Mission Statement : The purpose of the
Okanagan Foster Parents Association is to provide education and support
to foster parents in the Okanagan.
Vision Statement : To enable foster
parents to be better able to care for themselves and the children in
their care because of the education and support provided by the
Okanagan Foster Parents Association.
Satisfaction
Survey Results 2009 (PDF)
Click here to view the 2009 OFPA Annual Report (pdf)
Click here
to view the 2008 OFPA Annual Report (pdf)
Click
here to view the 2007 OFPA Annual Report (pdf)
Board of the Okanagan Foster
Parents Association:
The Board of
Directors of the Okanagan Foster Parents Association may be reached by
emailing the board.
President: Bonnie Thompson - Oliver, B.C.
Bonnie is a founding member of the Okanagan Foster Parents
Association. She has been President of the Oliver local of BCFFPA since
1998, and sat as President of the Okanagan Regional Council of BCFFPA
for 3 years.
Bonnie’s family has fostered since 1992, mostly as a level 3
resource. Bonnie has three “bonus” kids, children who
have remained as part of her family and others that continue to keep in
touch. Bonnie and her husband got in to fostering to give back to their
community and she feels that helping foster parents be better at what
they do is a big part of that.
Vice-President: Jessica Macfarlane -
Kelowna, B.C.
Jessica is newly elected to the position of Vice President,
after sitting as the Central Okanagan chair for three terms. She is
very active with the Kelowna Foster Parents Association Board.
Jessica and her family have been fostering since 1999. Her home
tends to receive longer term foster children, in fact their first
foster child is still with them. She enjoy the challenges and
rewards of sharing her home with others.
Treasurer: Gerry Schalm - Penticton, B.C.
Gerry and his family began fostering in 1979. In 1984 they
adopted three aboriginal children with FASD and took a sabbatical from
fostering for a few years. In 1981 they became a specialized care home,
until 2009 when they retired. Until 2009 Gerry operated his own small
business as a tax consultant and an accountant.
Gerry is a founding member of the Okanagan Foster Parents Association.
For 9 years he served as treasurer for the Okanagan Regional Council of
BCFFPA.
Secretary: John Brent Musgrave - Oliver,
B.C.
John and his wife have nine years experience as foster
parents. He has taught and developed educational programs for a wide
range of students – from kindergarten through university.
John has lived and worked with native peoples in the north as well as
with economically disadvantaged youth in the inner cities. John
previously served as Secretary to the Okanagan Regional Foster Parent
Association and as Regional Representative to the British Columbia
Federation of Foster Parent Associations.
North
Okanagan: Pat Hudson - Armstrong, B.C.
Pat
is a member of the Vernon Foster Parents Association and has served on
their
board for several years as treasurer, and membership chairperson. He
and his
wife Marilyn have fostered since 1994. They have three adult married
daughters,
and six grandchildren
Central Okanagan: Melanie Filiatrault -
Kelowna, B.C.
Melanie and her family have been fostering since 1988. She has a great
deal of experience and background with children with special needs,
especially those who are medically fragile.
Melanie is a founding member of Okanagan Foster Parents Association.
She also holds the position of President of the B.C. Federation of
Foster Parent Associations. Melanie has been involved with the BCFFPA
for the past fourteen years, serving in various positions on local and
regional councils, and at the provincial level.
South Okanagan: vacant
Member at Large: vacant
Community Member: Pat Monahan - Oliver, B.C.
Pat worked as a Social Worker for about 27 years, mostly as
a Resource Worker with foster and group home parents in Vancouver.
Pat worked part time on the resources Team at the Penticton Min. for
Children and Families before she was hired as the FP Coordinator for
the South Okanagan. She retired in 2002, but has maintained a
high regard for foster parents and respects the challenges confronting
foster families today.
We are happy to have pulled Pat out of retirement again to
sit on the OFPA Board.
