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1
WINTER 2016
Northwest Regional Caregiver
NEWSLETTER
D avid and Michele
Giesbrecht began
fostering in February 2008
and have been foster parents for
almost nine years. In the summer of
2011, they achieved Level 2 foster
home status.
They have four children and
thirteen grandchildren. Two of their
adult children live in Grande Prairie
with their families and they have one
child at home. The Giesbrecht’s live
on an acreage and are able to have
some animals. This is an interest that
David is able to share with their nine
-year-old daughter, Janet. Other than
that, their time is spent with the
children in their home, grand-
children, friends and enjoying church
activities. Since nine of their
grandchildren live in the area, they
have many wonderful opportunities
to be a part of their lives and watch
them grow up along with their
daughter at home.
“As foster parents we feel so
blessed to be a part of the lives of the
children who come in to our home.”
says Michele. “For all that we give to
them: love, food, safety, security and
consistency, we get so much more in
return. It is so cool to watch the
children change as they begin to heal
and learn more about who they are.
Our hope is that they gain some
tools to live the life that is ahead of
them. We see it as our job to love
and support them for however long
they are in our home. Then,
wherever they go from there, they
have that love to go along with them.
Continued on next page...
Compassion and community
motivate the whole family
Northwest Region
Training Schedule 2017 — CORE Training
Grande Prairie Child & Family Services Office: 214 Place South, 10130-99 Ave, Grande Prairie, Rm 404
Jan 10, 6-9 pm E1: Effects of Abuse/Neglect on Brain Development
Jan 12, 6-9 pm E2: Managing Attachment Issues
Jan 18, 6-9 pm E3: Working with ADHD, ODD and CD
Jan 24, 6-9 pm E4: Understanding FASD
Jan 31, 6-9 pm E5: Managing FASD
Feb 7, 6-9 pm E6: Managing Substance Abuse
Feb 9, 6-9 pm E7: Suicide Awareness
Feb 15, 6-9 pm E8: Sexual Abuse
Mar 2, 6-9 pm G1: Keeping Family Connections
Mar 7, 6-9 pm G2: Our Role in Reducing Risks
Mar 16, 6-9 pm H1: Communication
Mar 22, 6-9 pm H2: Managing the Realities of the Fostering Experience
Apr 6, 6-9 pm F1: Making the Cultural Connection
Apr 8, 9 am-12 pm F2: The Aboriginal Exper- ience; Severed Connections
Apr 8, 1-4 pm F3: Creating Connections
May 3, 6-9 pm Make up day. Modules determined based on need
May 9, 6-9 pm Make up day. Modules determined based on need
May 18, 6-9 pm Make up day. Modules determined based on need
High Level/La Crete Child & Family Services Offices: 9814-101 Street, High Level, AB Pine Centre, 10002-96 Avenue, La Crete, AB *All classes are from 5:30 pm—8:30 pm and will be held at the High Level office
Dec 20, C1: Childhood Development
Jan 3, C2: Assessing and Reporting Develop- mental Issues
Continued...
Michele, Janet, and David Giesbrecht
Respite providers needed We are updating our list of respite providers in
an effort to support child care needs for foster
care providers. If you want to add your name to
this list, please contact your foster care
caseworker. A reminder overloaded homes
cannot provide respite.
2
Behaviour Management From Northern Lakes Collaborative Services
T ransitions occur regularly during the school day. Children often have
difficulty transitioning from one activity, place and/or group of people.
