BC Council for Families Annual Report 2011

for 35

outstanding

years!

BC Council for Families

Annual Report 2011

4 Annual Report 2011 BC COUNCIL FOR FAMILIES

The Honourable Mary McNeil,

Minister of Children and Family Development

“The BC Council for Families is a long-time

community partner that has been assisting

families and family-serving professionals

in BC for 35 years. This is a collaborative

partnership to help support healthy, safe

communities for children and youth of all

ages and cultures.”

Thank you for

35 outstanding years…

… to our members, donors and funders

for your support

… to our partners, collaborators and clients

for your commitment

… to families in BC and everywhere

for your love

This year, the BC Council for Families will celebrate 35 years of strengthening families in British Columbia. To all of our partners and supporters we’d like to say thank you for helping us make sure that families come fi rst in BC.

Since 1977 we’ve been working to ensure that families all across our province get the support they need, when they need it. Because support at the right time can mean that small challenges don’t grow into big problems, and that families are strong and healthy.

And from the beginning you’ve been working with us – our members, donors, funders, community and academic partners, volunteers, and supporters. Thank you for making these 35 years so successful. Thanks to your support, we’re prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

As we enter our 35th year, we’re proud of the progress we’ve accomplished in partnership with community agencies, stakeholders, governments, researchers, and families. Our record of success is a result of the power of those collaborations – a testament to how collective action fosters engagement, empowerment and results. Our focus will continue to be on generating collaborative work that families in BC need to grow and thrive.

BC COUNCIL FOR FAMILIES Annual Report 2011 1

As we get older, birthdays often become less about parties and

gifts, and more about self-refl ection. They can be opportunities to

think about where we’ve been, and about where we’re going.

So with the BC Council for Families turning 35 this year, it’s a good time to look back at our origins, to metaphorically turn the pages of our photo albums, and remember where we came from, why we’re here, and who we’re here for. That’s why in the pages of this annual report you’ll fi nd the comments and thoughts of a number of Council supporters and family champions from government, academia, and the social services sector, refl ecting on the contributions the Council has made to family life in BC, and on what still needs to happen for children and families in this province.

In it’s 35 years, the Council has brought positive change to many thousands of families in BC and beyond, yet none of it could have happened without the support and active participation of our partners in communities, in governments at all levels, in research and educational institutions, and in families. Looking back at our history of accomplishment, I am tremendously grateful to all of our many partners over the years, and to their dedication to strengthening and supporting the children and families of BC.

In the past year we have continued to build upon that history of collaboration and partnership, forging new links with family-serving organizations throughout BC and western Canada and strengthening long-standing partnerships. We are embarking on exciting new projects to bring information and skills to family-serving professionals in the area of separation and divorce, in fi nancial literacy, and in youth mental health, while maintaining our many parenting education and support programs, professional networks and communities of practice, and resource development and dissemination.

This year, as in the past several years, we saw budgets continue to shrink while community needs across the province grew. The challenge of doing more with less is one we’re determined to meet, by continuing to develop the strong partnerships and collaborations that will enable us to meet the changing needs of families. Relationships, after all, have been our raison d’etre for 35 years.

To everyone who has been a part of the Council’s work over the past 35 years: thank you for helping us make a difference for families. And as the BC Council for Families blows out the candles on it’s 35th birthday cake, I invite you to join us in wishing (and working) for a strong, healthy future for families in British Columbia.

MARILEE PETERS

Acting Executive Director, BC Council for Families

Executive Director’s Message


Education and Information to Support FamiliesThe parenting education and support programs of the BC Council for Families bring the power of prevention to work for the families of British Columbia. Offered throughout BC by trained facilitators, these programs make a difference in the lives of families across our province.

Nobody’s Perfect Parenting This support and education program enables parents of young children to safely share their experiences, challenges and concerns and receive support from skilled and knowledgeable facilitators. In 2011 over 1300 parents in BC gained skills and confi dence in their parenting abilities through a Nobody’s Perfect parenting group. The BC Council for Families delivers support, resources and professional development to 900 certifi ed Nobody’s Perfect facilitators province-wide.

Parent-Child Mother Goose Program®By bringing parents and their young children together to discover the pleasure and power of rhymes, songs and stories, the program built crucial early literacy skills and strengthened parent-child relationships for over 2000 BC families in 2011. Through the BC Council for Families, the nearly 1100 Parent-Child Mother Goose teachers in BC received the ongoing training, support, information and resources they need in order to continue to respond to the ever-changing issues and challenges that families face.

My Tween and Me Designed to help parents build a strong relationship with their children, the My Tween and Me parenting program gives parents the confi dence and skills to guide their children into – and through – the risky teen years. More than 105 parents across BC participated in this exciting new program in 2011.

