The FBCYICN is wanting your input and feedback! If you’re 14-24 years old and in/from care in BC please take the time to fill out this survey.

The deadline is Monday Feb 27 at 9am.

if you have any questions please contact Sam Pothier at 1800 565 8055/ 604 527 7762 ext 108 or at sam_pothier@fbcyicn.ca

The Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks is looking for some interested young people (14-24 years old) who are in or from government care in British Columbia who would like to attend Gathering our Voices conference in Nanaimo, BC from March 20- March 23, 2012

DEADLINE TO APPLY IS MARCH 8 @ 4:30PM

The BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres & Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre are proud to host: Gathering Our Voices 2012 from March 20-23, 2012. The 10th Annual Aboriginal Youth Conference will be held in Nanaimo, British Columbia on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw peoples at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, The Coast Bastion Hotel and The Port Theatre. This year’s theme is “A Generation on the Move”.

Aboriginal Youth aged 14-24 are invited to take part in a dynamic conference that will focus on many important issues including Health, Language, Culture, the Environment, Employment, Education, Sports and Recreation. Many workshops, cultural activities, an interactive Career and Education fair, evening entertainment and afternoon sport and recreation activities will be offered.

For more information and to apply for this conference click GOV application form 2012

All costs associated with attending the Gathering Our Voices conference will be covered by the FBCYICN. Costs include registration fees, meals, travel, hotel, and childcare.

If you have any questions please call Sam Pothier at 1 800 565 8055 (ext 108) or email at sam_pothier@fbcyicn.ca

DREAM FUND BURSARY

The Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks (FBCYICN) is a youth-driven, provincial, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of young people in and from care in BC, between the ages of 14 and 24. Three times a year the FBCYICN distributes two bursaries from our Dream Fund to young people in and from care or young people currently on or have received Youth Agreements.

• Education Achievement Bursary and assists youth in and from government care who plan to attend, or are attending, a designated post-secondary academic institution with the costs of tuition and books. This bursary is worth up to $2,500 per academic year (two semesters).

• Reach for Success assists young people in and from care with the financial costs associated with workshops, tutoring, attendance at conferences, or participation in other skill building activities, like driver’s lessons, first aid, or one-time attendance certificates, that require a registration fee. Applicants can apply for up to $500 once per year.

For more information and to apply download our new applications from http://fbcyicn.ca/programs/education/dream-fund/

THE DEADLINE FOR THIS BURSARY IS FRIDAY March 09, 2012 at 4:30 pm  

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Sam Pothier at (604) 527-7762 ext 108 or sam_pothier@fbcyicn.ca

We’re hosting McCreary Centre Society to conduct a consultation with our thoughtful and informed Lower Mainland members on March 1st. They’re looking to get your feedback on their report about the health of youth in and from care, and your ideas on how best to share the information from the report with young people and allies around the province; this is an opportunity to help make sure the info is used effectively to promote needed changes.

The workshop is scheduled for later in the day so more of you can come (4:30-7:00), and there’ll be snacks and gift cards for participants. Check out McCreary Centre Society’s consultation poster! RSVP to Stephanie at McCreary (see the poster), and contact Lisa at the Fed with any questions:) powerpages@fbcyicn.ca/604-353-3525/Facebook

Help prepare Power Pages magazines to be sent to our youth members, adult allies and partner agency contacts! This means working with a team of volunteers to put the magazine into envelopes and then stamping and labeling the envelopes.  We make it feel like a party with treats and fun conversation; and your help is so important in getting Power Pages out.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Arrive on time, be prepared to go over instructions and get right to work
• Complete assigned tasks which include:
• Stamping envelopes with FBCYICN stamp
• Putting mailing labels on envelope
• Stuffing envelope with requested number of Power Pages
• Passing packages over to supervising staff to add postage
• Taking the packages to the mailbox
• Have fun!  

Skills/Knowledge we’re looking for:

• Be on time
• Willingness to stay on-task and keep organized

Training provided and required:

• General Orientation to the Distribution Assistant role

What you’ll get:

• Youth volunteer hours counted towards honorarium (for every 20 hours, receive $100)
• Volunteers staying for 4+ hours will have lunch provided
• Will be acknowledged of your volunteered time in the next edition of Power Pages
• Reference if requested
• Invitation to future Volunteer Appreciation Events

Office closed Monday and Tuesday, Feb 13th and 14th. See you Wednesday!

Monday February 6th the FBCYICN office will be closed. See you Tuesday!

COR would like to invite you to join us for an art show of youth artwork that was created this past fall. The
art work was done by youth in and from care from across BC. At the October SCM the FBCYICN held we had youth submit over 30 pieces of work. Along with the art show there will be entertainment from Chris Tait. There will be light snacks as well. We are really looking forward in seeing all your smiling faces and amazing
company.

