Our first in-person AGM and Conference after 2 years of being apart due to the pandemic is happening on October 21-22, 2022 in Victoria. Located in the heart of BC’s vibrant capital, this year’s AGM will be held at the Inn at Laurel Point where you can enjoy a majestic view of the harbour. Beautiful waterfront location? An evening of networking and fun? Sumptuous food? Training and workshops? Guest speakers? Luxurious auction packages for you to bid on? We’ve got all that for you! We have so many surprises for our attendees, you don’t want to miss it!

You can now start booking your rooms through the Reservations Department by calling 1-800-663-7667 or 250-386-8721 or by e-mail at reservations@laurelpoint.com. Book your hotel room by September 9, 2022 to receive our special rate of $189 (Laurel Wing), based on single or double occupancy and are exclusive of applicable taxes and service fees. A charge of $25.00 applies to each additional guest over the age of 18. Please quote BC Foster Parents Association.

For questions, call 1-800-663-9999 or email office@bcfosterparents.ca.

This week is BC Child and Youth in Care Week (BCCYICW). BC Foster Parents Association is a proud member of the BC Child and Youth in Care Week Committee. First proclaimed by the province in 2011, BCCYICW is a whole week devoted to celebrating BC’s incredible young people in government care. A group of youth in and from care advocated for this week so that their siblings in care could group up feeling celebrated for their diverse talents. They also wanted to raise awareness about the barriers they face and fight the stigma that comes with being a “foster kid”.

To kick off BCCYICW, we are launching The Ames Family Foundation Bursary. At BCFPA, we understand that availability does not mean accessibility. There is no age cap and the application process is simple and low-barrier. We encourage diverse and equity-seeking individuals to apply, specifically those who are Indigenous, racialized, 2SLGBTQ+ identified, persons of all abilities, and the intersections of these identities. Six bursaries of $5,000 will be awarded to youth from government care. To apply, visit this page. 

We would like to thank Ames Family Foundation for their generous donation which made this bursary possible. 

Under-deductible Losses (UDL) Program

We are launching a new program called Under-deductible Losses (UDL) Program. The funding for this program is effective April 1, 2022. Foster parents will now have access to a low barrier process to manage damages and losses valued below $10,000 (under the Rider Insurance Program deductible), caused by the child/youth placed in their care. This program will be an alternative to submitting eligible repairs and losses to MCFD or Delegated Aboriginal Agencies for compensation.

Claims Eligibility Criteria

• The nature of damage or loss under this program is that it is done suddenly and either accidentally or intentionally by a child or youth placed in the home.

• Claimant must be a foster caregiver with a current Family Care Home Agreement with the Ministry of Children and Family Development or with a Delegated Aboriginal Agency.

• Claim must be under the Rider Insurance Program deductible of $10,000. Damages or losses over $10,000 will be handled under the Rider Insurance Program.

• This program cannot provide assistance to repair damage caused by normal wear and tear.

• The UDL program is not a replacement for property insurance. This program is not accessible to cover damages above the rider deductible for those who are not insured. It is expected as part of the Family Care Home Agreement that foster parents have home or tenant insurance.

To learn more about the UDL Program, visit this link.

Collaborative Partnerships with Foster Caregivers: Understanding the Important Relationship between Foster Caregivers and MCFD/DAA Staff

This webinar was developed in partnership with MCFD’s Child Welfare Policy Team, as part of the implementation of the recent changes to Children and Youth in Care Policies and Resource Work Policies. It is a new orientation webinar intended for front-line ministry and DAA staff who work closely with foster caregivers.

The goals of the webinar session are:

•  To provide foster caregivers and front-line staff with a better understanding of the additions made to the Children and Youth in Care and Resource Work Policies
• To help strengthen the critically important relationship between foster caregivers and ministry/DAA staff
• To help to better understand each others’ roles and most importantly
• To improve the outcomes for children and youth in care through collaborative practice, information sharing and modelling problem-solving skills

The webinar will help to develop skills in collaborative relationship building, communication and problem-solving.

How was the webinar developed?

2009

The development of Foster Parent Rights was initiated by the BCFFPA, following up on Motions passed by the membership at provincial Annual General Meetings to provide additional clarity to the role of Foster Caregivers and strengthen their relationship with MCFD and DAA staff. The Rights were jointly developed between MCFD and BCFFPA over several years and completed in 2009 signed by Minister Mary Polack. The Foster Parent Rights are consistent with expectations outlined in the Family Care Home Agreement, ministry policies and Standards for Foster homes. The Rights were subsequently included the Foster Family Handbook in 2013 to help inform all new and current foster families and staff.

2019

There continues to be some lack of clarity among and between foster caregivers and MCFD and DAA staff of their respective critical roles and responsibilities in their working relationships, including a continued lack of awareness of foster parent rights and how to put them into action. Following meetings with the Deputy Minister and several Assistant Deputy Ministers, it was agreed that the BCFFPA would join the ministry in a working group focused on integrating the intention of Foster Parent rights into the relevant Children & Youth in Care and Resource Work Policies, while also ensuring greater consistency in messaging, information and role expectations across two sets of policies that guide the work with foster families.

The overall goal being to further strengthen our working relationships between MCFD/DAA staff and foster caregivers. The revised policies developed through this partnership working group demonstrate what can be achieved when working together.

2020/21

The joint working group completed the policy updates and enhancements that were released in May 2021. While staff had time to review the revised policies, the working group developed this webinar to highlight the key changes that continue to strengthen working relationships. Through better informing staff and foster caregivers of the key policy changes and how they can support their working relationships, MCFD and BCFPA are now looking to build on good teamwork taking place and to further enhance professional relationships to the benefit of children and youth in care.