During these times, children usually demonstrate a variety of unex-
pected behaviours. Consider the following when transitioning from the Christ-
mas holiday and returning to school:
Have a countdown on a calendar to remind children how many days until
they return to classes
Several days before school begins, gradually reduce the amount of time chil-
dren are on technology and gam-
ing systems as these tend to be
highly preferred activities and
not as available at school
Engage your child in discus-
sions about what they are look-
ing forward to at school. Try to
build excitement and anticipa-
tion for the activities at school
and have your child set goals to
work towards
Learn more at:
http://www.nlcsrcsd.ca/
2
2017 — CORE Training
High Level/La Crete ...Continued
Jan 17, C3: Creating a Developmental Environment
Jan 31, D3: Parenting Tool Box
Feb 7, D4: Goals of Misbehaviour
Feb 21, D5: Monitor, Evaluate and Report
Mar 7, E2: Managing Attachment Issues
Mar 21, E6: Managing Substance Abuse
Apr 4, E7: Suicide Awareness
Apr 18, E8: Sexual Abuse
May 2, F2: The Aboriginal Experience
May 16, G1: Keeping Family Connections
May 30, G2: Our Role in Reducing Risk
Jun 13, H1: Communication Skills
Jun 27, H2: Managing the Realities of the Fostering Experience
High Prairie Child & Family Services Office: 5226-53 Avenue, High Prairie, AB
Jan 21, 9 am-12 pm E2: Managing Attachment Issues
Jan 21, 1-4 pm F1: Making the Cultural Connections
Feb 18, 9 am-12 pm E3: Working with ADHD, ODD and CD
Feb 18, 1-4 pm F2: The Aboriginal Experience; Severed Connections
Mar 18, 9 am-12 pm E6: Managing Substance Abuse
Mar 18, 1-4 pm F3: Creating Connections
Apr 22, 9 am-12 pm E7: Suicide Awareness
Apr 22, 1-4 pm G1: Keeping Family Connections
May 20, 9 am-12 pm G2: Our Role in Reducing Risks
May 20, 1-4 pm H1: Communication
Peace River/Fairview Child & Family Services Office: 9715-100 Street, Peace River 10209-109 Street, Fairview Note: Courses will be held in the community that has the most registrants—please contact Lindsey to confirm locations: 780-835-7191 Dec 19, 6-9 pm D4: The Goals of Misbehaviour
Jan 9, 6-9 pm D5: Monitor, Evaluate, Report
Jan 16, 6-9 pm E1: Effects of Abuse/Neglect on Brain Development
Continued...
Did you know? Non-prescription medications are funded through your monthly child maintenance compensation payment.
...Continued from front page
It has been amazing to watch our
young daughter, our adult children
and our grandchildren be a part of the
lives of those who come into our
home. The children in our family have
been so accepting of each child who
joins us. We could never have done
this without the love and support of
our adult children and our friends.”
Those who work with the Giesbrecht
family admire their level of
commitment to children in their care.
One caseworker noted that when
visiting their home it’s hard to tell if a
child has been there for 10 hours or
10 years, such is the level of
assimilation in the household. David
and Michele are also very involved
with helping new caregivers learn by
regularly appearing as panel members
at Orientation to Caregiver Training.
They continue to access new learning
opportunities for themselves, as well,
and attend educational forums, and
events for caregivers, such as
barbecues and holiday parties. Among
birth families, social workers,
community agencies, and other
service providers, they have gained a
solid reputation for their deep sense
of compassion and community. From
inspiring other family members to
foster, to maintaining a warm and
welcoming home, at the Giesbrecht
household, it is always a family affair.
3 3
Tell your friends! It’s easy to contribute
to our Kids-In-Care!
Collect bottles and cans at your
home or workplace, label the
bag or box with account #1838
and take to Plus 1 or 2 Bottle
Depot. These funds go exclusively to Grande Prairie’s
Kids-in-Care Christmas party.
Plus 1 Bottle Depot, 10502—96 Avenue, Grande Prairie
Plus 2 Bottle Depot, 7601 Resources Road, Grande Prairie
Please ensure that you submit your maintenance
invoices on a regular basis with the following:
Invoice date
Vendor name, address and vendor number (if number is
known)
Child’s name
Purchase date, expense description, dollar amount
Vendor signature
Receipts attached
We appreciate
your cooperation!
