July 2007
Dear Caregivers :
Our 40th Anniversary AGM, and Conference was held in conjunction with the Canadian Foster
Families Symposium and was a tremendous success. Attendance at the BCFFPA AGM has
increased steadily every year and we anticipate a similar trend for the 2008 event which will be
held in the Delta Hotel at the fabulous Sun Peaks resort, located just outside of Kamloops May
29, 30, and 31, 2008. All are welcome to attend and network with other foster parents, and
ministry/agency staff in attendance.
A considerable number of motions were generated from the 2007 AGM. The BCFFPA By-laws
have now been amended to allow for Association memberships, which will allow the Federation to
include large corporations, and other foster and family support groups as members going forward.
Work is well underway on the development of a feedback form for foster parents to give feedback
to the child’s social worker on service quality received during the term of the placement. We are
also gathering information to aid in development of a training module for foster parents and
ministry staff regarding triangulation and the impact on the fostering of youth in care.
A letter has been drafted regarding clarification of income to assist foster parents in securing
mortgages etc. This letter will be ready for distribution soon. A letter regarding the immediate
notification of the nature of an allegation raised against foster parents has been sent to MCFD
Provincial office. We are awaiting a response.
We continue to develop a province wide summer camp program for children and youth in care.
The funding for this will come from the sale of a series of numbered Limited Edition prints by the
further information regarding this wonderful opportunity. We are also working on a formalized
type of urgent response system to aid foster families during times of tragedy in addition to the
many other motions which came forward at the AGM.
The BCFFPA executive hosted the first stage of our Idea Forums in a number of communities in
June. Sessions were held in Cranbrook, Nelson, Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, Salmon Arm and
Kamloops. We were pleased to have representatives from the Federation of Aboriginal Foster
Parents, and the Public Guardian and Trustee as part of the sharing of information for many of
the meetings. The idea forums have also generated a lot of traffic to the new
where the BCFFPA is going with them.
Hoping you are all having a wonderful summer.
Sincerely,
Melanie Filiatrault
