Welcome to our new website! The Foster Parents Support Services Society (FPSSS) is now the Caring Families Society. We still are the same organization, supporting BC family caregivers with a wide range of education and support services.
Over the years both the language used to describe foster caregiving and the inclusiveness of the term have changed and evolved. Our old name, Foster Parents Support Services Society, used the term ‘foster parent’, which is still commonly used. We have updated this to ‘foster caregiver’ on the new site, to better include the broader fostering community, and reflect the changing role of caregivers. We’ve also expanded our services to be more inclusive of kinship and extended family caregivers, who play an increasingly central and acknowledged role in the fostering community.





Calendar of Events
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How to Care Give During Times of Grief and Loss
How to Care Give During Times of Grief and Loss
Tuesday, April 1st, 9:30am to 12:30pm Presented by Ashleigh Martinflatt Open to Foster Caregivers, Kinship/OOCO Caregivers, Social Workers, and others connected to fostering. Grief and loss are interwoven through the foster experience. Foster caregivers may be serving multiple placements with complex needs that can make dealing with the impacts of various grief and loss issues […]
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MCFD Partnership Meeting
MCFD Partnership Meeting
MCFD Partnership Meeting Wednesday, April 2nd, 9:30am to 11:00am MCFD Office, 15 Craig Street Participation can be in-person or via Teams. These gatherings are opportunities for foster caregivers and social workers to network, share information, ask questions, and identify common issues. MCFD office doors open at 9:00am and foster caregivers are welcome to come catch […]
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DBT Skills Workshop
DBT Skills Workshop
Thursdays, April 3rd to April 24th, 10:30am to 12:00 noon (Four Two-Hour Sessions) Facilitated by Laurel Collins TRITA (Two Rivers Intercultural Trauma Awareness) Open to Foster Caregivers, Out of Care/Kinship Caregivers, Contracted Agency Caregivers, and Community Professionals. These workshops will be participatory based with many skills that caregivers can take home and utilize immediately. They […]
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Upper Island Foster Caregiver/MCFD Partnership Meeting
Upper Island Foster Caregiver/MCFD Partnership Meeting
Foster Caregiver/MCFD Partnership Meeting Tuesday, April 8th, 9:30am to 10:30am MCFD Boardroom, 1334 Island Hwy (2nd Tuesday every second month) All foster parents, MCFD social workers, C&Y Mental Health Staff, and Foster Support staff invited. Share your fostering concerns, learn about MCFD updates, and discuss local fostering trends. Contact co-chairs, Tom Robinson at sunrisestart@hotmail.com or […]
Nanaimo Foster Caregivers Support Mornings
Nanaimo Foster Caregivers Support Mornings
Foster Caregivers Support Mornings Tuesday, March 11th, 10:00am to 11:30am Tuesday, April 8th, 10:00am to 11:30am #102-6421 Applecross Road, Nanaimo Come connect with other foster caregivers who understand the unique challenges and joys fostering can have. These Mornings include coffee/ tea, snacks, door prizes and optional crafts or activities. Foster caregivers, please check your emails […]
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Comox Valley Spring Fling
Comox Valley Spring Fling
Comox Valley Spring Fling Friday, April 11th, 4:00pm to 6:00pm Comox Valley Playhouse, #9 3080 Kilpatrick Avenue, Courtenay With the success of last years event our social committee would like you to save the date for this year’s Spring Fling! We have rented the whole CV playhouse for this social gathering of Children and Youth […]
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Comox Valley Foster Caregiver/MCFD Partnership Meeting
Comox Valley Foster Caregiver/MCFD Partnership Meeting
Comox Valley Foster Caregiver/MCFD Partnership Meeting Lunch and Learn Monday, April 14th, 12:00 noon to 1:00pm Topic: Levels Assessment Process In person, The Foundry Boardroom 575 10th Street Join us for lunch and learning. Our April partnership lunch and learn topic will be the Levels Assessment process with Resources Team Lead Shawna Stevenson. Please send […]
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Hope for the Journey
Hope for the Journey
Tuesday Mornings, April 15th, 22nd, April 29th, and May 6th, 9:30am to 12:30pm Facilitated and hosted by Dianne Thompson and Judy Hollywood Bonnett Show Hope’s Hope for the Journey Conference (formerly the Empowered to Connect Conference) seeks to encourage and better equip parents and caregivers meeting the everyday needs of children impacted by foster care […]
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Becoming a Behavioural Detective
Becoming a Behavioural Detective