Father Involvement Network of BCThe network brings information, resources, professional development and guidance to the dedicated practitioners who work with fathers in communities all across BC. Supporting father involvement is key to building healthy families. Children with involved fathers do better academically, socially, emotionally, and psychologically.

BC Alliance for Young Parents The Alliance brings together professionals who serve teen families in BC’s school based child care facilities, ensuring they have the resources, training, professional development and support to continue to meet the daily challenges of working with vulnerable young families. The Alliance brings more than 350 of BC’s dedicated professionals in young parent programs the support they need.

The Year in Review

Clyde Hertzman,

Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership

“BC families want to do what is best

for their children, but they need help

at all levels of society… Despite fi scal

challenges, it is time for BC, and for

Canada, to commit the necessary

resources and organizational effort to

solve these problems once and for all.

Our families deserve no less.”


Dr. Carol Matusicky, Past Executive Director BC Council for Families (1984-2007)

“We still need to work on recognizing the increasing challenges

facing families, especially young families, in our province – the

cost of housing, the time crunch, the challenge of balancing work

and family responsibilities, the lack of affordable and accessible

child care and, for far too many families in our province, the

high rate of poverty. I would urge the Council to keep being a

champion of progressive social policy that better supports our

current and future generations of children and families.”

BC Council for Families Annual Report 2009 4

The Council distributed over

30,000 family resources to families and

professionals this year

2548 adults and 2937 children

participated in Parent Child Mother Goose programs

Over 150 teachers received training in the Parent-Child Mother

Goose program®

Our twitter feed, BC_Families has nearly

700

followers, and 2500 people access our Facebook page

each month

More than 1300 parents in BC joined a Nobody’s

Perfect parenting group

72 new facilitators will deliver

the Nobody’s Perfect parenting program in their

communities

Our website and online resources received more than

70,000 visits in 2011/12.

105

parents in 15 communities attended My Tween and Me

parent support groups

160 participants attended the annual conference of the

Alliance for Young Parents

4000 readers throughout BC received the

HealthyFamilies e-newsletter each week this year

75 new and experienced home visitors

received Home Visitor Core Training

This year…


4

Home Visitor Training Initiative For families in situations of risk, where there are concerns about child development, parenting skills, or child safety, the support and intervention of a trained home visitor can be critical to that family’s success. In 2011 the Home Visitor Training Initiative helped 75 BC home visitors gain the knowledge and skills they need to bring a high level of service to BC families in need.

New and Upcoming ProjectsMakingCent$: Talking with Families about FinancesDevelopment of this exciting new workshop and resource package for family practitioners began in 2011. With funding from TD Financial Literacy Grant Fund, the Council will bring specialized fi nancial literacy resources to family practitioners in BC beginning in fall 2012.

Following the JourneyHow can we help young people deal with loss and grief? This workshop, based on the Council’s acclaimed documentary Left 2 Live, brings family practitioners together to discuss the needs of young people and families in the wake of suicide, to examine their practices, and to learn and grow.

Kids: The Heart of Co-parentingFunded by Justice Canada’s Supporting Families program, these online resources and workshops help family service professionals build key strategies to support families through separation and divorce, and enhance children’s adjustment through the transitions of divorce.

Engaging and Advocating for FamiliesThe right information at the right time can make a big difference for families. The BC Council for Families has a commitment to research, education and advocacy to promote the healthy development of families. For 35 years we have developed, and distributed practical resources for families and professionals.

HealthyFamilies Our free weekly e-newsletter for family service professionals has a subscription base of over 4000 regular readers. Readers rely on HealthyFamilies to stay updated on trends impacting families, new legislation, news, events, research, opinions and more, as well as happenings at the BC Council for Families.

Family ConnectionsThe quarterly magazine for family-service professionals delivers a toolbox of informative articles, reviews, skill-building tips, and advice to enhance readers’ professional and personal lives. Now available online at www.bccf.ca.

Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond,

BC’s Representative for Children and Youth

“Our view of what constitutes a family is

more generous and tolerant than it used

to be, and families are more diverse. The

acceptance of same sex marriage has

created a more respectful environment for

the rights of everyone, including children

and youth. We now talk more openly about

such issues as abuse and healthy child

development, and feel a duty to support

those who are vulnerable.”


Barbara L Graham, Past President BC Council for Families

“For 35 years, the BC Council for Families

has diligently and effectively brought

attention to strengthening the family

foundation… helping to strengthen

the future for our communities and our

province. Congratulations for reminding

us that family life builds the foundation

for all of life.”

