December 2007
Dear Caregivers:
I am happy to celebrate and share with you the recent successes of the Federation.
As many of you may know, members of the BCFFPA Board of Directors, along with
representatives of the Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents, the Federation of BC Youth in
Care Networks, the Public Guardian and Trustee of BC, the Provincial Foster Parent Support Line
and the Representative for Children and Youth of BC, have been touring the province and holding
Idea Forums. These Idea Forums are a vehicle to gather information and address the issues of
youth homelessness and low graduation rates for youth in care. Overall these forums have had a
positive response, and we now have requests from parts of the Vancouver Coastal region and the
Island to hold forums in those areas. Another thing that has come out of these forums is the
opportunity to work with the Boys and Girls Clubs of BC, and Variety Club to develop programs
to meet the needs of youth in various underserved areas of the province. There will be a launch
February 14, 2008. This will allow us to share Idea Forum information with corporate sponsors,
and service clubs in the Vancouver Coastal Region.
We continue with fundraising initiatives, and would like to thank the Executive Hotel chain, the
Royal Bank, Costco, JD Farms Specialty Turkey Store, Megson Fitzpatrick Town and Country
Insurance, the Old Spaghetti Factory, the Adoptive Families Association of BC, and the Royal
Heights Baptist Church for helping to make the 3rd Annual Youth Christmas Dinner a smashing
success.
Other fundraising initiatives, such as the sale of Joe Mandur Jr. signed Limited Edition Prints are
helping us raise funds for the Camps for Kids Programs.
We are persisting in getting the Rights of Foster Parents legislated, and are working very
positively with MCFD to that end.
Take some time for yourself this season to relax and enjoy your family and friends. Thank you
for the work you do, caring for BC’s most vulnerable children. I look forward to 2008 so that we
can continue moving forward in work which will benefit all foster parents, and the children and
youth they care for.
Sincerely
Melanie Filiatrault– President
