IMPORTANT: Please read before filling out the registration form.

REGISTRATIONS: Please submit one form per attendee. This form is also available in a fillable PDF version. All registration forms must be received by the BCFPA Provincial Office by September 20, 2024.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Accommodation and parking are NOT included in the registration fee. Book your stay at the Penticton Lakeside Resort before September 15, 2024 to receive BC Foster Parents Association’s discounted room rate of $195 for a King or Two Queen Cityview room. To book use this link.

CANCELLATION and REFUND POLICY: Refunds (minus a $20 cancellation fee) will only be made for cancellations received in writing to office@bcfosterparents.ca by September 20, 2024. You are welcome to name an alternate participant. There will be NO refunds for non-attendance.

CHILDCARE: Childcare is not provided for the AGM and Conference Event.

FOOD ALLERGIES & SENSITIVITIES: We make every effort to accommodate food allergies and sensitivities in our menu choices, however we cannot guarantee the hotel is able to provide well balanced meals or menus for those who have more specialized dietary needs.

This form is currently closed for submissions.

There’s so much to look forward to:

• Giveaways
• Catered meals
• Two (2) full-day workshops to choose from. The topics include:
  • Indigenous Cultural Safety
  • Embracing Connection: A Trauma Informed Approach to Foster Care with EFFT
• Guest Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Charlesworth
• Live entertainment with DJ Beau
• Luxurious prizes up for grabs at our Camps for Kids Fundraiser!

The Ministry of Children and Family Development is supporting this year’s BCFPA AGM and Conference. Bursaries will be given to foster caregivers in each service delivery area which will cover the cost of your AGM registration fee ($350 value). Winners of full bursaries will also receive a cheque to assist with expenses such as mileage, hotel accommodation, parking, meals, and childcare. The cheque will be available to bursary winners at the AGM. The amounts will vary as we have implemented a fair and equitable process based on the location of the AGM & Conference.

• Twelve (12) bursary winners from the Coast Fraser region will receive $850.
• Eight (8) bursary winners from the Vancouver Island region will receive $950.
• Eight (8) bursary winners from the Interior region will receive $700.
• Eight (8) bursary winners from the Northern region will receive $1,150.
• Eighteen (18) winners will receive a registration-only bursary.

If you would like to have an opportunity to receive one of the bursaries, please fill out our online application form below.

You can also send us the following information by mail, e-mail or fax by July 19, 2024:

1.  Your full name, complete address, email address and at least one phone number where we can contact you.

2.  Who is your contract with? (MCFD, Indigenous Child and Family Services Agency or other agency)

4.  Applicant contract status will be verified.

5.  Name and contact information of your Resource Social Worker (email address and phone number).

6.  Send the above information to BCFPA by e-mail, fax or regular mail to:

Email: office@bcfosterparents.ca

Address: 208-20641 Logan Avenue, Langley, BC V3A 7R3

Fax: 604-544-2223

Winners will be notified by email by August 1, 2024.

This form is currently closed for submissions.

This form is currently closed for submissions.

We’re excited to announce that BC Foster Parents Association’s Provincial Community Strategist (Director of Advocacy) is now in place.  The Strategist’s goal is to work in partnership with MCFD to address the obstacles we see and to advocate for streamlined practices within our fostering community.  Please join us in welcoming Amanda Oliver to our team!

Read their letter of introduction for further information.

Amanda will be joining us at AGM 2024 in Penticton.  We look forward to seeing you there!

BC Foster Parents Association is excited to hold our 57th annual AGM & Conference in Penticton, BC from October 4th, 2024 through October 5th, 2024.

Book your stay at the Penticton Lakeside Resort for BCFPA’s 2024 AGM & Conference before September 15th, 2024 to receive our discounted rate of $195/night for a King or Two Queen Cityview room.

Please follow the link to book rooms directly with the Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Center.

For stays outside of the group’s room block dates, guests will have to contact the Hotel directly by phone (1-800-663-9400) or by email (lakeside@rpbhotels.com) and identify themselves as members of the BCFPA to receive the special guest room rate. All reservations must be guaranteed with a credit card.

JANUARY 25, 2024 (THURSDAY) – BURNABY

Executive Suites Hotel and Conference Centre (4201 Lougheed Highway, Burnaby) from 8:00AM – 3:00PM

Cultivating Resilience and Helping Children and Teens Thrive through Secure Attachments 

Caring for children can be a daunting endeavor at the best of time. Yet even more challenging can be caring for children who have had a background of separation from primary caregivers, may have experienced wounding or trauma, may have special support needs, neurodiversity, or other challenges experienced in their lifetime. Although extremely rewarding, foster caregivers may face a host of emotional and behavioral challenges from the children and teens in their care. Through a developmental lens, Colleen Drobot will uncover the roots of anxiety, and aggression as well as oppositionality and defiance in children. She will help make sense of how attachment is meant to unfold, how foster caregivers can provide a secure attachment, cultivate resilience, and confidently handle the challenges their foster children and families may face. She will also recommend some safe practices that can create more security and build relationships for children and teens. Through stories, examples, and theory, Colleen will suggest ways in which foster caregivers can help support children to find psychological and emotional rest in their world. 

Speaker: Colleen Drobot 

• B.Ed., Dip. Of Special Education, M.A.
• Registered Professional Counsellor (RPC)
• Adjunct Faculty, Neufeld Institute

FEBRUARY 22, 2024 (THURSDAY) – PARKSVILLE  

Mary Klovance, the Owner and Clinical Director of The Neurodiversity Family Centre, brings a wealth of personal and professional experience to her work. With a background shaped by her lived experience as a person with ADHD, Mary is a passionate advocate for Neurodiversity Affirming practices. Over her 12-year career as a school counselor and five years working with youth-at-risk for Victoria’s Youth Empowerment Society, she has honed her approach, guided by the Collaborative & Proactive Solutions Model. Mary’s dedication extends beyond her practice, as she serves as a board member for the Institute of Neurodiversity’s new Canadian chapter, contributes to the Greater Victoria School District Accessibility Advisory Group, and actively engages as a local public speaker. Mary’s goal is to educate and empower both youth and adults through a strength-based lens, fostering understanding, validating experiences, and guiding individuals toward success defined on their terms. 

Credentials: 

Suicidality and Trauma 

The focus of this workshop is to provide an understanding of the complexity of Suicidality and Trauma and address how cultural awareness can have a large impact on youth wellness. The hope is that foster parents can garner a deeper understanding of how to address both suicidality and trauma, de-mystify the concepts, and provide confidence on how to address these within their own homes and families. 

Trigger and Content Warning: We acknowledge that each of our attendees comes to the workshop with their own unique life experiences. This contributes to the way you perceive various types of information. This workshop will cover a variety of topics which you may find triggering, or mentally or emotionally challenging. We encourage you to take the necessary steps for your emotional safety. This may include leaving the room while a certain topic is being discussed or seeking support.

Speaker: Sebastien Jordan, RCC

Sebastien is a counsellor based out of Kelowna with a vast experience working with youth and families. His specialization is in Parent-Child Interactions which aims to look at dynamics between children and their caregivers to address both behavioural and mental health related concerns. A large focus of this work targets parenting style, communication, and structure within the family unit. 

Sebastien began his career working in residential live-in programs focusing on the stabilization and assessment of youth. He has worked in both long-term and short-term group home settings, working with government and non-government organizations to give families necessary supports to provide their children with a safe and supporting environment.