being asked to care for children with more complex needs and that this
requires special skills, extra training and experience.
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We are all acutely aware that in B.C. we are also facing an ever-aging population. The effects of this in the foster
parent community are that many older, more experienced foster parents are retiring. We also know some
caregivers are experiencing burn out, and others are adopting children in their care – in fact – 30% of all adoptions
are by foster parents.
STRENGTHENING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOSTER PARENTS
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Annette Harding, your liaison from the Ministry, was recently at the Canadian Foster Families Association
conference in Ontario.
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She brought back a phrase that, for the ministry, sums up the relationship we seek to strengthen with foster parents
– and others – as we move towards transformation in our approach in B.C.:
“Nothing about them, without them.”
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You are unique in your relationship with the ministry: You are both service providers, and service recipients.
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We know it’s your enthusiasm, vision and love for these children that is central to our relationship.
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You are an invaluable resource that needs and deserves our support.
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The Minister often refers to foster parents as the back-bone of the ministry in its duty to children in care.
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As foster parents – you provide the “care” behind the phrase “children in care”.
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We hope know you know that. We want you to know that we know it too. And that support to you – emotionally,
educationally and financially – is imperative to strengthening our relationship with you – and that foster parents are
an on-going priority for the ministry.
MINISTRY TRANSFORMATION & NEW APPROACHES
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You are very likely aware that as a result of recent reviews, together with the Minister’s belief in the principle of
continual improvement, the ministry is entering a comprehensive process of transformation.
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This means building on the strengths, initiatives and good practices that already exist. It means that while we
continue to operate with children and families as our number one priority - our approaches will be different.
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We aim for a deeply respectful approach. A consultative approach within which children, youth, families, service
providers, foster and adoptive parents, Aboriginal peoples and communities will all have a say in how we move
forward.
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In short, the ministry will be focused, innovative, respectful and inclusive.
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We will ensure that our partners in the Aboriginal community, other ministries, and our colleagues in the sector and
service providers are all included.
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That means this ministry has taken responsibility to be more accountable to children and families in British
Columbia.
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In essence, what we mean can be summed up in three words:
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Respect
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Trust
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Communication
FUTURE PARTNERSHIP WORK AHEAD
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Minister Hagen has not only listened, but has heard the issues that have been raised by individual foster parents,
and your Federation.
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Some of what he heard, he’s been able to address – and some still require work. These areas include:
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Nurturing respect and trust;
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Updating foster parent education and developing more specialized training;
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Increasing not only recruitment, but retention of foster parents;
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Strengthening supports, including relief;
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Reviewing foster family care maintenance rates in relation to cost of living; and,
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Improving communication in all ways, at all levels.
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While that work is still proceeding, Minister Hagen is proud of the successes so far this year. For instance, he was
quite pleased with the feedback received from the recent provincial forum held at the beginning of May.
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As you know, the forum brought together key stakeholders and provided a venue for dialogue on concerns,
priorities and potential action plans.
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He was impressed to know that about a 170 people participated from all regions of B.C., including foster parents,
youth from care, delegated Aboriginal agencies, regional foster parent support agencies, the two provincial foster
parent federations and ministry staff.
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The issues raised and discussed at the forum were heard and are acknowledged by those of us in the ministry.
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Among some of the issues I’ve already addressed tonight, we clearly heard that there is still a need for Staffed
Residential Services in the continuum of what is available to best meet an individual child's needs.
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Also heard was the need for after-care services for young people who are leaving care – this is something of
particular concern to Minister Hagen, and something he knows needs strengthening.
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We – and the Minister – also know that funding, staffing, respect and communication all still need work. Minister
Hagen is committed to working on all of those issues.
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I can assure you that the ministry heard all the concerns, ideas and potential solutions that were addressed at the
forum.
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On behalf of the Minister, I can also reaffirm that foster parents of B.C.’s children in care, will be included as full
partners in the ministry’s transformation process.
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In addition to the forum, the Minister is extremely pleased that government’s Budget 2006 delivered a 50% increase
in mileage rates for foster parents – the first increase in a decade.
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In addition, $1.15 million was added to the ministry budget this year to cover more supports for children in care.
This was largely in part because of the Minister’s strong belief that:
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Children in care deserve the same opportunities as all the other children in B.C.; and,
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No foster parent should have to subsidize the cost of caring for a child that the ministry has asked you
to take into your home.
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We are currently undertaking to establish a provincial working group that will identify strategies to both recruit and
retain foster parents.
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We know that together we need to develop new and innovative approaches in our recruitment of new foster homes
of all types, including Aboriginal and other multi-cultural foster parents, safe-baby homes and more foster homes in
rural and remote communities.
FUNDING FOR THE ASSOCIATION
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The ministry is committed to continue funding the BCFFPA. Minister Hagen believes it is important that your
organization continues to provide services and supports to foster parents on a provincial basis.
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He is thankful for the work that each of you do.
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The Minister also understands and acknowledges the invaluable role the BCFFPA plays in the ministry’s
communication with foster parents throughout the province.
Your quarterly provincial newsletter is a vital communication link that will play an even more important role over the
coming years as we work together throughout transformation and improving services.
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Before I conclude, I know that earlier today Mark Sieben presented a gift of thanks to Sheila Durnford, as she steps
down from her incredibly successful time as your president.
Sheila, I know the Minister has already conveyed to you his personal thank you for all you’ve done, but he’s sent
along this public acknowledgment tonight, he writes:
“Sheila, you have been tireless in your efforts for our children. You have provided strong leadership and
exceptional commitment as president of the BC Federation of Foster Parents Associations.
“I know you’ve been a foster parent for more than 25 years yourself, and through that you’ve been a role model
for others and have made a difference in the lives of many children.
“I also know you will be continuing to work and advocate on behalf of foster parents and foster children in your
new role as a recently elected Vice President with the Canadian Foster Families Association. I look forward to
continuing our working relationship with you in your new capacity.
“Sheila, you have my thanks, and my whole-hearted admiration.”
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Again, that is from Honourable Stan Hagen, Minister of Children and Family Development.
IN CONCLUSION:
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The Ministry of Children & Family Development is committed to working with you as we strive to be more
accountable to the children, youth and families in British Columbia.
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As a ministry, we promise to be more focused, innovative, respectful and inclusive.
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We will include you as we transform and improve upon the services we, as a ministry, provide our youngest British
Columbians and their families.
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The challenge to us all is to create a responsive, flexible, continuum of services that meet the needs of the children
– not the needs of the system.
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Thank you for welcoming me here tonight; and, on behalf of Minister Hagen, thank you for the commitment you
give, and the sacrifices you make as foster parents.
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Thank you.