2016/2017 — CORE Training
Peace River/Fairview ...Continued
Jan 23, 6-9 pm E2: Managing Attachment Issues
Jan 30, 6-9 pm E3: Working with ADHD, ODD, and CD
Feb 6, 6-9 pm E4: Understanding FASD
Feb 13, 6-9 pm E5: Managing FASD
Feb 22, 6-9 pm E6: Managing Substance Abuse
Feb 25, 9-12 pm and 1-4 pm Make up day. Modules determined based on need
Feb 27, 6-9 pm E7: Suicide Awareness
Mar 6, 6-9 pm E8: Sexual Abuse
Mar 13, 6-9 pm F1: Making the Cultural Connections (with Elder)
Mar 20, 6-9 pm F2: The Aboriginal Experience; Severed Connections
Mar 27, 6-9 pm F3: Creating Connections
Apr 3, 6-9 pm G1: Keeping Family Connections
Apr 10, 6-9 pm G2: Our Role in Reducing Risks
Apr 19, 6-9 pm H1: Communication
Apr 24, 6-9 pm H2: Managing the Realities of the Fostering Experience
Apr 29, 9-12 pm and 1-4 pm Make up day. Modules determined based on need
Slave Lake Child & Family Services Office: 108, 101-3rd Street SW, Slave Lake
Jan 7, 9 am-12 pm A5: Addressing Allegations
Jan 7, 1-4 pm Creating a Developmental Environment
Feb 4, 9 am-12 pm D1: Parenting our Special Children
Feb 4, 1-4 pm E4: Understanding FASD
Mar 4, 9 am-12 pm D2: Building a Relationship with Your New Child
Mar 4, 1-4 pm E5: Managing FASD
Apr 1, 9 am-12 pm D5: Monitor, Evaluate and Report
Apr 1, 1-4 pm H2: Managing the Realities of the Fostering Experience
May 6, 9 am-12 pm E8: Sexual Abuse
May 6, 1-4 pm D3: The Parenting Tool Kit
High Prairie Teambuilding event
A fine time was had by all
at the High Prairie team-
building event that took place
in September. Pictured top:
Dawn Dow, Chelsea Poirier,
and Cheryl Deynaka. Bottom
back row: Lorina Dubois, Leo
Forseille, Terry Forseille, Na-
tasha Linteris, Chelsea Poirier,
Sarah Murphy, Cheryl
Deynaka, Lisa Habibi, Lisa
Pashko, Christie Matthews,
Mac Olsen. Front row: Bev
Aldrich, Heather Chiassan,
Karen Vanderwell, Ann Ful-
ton, Colleen Strebchuk.
4 4
Band consultation attendance reminders
2017 Orientation to
Caregivers Training
Grande Prairie, 10130-99 Avenue
214 Place South, Third Floor
January 27-29, 2017
May 15-17, 2017
October 20-22, 2017
High Prairie, 5226-53 Avenue
January 28, 29, and
February 4, 2017
Peace River/Fairview
Dates to be announced
Northwest Council
2016/17 meeting dates
Feb 8/17: 1-3 pm video conference
Apr 12/17: 1-3 pm video conference
June 14/17: 1-3 pm face to face AGM
in Peace River
Fairview: area office, Grande Prairie:
room 309, High Level: area office, High
Prairie: area office, Peace River: small
boardroom, Slave Lake: main boardroom
Questions about the Council can be directed to
Andrea Kolodychuk by phone or text at 780-835-1441
or by email to: [email protected]
Really Easy Mushroom Barley Soup 1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 pound sliced fresh mushrooms
6 cups chicken broth
3/4 cup barley
Heat the oil in a large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, celery and garlic;
cook and stir until onions are tender and transparent. Stir in mushrooms and continue to cook
for a few minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and add barley. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat
to low. Cover and simmer until barley is tender, about 50 minutes. Season with salt and pepper
before serving.
A reminder to foster and kinship parents that band consultations occur
every three months with the band to which the child in your care be-
longs. Caseworkers will provide advance notice of these meetings and it is an
expectation that caregivers attend with the children, unless unforeseen cir-
cumstances occur. It is a policy requirement that children attend these
consultations with their caregivers in order to update the band regarding
their well-being. This is also an opportunity to seek out extended family for
the children for purposes of potential placements, family ties, community
contacts, and cultural connections.
An inquiry into what health inspectors are looking for re-
vealed a number of items of which caregivers should be
aware. According to the supervisor of Alberta Health Ser-
vices’ public health inspection program for Grande Prairie:
All food has to come from an approved expected
source, so children in care are not to consume farm eggs
and wild meat.
Jams, pickling and home-canned products are not rec-
ommended as it is easy to get bacteria in them. Howev-
er, it is not a requirement to pass a health inspection.
Essentially, things like minor structural issues, handrails,
sleeping arrangements, sanitary conditions of home, in addi-
tion to properly functioning plumbing and wells, are consid-
ered. An attempt to obtain a copy of the full checklist used
by health inspectors was not approved. More information
can be obtained by calling Courtney at 780-513-7518.
A few tips on public health inspections
5 5
6
The nutrients found in Brazil nuts make them a nutritional powerhouse capable of helping you protect your body
from serious disease. These nuts are a good source of protein and contain several amino acids with important functions.
OF THE SEASON
I t was a time of
fun, food and
friends at the
Kids-in-Care
Christmas parties held
around the Northwest
Region.
Happy Holidays
and warm wishes
to all!