Western Region Fostering Focus Team Minutes

Western Region Fostering Focus Team Minutes

January 5, 2017

Lunenburg District Office

Present: Gary Landry, Laurie d’Entremont, Melanie Mood Deveau, Pam Gosse-Macdonald, Debbie Thibault, Nancy Parker, Joy Sweeney, Ethel Wentzell, Joanne Mutton, and Jill Barkhouse via phone and Annette Davidson.

Regrets: Kim Brown, Joanne Frost-Trimper, Nancy Baker

Review of Minutes:

Minutes from September 8, 2016-completed

Business Arising:

1)  Minute taker for future meetings: March 9, 2017 (Gary Landry), June 8, 2017 (Jill Barkhouse), September 7, 2017 (Debbie Thibault)

2) Adoption Support- Joanne questioned if there is a way to support adoptive parents with children they’ve adopted. Matt Cameron post-adoption worker works with adoptive parents. Recently, Matt Cameron and Melissa McNeil, FOT, provided a workshop to adoptive parents. PRIDE training opportunities are shared via Matt Cameron, Post Adoption Services, to adoptive parents.

3) Rapid Respite- The Federation of Foster Families will update the form to include training. Training will not be mandatory but optional.

4) AGM- May 26, 27, 28, 2017 at the Best Western Hotel in Liverpool (Western Region). Invites will be sent to Service Delivery Managers and Directors to send out to staff.

5) Planning Spring Forum 2017-

PROPOSED AGENDA- Forum on Successful Outcomes for Children in Care

10am-Opening from First Nations and/or African Nova Scotians (Melanie and Annette)

10:15am-Update on previous forum (Jill and Laurie)

10:30am-Spiderweb Exercise (Melanie and Annette)

11am-12noon-Youth Panel (Pam and Julie)

12-1pm-LUNCH ON SITE

1pm-2pm-Coordinator Panel with updates on Amendments as it relates to better outcomes for CinC

(Vicki Black, Shauna Clark, Kelly Besler, Mary Craig, Stacey Greenough)

2pm-2:45pm-Panel of Caregivers-Residential, Foster Parents, Adoptive Parents, Children in Care Social Workers

2:45pm-3pm-Supporting Success (SHYFT, ESIA, PORTAL, Art Fisher, etc)

3pm-Closing remarks

Proposing 2 forums, one on South Shore (Liverpool-Best Western) and one on Valley side (Apple Dome, Berwick).

Next Steps: Laurie d’Entremont to review proposed Forum agenda with Sean Marshall, Director of Service Delivery. If approved, Laurie will send an email to Jill Barkhouse who will set up conference call with group.

Minutes completed by Laurie d’Entremont,

January 6, 2017