Safe Babies Training Program

The CF Caring Families Society has a Mentor Program for Foster Parents.

If you are an experienced Foster Parent and wish to contribute to the quality of fostering practice, then this program may be for you.

The Safe Babies Program was developed in Victoria (1998) by Lenora Marcellus, in partnership with Capital Regional Health and the Ministry for Children and Families. The program was introduced in response to the increasing need for highly-skilled caregivers who could be trained specifically in meeting the special needs of infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs.

The Safe Babies Program was introduced in the Central and Upper Island Regions in 2000.

In the Vancouver Island Region, the Safe Babies Program, administered by the CF Caring Families Society, continues to provide education and support to Foster Parents, Social Workers and Community Partners who work with infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs and their caregivers.

Safe Babies Brochures

Please download these important Safe Babies documents for more information.

CF Safe Babies Brochure
Baby Steps – Caring for Babies with Prenatal Substance Exposure

The Safe Babies Training Program

Consists of four intensive modules addressing the following topics:

  • Understanding the impact of substance misuse during pregnancy
  • The effects of alcohol and other drugs on the body
  • Acute withdrawal in the newborn
  • Neuro-developmental support of infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs
  • Health issues for infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs
  • Partnership with natural families
  • Care for the Caregiver

The Safe Babies Program is committed to providing relevant support, training and consultation to foster parents in the Central and Upper Vancouver Island Areas.

Support

  • The Safe Babies Program Liaison will provide pre-placement consultation to new Safe Babies caregivers and provide ongoing consultation as required.
  • The Safe Babies Program Liaison is available to provide ongoing telephone consultation to existing Safe Babies caregivers.
  • Safe Babies caregivers will be contacted regarding current information and Regional training opportunities pertaining to infants prenatally exposed to alcohol and other drugs and their families.

Training

  • The Safe Babies Program will continue to offer the intensive Safe Babies Training in each area as indicated by the level of need and interest.
  • Ongoing educational opportunities will be provided to Safe Babies Caregivers and Social Workers.

Consultation

  • The Safe Babies Program Liaison is available to provide consultation to Ministry of Children and Family Development Social Workers and Community Partners who are working with Safe Babies infants and caregivers.
  • The Safe Babies Program Liaison will maintain current information regarding prenatal substance exposure and related issues.
  • Some of this resource material may be available for loan.
Rotman Award 2010 Project

The Rotman Project

Foster Parent Support Services Society, BC Ministry of Children and Family Development, VI Health Authority, BC Safe Babies Programs, and Sick Kids Foundation

September 15, 2010

The Foster Parent Support Services Society of Vancouver Island is pleased to announce that they are the recipient of The Rotman Award for Paediatric Home Care Innovation. The $100,000 award recognizes the commitment to innovation and best practices of the program and the exemplary work of the FPSS Society, the Vancouver Island Collaborative Safe Babies Committee, and the provincial Safe Babies Program network.

The Safe Babies Program supports infants from birth to three years of age who have been placed in the care of the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development. Foster parents and social workers receive training and support so that infants in the foster care system who have experienced prenatal exposure to alcohol or drugs are cared for in safe environments that support optimal physical, cognitive and emotional development.

“The value of the Safe Babies program and the difference that it makes for foster parents and the babies in their care is immeasurable,” said Margaret Howley, Executive Director of FPSSS. “Infants with prenatal substance exposure have complex needs and require extra support to have their daily needs met during the first years of life. The Safe Babies program creates better outcomes for the infants as well as for the caregivers who have access to education and a support network when caring for high risk infants.”

Dr. Lenora Marcellus, an Assistant Professor of Nursing at the University of Victoria and one of the original researchers in the development of the Safe Babies Program, continues to be actively involved in the program and is also a Board Member of the Foster Parent Support Services Society. “These are infants with great resiliency and capacity to develop,” said Dr. Marcellus. “It is important that foster parents are supported to provide an environment that contributes to optimal health for infants in their care.”

The Rotman Award for Paediatric Home Care Innovation was created five years ago by SickKids Foundation and generously supported by Janis Rotman. Its purpose is to ultimately improve home and community healthcare and treatment for the Canadian children and youth who make up almost 15 per cent of all home care recipients.
“Congratulations to Foster Parent Support Services Society on their truly impactful program, Safe Babies,” said Pam Gilliland, grants officer, National Grants at SickKids Foundation. “The Rotman Award prides itself on recognizing only the best and most innovative home care programs for children and youth in the country. Safe Babies is more than representative of the award’s values and we’re happy to recognize them.”

The funds from the award will be used to update and expand the Foster Parent Safe Baby Training. The award ceremony takes place at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto on Sunday, September 19, 2010.

For More Information, Contact Us

Call us toll free at 1-888-922-8437 or
email admin@fpsss.com.
Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 4:00pm
Fridays, 8:30am to 1:00pm

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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