Presidents Report February 2006 – Sheila Durnford
Dear Caregivers:
Happy New Year to you all. With the Christmas rush over we now begin another year. The
BCFFPA is continuing to work with MCFD on various items from last year. We are feeling quite
confident that some of our concerns have been heard and some our requests, such as increased
mileage rates, will be granted in the new fiscal year. As the Budget speech will have been
delivered (Feb.21nd), I am hopeful that by the time you are reading this we will have had an
announcement regarding an increase to mileage rates.
We have been busy organization several upcoming events:
1.
Stand Together – a multi-faceted training conference for Care Giving Professionals
(Foster and Adoptive Parents, MCFD and Foster Parent Support Agency Staff and other
Child Welfare Stakeholder.) This two day conference is being held April 8th and 9th, 2006
at the Richmond Executive Hotel and Conference Centre, 7311 Westminster Hwy,
Richmond, BC for those living in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal Regions. This
conference is being led by Hollyburn Family Services and the Pacific Community
Resources Society, and co-hosted by the BCFFPA the AFABC, and the MCFD Foster
Parent Recruitment & Training Team.
2.
The BCFFPA 2006 AGM and Conference – “Maintaining Healthy Outcomes” – is being
held at the Sandman Hotel in Kelowna this year, May 26th and 27th. Great workshops
have been organized for this year’s event, along with some fun activities. Make sure to
register early and sign up for the Meet and Greet boat cruise on the Lake!! All members
will be receiving their AGM packages by mid-April. If you would like further information,
please call the Provincial Federation office at 1-800-663-9999. Non-members are
welcome to attend.
3.
BCFFPA 40th Anniversary Celebration - 2007 is our 40th Anniversary and to help with the
celebrations we have arranged to host the CFFA Symposium in conjunction with the
BCFFPA AGM and Conference. Foster Parents, Social Workers and other Child Welfare
Stakeholders from all Provinces and the NWT will attend this event. It is a great
opportunity for Foster Parents in BC to meet other Foster Parents from across Canada
who have the same passion as us. It will be a very exciting year for sure!! The CFA
Symposium is being hosted by Ontario this year and I will be attending and inviting all to
BC in 2007.
Once again it is time for children and youth to send their submissions for the CFFA Poster
Contest. Information is available on the BCFFPA Web Site. I am hoping that you will encourage
your foster, birth and adopted children and youth to submit a poster. I will be taking the winning
poster from each age category to Ottawa, Ontario to the CFFA Symposium. (Details on page 16.)
Mr. Ted Hughes, Q.C., was appointed by the BC Government, to conduct an independent
examination of BC’s Child Protection System, and will be making recommendations for
improvement. He will be examining, the review process for child deaths, advocacy support for
children and youth, and monitoring of government’s performance in protecting children and youth.
The BCFFPA was one of over 200 groups and individuals who responded to his call for input.
A meeting was held with the Public Guardian and Trustee’s office to discuss 54.’s, and protocol
outcomes. See page 4 for details. Another meeting has been arranged for February 27, 2006
with the PGT and the Chairperson of the BCASW Child Welfare and Family Committee, Paul
Jenkinson.
We are busy working on our 2006-07 Budget to be presented to the Ministry. Meetings took
place in February with Ministry Staff in Victoria. At the same time we had the opportunity to meet
again with Minister Hagen. Minister Hagen is interested in hearing about foster parents and what
new initiatives the BCFFPA has been working on. It is nice to have the opportunity to meet with
the Minister throughout the year.
The Foster Parent Survey is close to completion and will soon be posted on the web site.
I do hope that everyone takes the time to look at our website from time to time. It gives you the
opportunity to read the notes from each of our monthly Board of Directors Meetings, and new
information, upcoming events etc. We are in the process of updating the look and feel of the
We welcome your feedback.
Thank you to those of you who have renewed your membership, and for those of you who have
not, a friendly reminder to do so. Membership money supports the local associations in your area
so that they can offer support to you as foster parents. The BCFFPA provides many services
through membership and fundraising initiatives. Please see pages 6 & 7 for more details.
We have had quite a bit of interest in our new fundraising initiative – the Husky/Mohawk Rebate
Program (page 14). This is an easy way for you to help us with fundraising (at no cost to you).
The funds help to support projects such as Camps for Kids, Bursaries, Training Modules for foster
parents, and general foster parent supports. Cards are available through the office and anyone
can take part, so you can ask your family, friends, and co-workers to help support the BCFFPA.
Call the Provincial office for more information.
In closing I would like to thank Melanie Filiatrault, Vice President for the extra work she did while I
was away on my extended vacation. I have now returned and am all refreshed for another
productive year ahead.
