FREE Workshops for Foster Caregivers Fall 2024
Foster parents, get your continuing education hours!
Registration is now open for our free, full-day workshops in Prince George, Langley, and Richmond this Fall.
OCTOBER 24, 2024 (THURSDAY) – PRINCE GEORGE
Prestige Treasure Cove Resort (2005 Cariboo Hwy, Prince George) from 8:00AM – 3:00PM
What To Do When Things Get Out of Control: An Attachment-Based Perspective on Self-Regulation and Managing Other Attachment Seeking Behaviour in Children 0-19yrs.
In What To Do When Things Get Out of Control: An Attachment-Based Perspective on Self-Regulation and Managing Other Attachment-Seeking Behaviour in Children 0-19yrs, we will explore the links between attachment needs, trauma, and developmental stages in children and youth 0-19 years of age. The goal of this workshop is to enable foster caregivers to understand behaviours and equip you to respond when children/youth act out. This will be a fun and interactive workshop, including roleplaying scenarios and space for questions.
Speaker: Amanda Oliver
Amanda Oliver, BCFPA’s Provincial Community Strategist & Director of Advocacy, holds a wealth of knowledge and experience from occupying a range of roles as a social worker for the Ministry of Children and Family Development for over twenty-seven years. Within this time, Amanda has worked directly with and on behalf of foster caregivers, and has been dedicated to improving outcomes in the fostering sector by
actively training, supporting, and promoting best practice approaches for foster caregivers. Amanda understands the challenges which foster caregivers face in meeting the complex needs of children and youth in their homes, while also facing the often-competing demands that our system of care imposes.
To learn more about Amanda, read their letter of introduction.
Speaker: Stephanie Carr
Stephanie Carr has vast and varied experience supporting children and youth in care, both personally and professionally. Her blended family has been fostering for the past fourteen years, enabling her to learn through experience the many and ever evolving complexities that face children and youth in care today. Stephanie works with the Foster Parent Support Program at Axis Family Resources, as an integral part of a dedicated team of advocates. Through her work she assists in ensuring that voices of children/youth are heard, their connections to biological family are respected and valued, and their cultural diversity is honored in both short term and permanency planning. An understanding of attachment and the idea of behavior as a form of communication has been paramount in my work not only in my own family, but in the work supporting foster caregivers in their journey. I am passionate about sharing connection, regulation and behavior management strategies from an attachment-based lens with goal of preserving placements and supporting families.
NOVEMBER 20, 2024 (WEDNESDAY) – LANGLEY
Coast Langley City Hotel & Convention Centre (20393 Fraser Hwy, Langley) from 8:00AM-3:00PM
What To Do When Things Get Out of Control: An Attachment-Based Perspective on Self-Regulation and Managing Other Attachment Seeking Behaviour in Children 0-19yrs.
In What To Do When Things Get Out of Control: An Attachment-Based Perspective on Self-Regulation and Managing Other Attachment-Seeking Behaviour in Children 0-19yrs, we will explore the links between attachment needs, trauma, and developmental stages in children and youth 0-19 years of age. The goal of this workshop is to enable foster caregivers to understand behaviours and equip you to respond when children/youth act out. This will be a fun and interactive workshop, including space for questions.
Speaker: Amanda Oliver
Amanda Oliver, BCFPA’s Provincial Community Strategist & Director of Advocacy, holds a wealth of knowledge and experience from occupying a range of roles as a social worker for the Ministry of Children and Family Development for over twenty-seven years. Within this time, Amanda has worked directly with and on behalf of foster caregivers, and has been dedicated to improving outcomes in the fostering sector by
actively training, supporting, and promoting best practice approaches for foster caregivers. Amanda understands the challenges which foster caregivers face in meeting the complex needs of children and youth in their homes, while also facing the often-competing demands that our system of care imposes.
To learn more about Amanda, read their letter of introduction.
An Appreciative Inquiry Learning Event: Discussing Advocacy, Retention, and Building Effective Support Systems
The calling to be a foster caregiver is not always an easy one. To open your hearts and your homes to the children of families in crisis, sometimes invites monumental challenges, as well as many rewards. The work can be isolating and overwhelming at times, especially without a proper support system in place.
This conversation-centered workshop will begin with breakout discussion groups on the topics of advocacy, supports, building relationships, and finding networks. Following our discussion groups, we’ll speak to the common threads that emerge. In this workshop we invite you to connect, network, teach and learn as we explore how your communities can care for you in a way that enables you to continue bringing your best to caring for the children and youth in your homes. Please join us and lend your insights to positive impact fostering in BC.
Speaker: Amanda Oliver
Amanda Oliver, BCFPA’s Provincial Community Strategist & Director of Advocacy, holds a wealth of knowledge and experience from occupying a range of roles as a social worker for the Ministry of Children and Family Development for over twenty-seven years. Within this time, Amanda has worked directly with and on behalf of foster caregivers, and has been dedicated to improving outcomes in the fostering sector by
actively training, supporting, and promoting best practice approaches for foster caregivers. Amanda understands the challenges which foster caregivers face in meeting the complex needs of children and youth in their homes, while also facing the often-competing demands that our system of care imposes.
To learn more about Amanda, read their letter of introduction.
Facilitator: Taiah Repstock
In her role as BCFPA’s Community Network Coordinator, Taiah Repstock organizes workshops, events, regional calls with foster parents, and any number of engagement opportunities. With experience in moderating and facilitating meaningful conversations, she skillfully identifies key themes and captures insights from group discussions. Driven by her passion for strengthening and nurturing community networks, organizing educational opportunities, and empowering caregivers, Taiah is dedicated to fostering collaboration and support within our community.
- Workshops are exclusive to foster caregivers.
- Attendees can only register for the workshop within their region. BCFPA is hoping to continue these workshops annually and we will rotate topics and have more dates/topics to offer.
- First come, first served. Maximum of 50 attendees per workshop.
- Breakfast will be served at 8:00AM, and a Territorial Welcome & Opening Prayer by an Elder will begin at 9:00AM. Lunch and coffee break refreshments will be provided.
- Reimbursements available for mileage over 40km (round trip) at the rate of $0.61/km. Please be advised that this is available up to a maximum of $600.
- Children aged 0-3 are welcome to attend alongside caregivers. We just ask that attendees remain mindful of others when doing so.
- Childcare is NOT provided at the event but reimbursements are available for childcare up to a maximum of $200 per household (with receipt).
- Parking at all venues is complimentary.
- BCFPA will not be offering complimentary rooms at any of the venues.
- Reimbursements available through BCFPA. All reimbursement forms (with receipts) must be completed and submitted within two weeks of the workshop that you attended.