Wednesday, April 16th, 9:00am to 4:30pm Facilitated by Kim Barthel, OTR This workshop is open to Foster caregivers, Out of Care /Kinship caregivers, and Social Workers province wide. In this virtual event Kim will teach about understanding and supporting complex behaviour, neuro-diverse affirming practice, developmental disabilities (FASD and ASD), and holistic, strength-based, culturally respectful interventions […]
Cowichan Valley Foster Caregivers Mornings
Cowichan Valley Foster Caregivers Mornings
Foster Caregivers Mornings Wednesday, March 19th, 9:30am to 11:30am Wednesday, April 16th, 9:30am to 11:30am Cowichan Community Center Nitnat Room, 2687 James Street These gatherings are a great way to connect with other foster caregivers who understand the unique challenges and rewards of fostering. As the March Morning is during spring break, children and youth […]
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Safe Babies Program Knowledge Exchange
Safe Babies Program Knowledge Exchange
Safe Babies Program Knowledge Exchange (Virtual) Thursday, March, 20th, 10:30am to 11:30am Topic: Period of PURPLE Crying for Caregivers Thursday, June 19th, 10:30am to 11:30am Topic: A.C.E.S. – what do we know about toxic stress To register for these events please use this link: https://learn.fpsss.com/courses/vi-sb-monthly/
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Upper Island Foster Caregivers’ In-person Coffee Meeting
Upper Island Foster Caregivers’ In-person Coffee Meeting
Foster Caregivers’ In-person Coffee Meeting March, No meeting (Spring Break) Tuesday, April 22nd, 10:00am to 11:30am Host: Tom Robinson (4th Tuesday of the month) Your CR Foster Parent Association welcomes all foster caregivers to attend their casual round the kitchen table gatherings which they host in members’ homes. The group offers confidential discussion and practical […]
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Sexual Health Training: Gender and Sexual Orientation
Sexual Health Training: Gender and Sexual Orientation
Wednesday, April 23rd, 6:30pm to 8:00pm Presented by Kerri Isham Open to Foster Caregivers and Kinship/OOC Caregivers. Let’s Celebrate diversity! In this workshop you will learn about… 1. What gender is and is not. 2. Identity 3. Gender Expression 4. Biological Sex 5. Sexual Orientation 6. The Gender Unicorn Kerri Isham is knowledgeable, experienced, and […]
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Safe Babies Meetings
Safe Babies Meetings
Safe Babies Meetings Thursday, March 27th, 11:00am to 1:00pm Thursday, April 24th, 11:00am to 1:00pm Safe Babies caregivers meet with Angela Hatch monthly, in-person to connect, support, and discuss information pertaining to the issues and care of vulnerable infants. They cover new protocols for homes and updated information. Guest speakers are sometimes invited.
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Comox Valley Safe Babies Group
Comox Valley Safe Babies Group
Comox Valley Safe Babies Group No meeting due to March Break Friday, April 25th, 10:00am to 11:00am In-person, Comox Valley Family Services Association, 1415 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay (4thThursday of the month) These gatherings feature discussions to keep your caregiving skills current and an opportunity to “check in” with fellow caregivers! Experienced caregivers and MCFD Resource […]
Bridge to Belonging Playgroup
Bridge to Belonging Playgroup
Bridge to Belonging Playgroup Friday, March 28th, 12:15pm to 1:30pm Friday, April 25th, 12:15pm to 1:30pm Tree Frog Room – Oliver Woods Community Center 6000 Oliver Road, Nanaimo Open to all Central Island Foster Families. This playgroup is on the fourth Friday of the month. Geared toward children aged 0-5, these sessions will include play-based […]
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Investigation and Resolution Support Worker Training
Investigation and Resolution Support Worker Training
Monday, April 28th and Wednesday, April 30th, 9:30am to 12:30pm Facilitated by Ros Pringle Open to Vancouver Island Caregivers. Caring Families Society is currently looking for volunteers to join our Investigation and Resolution Support team. The purpose of the Investigation and Resolution Support Worker Program is to provide support to foster caregivers who are involved […]
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Ladysmith-Nanaimo Foster Caregivers/MCFD Resource Partnership Meeting
Ladysmith-Nanaimo Foster Caregivers/MCFD Resource Partnership Meeting
Ladysmith-Nanaimo Foster Caregivers/MCFD Resource Partnership Meeting Tuesday, April 29th, 1:00pm to 2:00pm #102, 488 Albert Street Nanaimo and Virtually via Teams These meetings occur in the MCFD Board Room. They are great opportunities to connect with the Resource Team and other caregivers, ask questions, and learn about changes in MCFD policies and practices. MCFD will […]
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