On-Going Training

The CF Society provides support to foster parents through the development and implementation of on-going training opportunities to enable them to further their skills and knowledge development, network with colleagues and peers. They will learn to recognize the stresses and pressures they face as caregivers and acquire effective methods of dealing with them.

Education

Working cooperatively with the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development and the foster parents of the Vancouver Island Region, the CF Society shares the responsibility for providing meaningful Education, Support and Networking opportunities to caregivers in our fostering community. We work to establish a nurturing environment for caregivers—“A Supportive Culture”—that empowers the foster parents of the region to become involved, enriches their understanding of Ministry expectations, and increases their caregiver competency, awareness and accountability.

Within this context, services will reflect the individualized needs of the caregiver; flexibility to meet a diverse array of needs at any point in time; and understanding of MCFD policy and procedures.

Workshops

As well as providing foster parents with parenting information and training, the CF Society offers opportunities for on-going training based on their specific needs, the needs of the children and youth they serve, and the needs of the Ministry. The CF Society will determine the on-going training needs of caregivers, through feedback from caregivers, partnership meetings, and Ministry staff.

Workshop topics include, but are not limited to

A mentor is an experienced foster parent who has completed basic mentoring training. Mentors are selected with the following qualities in mind:

  • Trauma Informed Care
  • Self-Care for Caregivers
  • Understanding Grief and Separation
  • Attachment
  • Foster Parent Standards and Foster Family Handbook
  • Separation and Loss Experienced by Children in Care
  • Working with the Biological Family
  • Managing Difficult/Disruptive Behaviours in Children and Youth
  • Substance Use and Misuse
  • Developmental Milestones for Children and Youth In Care
  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome /Partial FAS and /Fetal Alcohol Effect
  • Transitions within and out of Care
  • Changes in MCFD Policies, Practices, and Standards

Caregivers are encouraged to access these important learning opportunities. These workshops are usually offered free of charge to foster parents. If there is room in the registration, CFS will often invite members from other community partners to attend (contingent upon topic and confidentiality issues). The CF Society will arrange workshops jointly with community partners to ensure foster parents are receiving the most meaningful and useful information on the most current parenting issues and concerns. Workshops are an excellent communication tool for foster parents that enable them to network with their peers, and learn more about their community and the services available.

Qualified & Knowledgeable

The FPSS Society provides foster parents with an effective feedback form for identifying useful, relevant training suggestions, and ideas. CF Society encourages foster parents and Ministry staff to contact the CF Society local Area Coordinator or the CF Society Regional office to express their training needs.
All suggestions will be given serious consideration by the organization and arrangements will be made to organize, schedule, facilitate, and deliver these relevant workshops whenever appropriate. CF Society maintains wait lists for workshops that reach maximum registration and additional training session are offered when feasible.

CFS provides participants with a Certificate of Attendance detailing workshop topic, presenter, and duration. These certificates are for their records, and that of their Resource Social worker to confirm they are keeping current with their training.

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.

 

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