Diana Elliott, Provincial Advisor,

Aboriginal Infant Development Programs of BC

“BC Council for Families is respectful

of culture and very supportive of all

families. Their training has enriched

our AIDP programs and services for

Aboriginal families.”

www.bccf.caOur website was visited over 70,000 times through 2011/12. Our weekly online poll took the pulse of family service professionals and BC families on subjects as diverse as community cohesion, causes of marital stress, needs of newcomer families, and policies for family-friendly workplaces.

Voices of FamilyAs part of our monthly professional development series of online audio interviews with experts in family services, we spoke this year with UBC’s Dr. Paul Kershaw, and with Janice MacAulay of Family Resource Programs Canada, among others.

Strengthening Partnerships and CollaborationsPartnerships, co-operation and collaboration with other non-profi t organizations, as well as with community agencies, academia, government and business, are key to making meaningful change happen for families in BC. At the BC Council for Families, we’re putting relationships with stakeholders and partners at the centre of our work, and focusing on building the networks that ensure that organizations across the province can work together, and work better, for families, children, youth and parents.

Through deliberate and strategic coordination with others, and by helping our partner organizations to achieve their goals, we’re building a strong non-profi t sector in BC.

The Council participates in the following provincial and national tables and committees:BC Healthy Child Development AllianceEarly Childhood Development Evaluation CommitteeECD RoundtableEast Vancouver Nobody’s Perfect Parenting ConsortiumFamily Literacy NetworkFather Involvement Research AllianceFirst CallGovernment Non Profi t InitiativeNational Father Involvement Advisory GroupNobody’s Perfect Parenting Program National/Provincial Revisions CommitteeSupporting All Children and Families Advisory Committee In 2011/12 the Council was a member of the following provincial, national and international organizations:BC Association of Family Resource ProgramsCanadian Association of Family Resource ProgramsCanadian Council on Social Development


Family Support InstituteFederation of Community Social Services of British ColumbiaNational Council on Family RelationsVanier Institute for the Family

Our Community PartnersCommunity Health Associates of BCKelly Aulneau Renewal Centre BC Association of Pregnancy Outreach ProgramsREACH Child and Youth Development SocietyAboriginal Training and Consulting ServicesAboriginal House of Friendship (Duncan BC)Vancouver Native Health SocietyAboriginal Child and Family Services SocietyHealthy Families YukonTillicum Lelum Penticton Health CentreSuccess By 6, Prince George & North CentralNational Collaborating Centre for Aboriginal HealthUK Fatherhood Institute

Our Research Partners BC Children’s Hospital Injury Reporting and Prevention Program, Child and Family Research InstituteKootenay Boundary Community Services Cooperative, Nelson, BC

Connecting with MembersOur members come from every region of the province, from diverse backgrounds and organizations. What they share is an abiding interest in and a heartfelt concern for the future of families in British Columbia. We thank our members for their confi dence and support. Through active partnerships with all of our members, we can achieve our vision: Healthy Families in a Healthy Society.

Further information about becoming a member of the BC Council for Families is available on our website at www.bccf.ca, or by calling our offi ces at 604-678-8884.

Financial StatementsComplete audited fi nancial statements are available upon request at: BC Council for Families, 208-1600 West 6th Ave, Vancouver BC, V6J 1R3 or by calling 604-678-8884.

Linda Reid, MLA Richmond East, BC

“We can all be wonderful parents on

the good days. On the other days the

BC Council for Families has a critical

role to play – providing information

and mentorship to those who may not

be looking for guidance. It’s a delicate

dance and one the Council shoulders

with aplomb.”

John Hoffman, Columnist,

Today’s Parent Magazine

“The Council makes sure that families

and their needs are a constant part of

public discussion in BC.”


President of the Board’s Message

It is with an “attitude of gratitude” that I offer up a few words for this,

our 35th, annual report. I have many things to be grateful for and

one of them is, without doubt, the opportunity it has been to have

served in this capacity for another year.

Many things have changed in the social service sector over this last year. People have come and gone, agencies have come and gone, and funding is more uncertain than ever before.

Two things are constant: our belief in the value and importance of families and our vision of “Healthy Families in a Healthy Society”… Together, they have been the fundamental core of our organization for the last 35 years. That belief and vision is not only unchanged, it is unwavering. The way we serve families, however, is changing.

As we move into the future, we will continue to support families in ways that are current, relevant and effectively meet their ever changing needs. To accomplish this, we will modify what we do accordingly. We will also focus on developing stronger and more meaningful partnerships with common cause organizations, government at every level, academia and private enterprise.

Our incredible staff continue to successfully fulfi ll the mandate of our organization and make things happen, in spite of all the uncertainty and challenge we and many others face in the sector. I know I speak for all of us on the Board of Directors when I express gratitude for their unprecedented efforts, creativity, commitment and unshakeable enthusiasm.