You are invited to join us in an art
show

When: February 2^nd 2012

Where: The Federation of BC Youth In Care Networks

625 Agnes Street: Suite 500         New
Westminster

Time: 3:30pm-6:30pm

There will be light refreshments
provided. Please come and appreciate the art work of the youth that will be
going out for display in MCFD offices throughout the region. We are looking
forward to seeing all the friendly faces.

For more information you can contact
either Dawn Johnson or Nathan Parnell at 604-660-5637

Dear Members,

I have been thinking a lot these days about change and transition. For those of you who don’t know, I have a new job with MCFD – Executive Director of Service in Fort St John. It’s a big change for me – a new community, new co-workers and a new challenge.

The biggest struggle for me in accepting this new position was that it would affect how I would be able to work with the Network. You see, it’s a pretty senior government position [editor's note: he's kind of a big deal at MCFD] so some folks  (including some members) may wonder if I would be able to separate these two roles enough to properly be the FBCYICN board chair or know what “hat” I am wearing, when. This is called a “perception of conflict of interest.”

I discussed it with my boss and the rest of the Fed board and realized that it would be impossible to be the board chair and not discuss the contract we have with MCFD. At first, I thought it would be enough to step down as board chair and stay on the board in another capacity. In the end, however, it isn’t enough; my boss has asked that I step down from the board altogether because of the perceived conflict of interest. I struggled with this and thought long and hard about leaving an organization that I have been a part of for so long; I realized I am not really leaving, my role is just changing.

I originally came to the Network as an adult volunteer in my capacity as Director of Child and Youth Services for the Public Guardian and Trustee (PGT). Coming to work with a youth-driven organization was a tough transition for me because I had been a social worker for a long time and thought I knew everything about youth in and from care! I struggled to learn to listen to young people but, with the help of folks like Theresa, Nicole, Sam and many others, I began to make the transition. I had to put aside many years of education, experience and ego to learn how to actually listen to young people-let them lead and learn from them. I had many teachers throughout that part of my transition, including Jessy, Amanda, Nathan and Jamie (just to name a few).

My next transition occurred when I left the PGT and was invited to join the FBCYICN board. I was both honoured and terrified- I wasn’t sure I would measure up against the awesome people on the board or be acceptable to you, the members. This transition was incredibly smooth because I had so much support from other board members and youth members. I was equally honoured to be elected by you!! I was also pleased to be asked to chair the board, which I did for the next four years. I have been truly blessed to build relationships with the awesome young people who are part of this organization and have fond memories of so many wonderful events together.

This recent transition (leaving the board) was one I was not expecting. I, like so many of you, am still working through the change from Jocelyn to Lorena. I worked very closely with Jocelyn for the past four years and will miss our close and professional relationship. To then have to step off the board was challenging for me, but I am really pleased that Lynell has stepped into the role of board chair. I have relied on her wisdom and calm approach within the board in her previous role as treasurer. I think that she will lead the organization into great success with Lorena and the next Executive Director.

Now, I’m pondering my move to Fort St. John to start my new job and I’m realizing how much I’m looking forward to this position—a return to an adult support role. I am most looking forward to getting back to spending time with young people and learning from them. I also think this transition means that I am able to take all of the learning, experiences and your voices to a senior position in MCFD, where I hope that I can influence and change the system to improve the lives of young people in and from care.

Even though I am moving on from the board, I will continue to be a supportive ally to the board and the organization, and would love to keep in touch with you all. You can reach me on Facebook or by e-mail at:

ed.o.berry@gmail.com

All the best,

Ed

So here’s the scoop.

We’ve officially begun the task of finding a new permanent executive director, and we are going to keep you updated about how this process is going and how you can get involved here, on the website—in “Project Find a New ED!” posts.

The ED Hiring Committee (a small sub-group of the board which now includes: Sandy, Lynell and I, with Sam as a staff support) met last Thursday to talk about the process that we are going to follow for the selection of a permanent FBCYICN executive director.

There will be two phases. Phase 1 is shorter term, hopefully 2-3 months long, and will be focused on figuring out a process and criteria for choosing an ED.

Phase 2 will be a longer phase and will include interviewing candidates and submitting our recommendations to the board.

The ED Hiring Committee is not yet complete! We need Federation youth members and alumni from across the province to join. The makeup that we are looking for in the committee is three youth members, two alumni, three board members and one staff. Those who are involved in the first phase may stay on the committee for the second phase if they wish.

Since the main job of any board, including ours, is hiring and evaluating the ED of their organization (the ED reports directly to the board—the board is like their boss), the final selection of the executive director will be done by the board as a whole. But the board is going to take very seriously the recommendations put forth by the ED Hiring Committee in making their decision.

We are going to do our best to keep everyone in the loop with this exciting hiring process and will be writing posts along the way to keep everyone informed. For more information, or to get involved, please check out our volunteer posting on the website or facebook (link here)

Thanks for Reading!

Jessy

ED Hiring Committee, Board Member At-Large