Sent on Behalf of MCFD Vancouver Island Resources Team
We are writing to share information about changes underway in Resource Services on Vancouver Island and what these changes mean for you and the important role you play in caring for children and youth.
These changes are focused on strengthening support to caregivers, improving placement stability for children and youth, and ensuring Resource Services are better positioned to respond to increasing complexity and expectations.
Why Resource Services Are Changing
Across Vancouver Island, Resource Services are experiencing significant pressure, including:
- Increased complexity of children and youth coming into care
- Growing accountability and oversight requirements for family care homes, staffed homes, and kinship arrangements
- New policies, systems, audits, and compliance expectations
- Urgent need for recruitment and retention
- A greater need for therapeutic, stabilized, and culturally responsive placements
- The current structure has made it challenging for Resource staff to specialize and provide consistent, timely support across all placement types.
What Is Changing
Resource Services will be transitioning to two distinct service streams:
- SHSS (Staffed Homes Support Services)
- Family Care Homes / Kinship Care
This change is intended to ensure staff working with foster parents and kinship caregivers can focus more fully on:
- Supporting caregivers effectively
- Strengthening placement stability
- Improving communication and responsiveness
- Enhancing support, training, and oversight
What This Means for Foster Parents
For foster parents and caregivers, these changes are intended to result in:
- More specialized and consistent Resource worker support
- Improved placement matching and planning
- Clearer communication and expectations
- Stronger support when challenges arise
- Increased focus on caregiver sustainability and retention
You will not experience disruptions to your current placements as a result of this change. Some foster parents will experience a change in Resource workers.
What to Expect Over the Coming Months
- Continued support from your current Resource worker during the transition
- Ongoing communication as roles and processes are finalized
- Opportunities to ask questions and provide feedback
- A gradual shift toward the new structure, with the goal of full implementation by early summer
We recognize the essential role foster parents and caregivers play in the lives of children and youth. Your commitment, experience, and care are foundational to this work, and these changes are aimed at strengthening the support around you.
Thank you for your continued dedication and partnership as we move through this transition together.
With appreciation,
Huy ch q’u, GilaKas’la, Kleco Kleco, Maarsii
Kristie-Lynn Campbell
Director of Operations – Vancouver Island Kinship Care and Resources