Letter from the Honourable Katrine Conroy re: Foster Family Month

Letter from the Honourable Katrine Conroy

From: Kuharic, Rhea MCF:EX Rhea.Kuharic@gov.bc.ca Sent: October-04-17 12:56 PM To: Info Address Subject: Letter from the Honourable Katrine Conroy

Ref: 233709

His Worship Mayor David Screech and Council Town of View Royal E-mail: info@viewroyal.ca

Dear Mayor Screech and Council:

As the new Minister of Children and Family Development, I am honoured and delighted to proclaim October as Foster Family Month. This is the 27th Anniversary of Foster Family Month in British Columbia – a time to acknowledge, celebrate and express our appreciation to foster caregivers for their incredible commitment and support to the children, youth and their families in our communities.

The Ministry of Children and Family Development and Delegated Aboriginal Agencies provide supports and services in your community. With approximately 6,900 children and youth in care across British Columbia, government relies on caregivers to provide day-to-day stability, care, and support to the children and youth placed in their care.

Foster Family Month is a wonderful opportunity to express our gratitude and thank caregivers for their many years of service to the fostering community and the citizens of this province. Foster caregivers are a crucial component of the child welfare system and we depend on these individuals to fulfill this challenging and important role. Foster caregivers are compassionate, dedicated, caring citizens whose important work often goes unnoticed. They are amazing people who reach out to help a child during their greatest time of need.

The Fostering Connection Web site has information to help raise awareness of fostering in your community. For more information please open the following link at: http://fosteringconnections.ca. We will also be featuring interviews with foster caregivers whose first-hand experience – speaks to the joys, challenges and rewards of this important role. These will be available on the Government of British Columbia Facebook page.

I encourage you to take time to recognize and celebrate Foster Family Month wherever possible. Your personal acknowledgement and recognition of caregivers will help to raise the awareness of fostering in your community.

On behalf of the Government of British Columbia, thank you for your recognition and continued support of foster caregivers in your community who care for this province’s children- and youth-in-care.

Sincerely,

ORIGINAL SIGNED BY

Katrine Conroy Minister of Children and Family Development