Canadian Foster Family Association

The Canadian Foster Family Association is a national organization with a mandate to speak as a collective voice for foster families throughout the country. Its primary goal is to enhance the quality of care provided to children in Canada. (Regional contacts for provinces and territories are listed on their Organizations page) http://www.canadianfosterfamilyassociation.ca/regional-organizations/

BC Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents

Exists to meet the unique needs of caregivers of Aboriginal children, and the needs of communities for targeted development, recruitment, and training of Aboriginal foster families. http://www.fafp.ca/

A Child's Song Adoption Support Services

Clinical counselling, consultation and education for adoptive families, foster parents, adoptees, children & youth in care, school professionals, social workers, and adoption professionals. http://www.achildssong.ca/

Home for Every Child Adoption Society

Adoption & Foster Care awareness, education, and support. https://www.homeforeverychild.org/

Foster Hub (Vancouver)

A collaboration of local agencies, offering caregivers in the Vancouver region integrated services. Connecting caregivers to support groups, trainings and in home support as well as immediate crisis intervention. https://www.fosterhub.ca/

Foster Hope (Vancouver Island)

A program of Foster Parent Support Services Society on Vancouver Island https://fosterhope.ca/

Foster Parent Support Services Society (Vancouver Island)

A Grass Roots organization on committed to providing meaningful and accessible support, education and networking services to enhance the skills and abilities of foster parents on Vancouver Island to deliver the best care possible to the children in their homes. https://fpsss.com/

Raising Wildflowers

Supporting Canada's adoptive and foster families and those who serve them through grants, scholarships, sponsorships, lending library, information, and more. http://www.rwcanada.com/

Empowered to Connect/TBRI

Trauma-informed training for parents and caregivers teaching how trauma affects brain development and behavior through TBRI (Trust-Based Relational Intervention). Resources teach why traditional punitive behavior correction typically doesn’t work for these children and gives proven strategies for connecting, empowering and correcting with difficult children. Show Hope’s Hope for the Journey 1 day Conference (formerly the Empowered to Connect 2 day conference) seeks to encourage and better equip parents and caregivers meeting the everyday needs of children impacted by adoption and/or foster care through the foundational principles of Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) https://showhope.org/our-work/pre-post-adoption-support/hope-for-the-journey/ The Connected Child book (the 2 day Empowered to Connect Conference in a book format) https://empoweredtoconnect.org/book/ Empowered to Connect (ETC) is an attachment rich community focused program that exists to support, resource, and educate caregivers including podcasts, videos, and Parent Training. www.empoweredtoconnect.org Empowered to Connect 9 Week Parent Training teaches parents and caregivers the foundations of TBRI and how to implement TBRI principles in their homes https://empoweredtoconnect.org/training/ The audio recordings of the past Empowered to Connect Conferences https://gumroad.com/showhope TBRI self-guided, whiteboard-style course of approximately 8 hrs of video lessons https://child.tcu.edu/tbri101/ The Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development has videos available for purchase or online rental https://child.tcu.edu/store/ Youtube has a number of free videos available online. Search: TBRI, Karyn Purvis, Empowered to Connect Created to Connect: A Christian’s Guide to the Connected Child (free download) https://empoweredtoconnect.org/created-to-connect-study-guide/ The Connection: Where Hearts Meet DVD-lead small group study https://orphancareresources.org/resource/connection

• First lesson preview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_jyqq8E5u8

• Workbook preview https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0545/9317/files/TheConnection-sample.pdf?9580

ReFraming Foster Care by Jason Johnson

Written by foster parents, for foster parents. ReFraming Foster Care is a collection of reflections on the foster parenting journey designed to help you find hope and remind you that your work is worth it and you are not alone. (with group discussion guide) http://jasonjohnsonblog.com/reframing-foster-care

Safe Families Canada

Safe Families is foster care deflection - churches in a community banding together to wrap around families in crisis and prevent family separation and unnecessary entry into the foster care system. www.safefamiliescanada.com Safe Families has launched a version of Stand Sunday called "Safe Families Sunday" that is focused on highlighting opportunities for church members to grow spiritually and demonstrate biblical hospitality to our neighbors in need through Safe Families. Helpful resources can be found at https://safe-families.org/safefamiliessunday/

Care Portal

CarePortal is a website and online tool that allows churches, child serving organizations or non-profits to work with child welfare to help children and families in need. If a child welfare professional identifies a need for a child or family, a caseworker can submit a request into CarePortal’s platform, which then sends a message to participating churches. Then, each church can respond directly back to the caseworker when they are able to meet the need, or they can engage other churches and community partners who want to help. Read about the launch of Care Portal in Canada here: https://generalauthority.ca/2020/01/care-portal-celebrates-canadian-launch/ For more, please visit www.Careportal.ca

CareImpact

CareImpact connects & equips the whole Church to effectively journey in community with children & families in hard places. Facilitating effective collaboration of churches and community who have something to give and who are equipped to care and connecting them connecting them with Canadian families in need. https://www.careimpact.ca/

Youth in Care Canada

A voice for the opinions and concerns of youth in and from care. https://youthincare.ca/

Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks

A youth-driven, provincial, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of young people in and from government care in BC, between ages 14 and 24. https://fbcyicn.ca/

AFABC Aged Out BC

The Adoptive Families Association of BC is dedicated to supporting youth in and from government care, adoptees, and adoptive families across British Columbia. They offer youth bursaries as well as programs like www.AgedOut.com, the Speak-Out Youth Group, and the Speak-Out Youth Zone. These programs give youth a place to be heard, feel supported, and develop life skills.