I’m grateful for the extraordinary efforts the members of our Board have put forward over the last year. The BC Council for Families has a Board that is one voice in the work we do to ensure that, in a fi scal environment that continues to challenge all of us in the sector, we are well positioned to continue to support the many children, youth, parents and other caregivers, who benefi t from our programs, services and resources.

I’m also very grateful for our funders and donors and for our former staff and Board members who have made it possible for us to be leaders and in the forefront of change, in service delivery to families. Together, we have accomplished much… what an incredible 35 years this has been for the Council and subsequently for BC. I invite you to join us in continuing to “build healthy families” in BC by supporting the efforts of the BC Council for Families.

SYLVIA TREMBLAY

President of the Board, BC Council for Families


Board, Staff and Supporters

Board of Directors

The BC Council for Families is fortunate to have a dedicated and diverse Board of Directors. Our Directors represent every region of BC, and all share a passion for supporting and strengthening families.

Sylvia Tremblay President Fraser

Paula Cayley Vice President Vancouver Coastal

Gail Brown Interior

Connie Canam (ex-offi cio member) Vancouver Coastal

Bella S. Cenezero Vancouver Coastal

Deb Day Vancouver Island Tim Fairgrieve Vancouver CoastalKathy Kendall Interior Lynn Locher Northern

John Thornburn FraserKatie Tichauer Vancouver CoastalBev Wice (ex-offi cio member)

Interior Victor Zhou Vancouver Coastal

Staff Team

BC Council for Families staff members bring a wide range of experience and diverse perspectives to the organization. Our staff members are passionately committed to our mission and values, and to achieving our vision of Healthy Families in a Healthy Society.

Marilee Peters Acting Executive Director

Lillian Qiao Finance Director

Jennifer Dales Programs Director (on leave)

Tina Albrecht Acting Communications Manager

Pilar Onatra Program Coordinator

David Sheftel Program Coordinator

Ruby Banga Program Coordinator

Beth Hutchinson Program Coordinator, Parent-Child

Mother Goose Program in BCCara Hykawy

Communications & Programs Assistant

Volunteers

We’re grateful to those who volunteered their time with the BC Council for Families in 2011/12.

Karen CheungCameron PaulPaula KnowlesBMO employees (United Way Day of Caring)

ContributorsOur thanks to those who contributed their time to writing the thoughtful, articulate stories featured in Family Connections, our quarterly magazine for family service professionals.

Ruby BangaMary Courchene

Karen CheungJennifer DalesDouglas DunnDianeEd FriesenSusan GamacheLinda GrayGlenn HopeBeth HutchinsonDawn IssacElaine IssacYuanyuan JiangCharlotte JohnsonKathy KendallCarol MatusickyJeff McleanNatalie MillerReesa PatersonLynne Peters

Marilee PetersNina PolkinghorneDavid SheftelLouise SmithShirley SterlingerSylvia TremblayAna Maria Tsougrianis Mary Ellen Turpel-LafondBenjamin Wong

IntervieweesA new initiative at the BC Council for Families is our monthly series of online interviews with experts, researchers and advocates in family issues. We’re grateful to all those who contributed their time and their words as interview subjects over the past year.

Jeff McleanLouise SmithEd FriesenMary DolanKathy PayneBrian RussellLaura Calderon de la BarcaMimi HudsonChristine ColbertJanene SwalwellJohn HoffmanPaul KershawJanice MacAuley

BC Council for Families208 – 1600 West 6th AveVancouver BCCanada V6J 1R3

Council for Families T 604 678 8884F 604 678 8886E [email protected]

Thank you for 35 outstanding years…Supporters

Our work is made possible through the generosity of the many partners and supporters who share the Council’s goals and our commitment to working on behalf of families. We are pleased to acknowledge their role in our successes throughout 2011/12.

Public Funders and FoundationsBell Canada Let’s Talk Community FundBC Ministry of Children and Family Development

BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor GeneralBC Provincial Health Services AuthorityJustice CanadaPostmedia Raise-A-Reader FoundationSocial and Enterprise Development Innovations (SEDI) -- TD Financial Literacy Grant FundTelus Community BoardVancouver Foundation

Private FoundationsChris Spencer FoundationTD Canada Trust

Charities and Non-Profi tsUnited Way of the Lower MainlandIndependent Order of Oddfellows

Private DonorsAndrea Beckler & John ThornburnFearon BlairMichael CareyErnst & Young LLP

Marilyn FaneLorelei Faulkner GibsonBarbara A FriesenJohn E. Hooper & Elaine L. HooperBeth HutchinsonMarilee PetersRCMP ‘E’ DivisionRBC Dexia Investor Services Trust Shirley Sterlinger

Gifts in KindZ1 DesignStamp

BC Council for Families Annual Report 2011

Documents

Transcript of BC Council for Families Annual Report 2011