BRAVE Global for Girls

A campaign to reach out to the most vulnerable girls with a message of empowerment in every community across the Western world. https://braveglobal.ca/ Learn about the BRAVE Journal or purchase a copy from: https://shop.braveglobal.org/

Voices - Manitoba's Youth in Care Network

Provides support, encouragement, and advocacy to young people in and from care in Manitoba. http://voices.mb.ca/

Aunt Leah's Place - BC

Helps prevent children in foster care from becoming homeless and mothers in need from losing custody of their children. To support them on their journey to self-sufficiency, they provide supported housing, job training, and coaching on essential life skills. https://auntleahs.org/

Safe Families Canada

Safe Families is foster care deflection - churches in a community banding together to wrap around families in crisis and prevent family separation and unnecessary entry into the foster care system. www.safefamiliescanada.com Safe Families has launched a version of Stand Sunday called "Safe Families Sunday" that is focused on highlighting opportunities for church members to grow spiritually and demonstrate biblical hospitality to our neighbors in need through Safe Families. Helpful resources can be found at https://safe-families.org/safefamiliessunday/

Connect Care Ottawa

Connect Care Ottawa works with local churches to create a culture of care for Ottawa’s at-risk children. Networking and collaborating with agencies, non-profits, businesses, professionals and churches to equip them to step in and offer help in the form of prevention, intervention and restoration to help struggling families access the resources they need. www.connectcareottawa.ca

Forever Families of Canada

CONNECTING churches with meaningful relationships within their social contexts;
EQUIPPING churches & broader community to care with excellence;
MOBILIZING church communities to take action. www.foreverfamilies.ca

Defend Dignity

Defend Dignity acts as a catalyst for individuals and churches to end sexual exploitation in Canada. Raising awareness on the realities of all forms of sexual exploitation through events and resources. Aiding individuals, non-profits and faith organizations to come alongside victims and at risk youth, through resources and training. Advocacy for law and policy reform. https://defenddignity.ca

BRAVE Global for Girls

A campaign to reach out to the most vulnerable girls with a message of empowerment in every community across the Western world. https://braveglobal.ca/ Learn about the BRAVE Journal or purchase a copy from: https://shop.braveglobal.org/

Deborah's Gate

Deborah’s Gate is a national, specialized program of care serving international and domestic women age 18 and up who have been trafficked into situations of sexual and/or labour exploitation, and are in need of protective and restorative housing and healing. Rehabilitation programs including life and living skills development, outreach services, employment training, and mental health and addictions supports to serve the varying needs of survivors across Canada. Their website also provides links to relevant research and training/advocacy materials.

Together for Adoption Canada Conference

Future Conference Date To Be Determined given COVID restrictions A 2 day conference aimed at raising awareness while bringing together and equipping people across Canada who share a heart for adoption, foster care and advocacy for vulnerable children, the conference highlights the Biblical call for Christians to care for the fatherless. http://www.t4acanada.com/ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/T4ACanada

April 2021 Hpe for the Journey Conference

(Formerly the Empowered to Connect Conference) April-May 2021 and additional replay dates at various locations across Canada or available to individual households online. A 1 day conference live simulcast from the USA teaching the impacts of trauma and chronic stress on the brain development of children and how that translates into their behaviours and ability to cope with day-to-day life. Introduction to the Trust Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) model of how caring adults can help bring hope and healing to these kids from hard places. Connect with other Canadians who are anticipating this event or interested in additional, related learning on the TBRI Resources and Connections for Canada Facebook Page.

Belong Summit

Anticipated Fall 2021 Winnipeg, Manitoba Everyone has a piece in the child welfare puzzle, this conference brings together people wanting to grow more effective as a Church in caring for vulnerable children through family restoration, foster care, and adoption.
http://www.belong2018.com

A Child's Song Conference

2022 Date To Be Determined A 2 day conference to equip and educate anyone interested in understanding children who have experienced adoption and foster care. With an emphasis on professional development for the first day and family and community focused topics the second day, the conference typically features more than 15 different sessions facilitated by a variety of adoption competent clinicians, psychologists and community partners. Participants also have access to exciting new adoption focused resources and information. http://www.achildssong.ca/event/a-childs-song-adoption-conference-2019/