Regional Resource Guide Connecting You to Your Community Regional Resource Guide: Connecting You to Your Community

Regional resource guide Connecting you to your community Regional resource guide: Connecting you to your community

Editor: Allie Davison Content, layout, and design: Allie Davison

The Adoptive Families Association of BC is a charitable, accredited, non-profit organization offering adoption support, information, and education. Find out more about AFABC at bcadoption.com.

Adoptive Families Association of BC #200-7342 Winston Street Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 2H1 Canada bcadoption.com [email protected] 604-320-7330 | 1-877-ADOPT-07

All rights reserved. No part of this manual may be photocopied or reproduced without written permission from the publisher. No part of this publication can be stored in a retrieval systems by any means, recorded or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher. Printed in Canada. All photos from our annual Faces of Family photo contest. Featuring the Akhavan, Altizer, Armstrong, Beeman, Benndorf, Borkowski, Bradbury, Bradley, Carroll, Ciccone, Claycamp, Davis, Dick, Domonkos, Easterbrook, Franco Cea, Fredrick, Giesbrecht, Ho, Hogan, Imrie, Keno, Kilpatrick, L., Lafortune, Lane, Larocque, Legare, Magnuson, Mayeta Cumba, Nanji, Nishi, O’Leary, Patenaude, Pimentel, Pon, Preston, Rennison, Walker, Watters, Widen, and Yuen families. REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 2 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC Contents

ABOUT THIS GUIDE 5

PROVINCIAL 6

COAST/FRASER 11

EVERYONE HAS A STORY: MEET THE DOMONKOS FAMILY 15

KOOTENAYS/THOMPSON-CARIBOO/OKANAGAN 17

NORTH 22

VANCOUVER ISLAND 25

EVERYONE HAS A STORY: MEET THE LAFORTUNE FAMILY 29

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC MEET YOUR FAMILY SUPPORT WORKER No matter where you are in BC, we’ve got you covered! Contact us for support, information, and connections at any stage of your adoption journey.

Sarah Reid Manager, Family Services Elaine Hsu Brandi Kennedy Program Coordinator, [email protected] [email protected] Family Services 604-566-8122 778-256-5350 [email protected] 604-320-7330 ext 101

Angie McMullen NORTH [email protected] Adopt BC Kids Info Line 778-789-5183 1-877-ADOPT-07

Lucy French THOMPSON [email protected] COAST FRASER CARIBOO 604-320-7330 NORTH & CENTRAL

ext 105 VANCOUVER ISLAND KOOTENAYS OKANAGAN

SOUTH Tara Pugh [email protected] 250-507-0716 ADOPTION BASICS Adopt BC Kids Info Line : 1-877-ADOPT-07 bcadoption.com/about-adoption [email protected] www.bcadoption.com

REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 4 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC About this guide

Welcome to our Regional Resource Guide! We’ve compiled resources from each region of BC into a handy guide for our community. This guide is split into five sections: provincial, Coast/Fraser, Kootenays/Thompson-Cariboo/Okanagan, North, and Vancouver Island. We’ve also thrown in a couple of family stories and photos throughout to keep things interesting! While we’ve worked hard to find resources in all the regions, we’re sure there are some great ones we missed. If you know of a great resource we should include please email us at [email protected] and we can look into it. Please note that AFABC does not in any way favour or promote these individuals, groups, or organizations, nor does AFABC endorse any programs, or services that they may provide. AFABC also does not endorse any information that they may distribute. AFABC has not verified the quality of any of these individuals, clinics or agencies, or the credentials of their staff. We have compiled this list of groups and organizations for your information and to assist you in finding resources. It is up to you to determine which resource works best for you.

Connect with us You can find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as through our website! We also have 10 active Facebook Support Groups, where you can connect with other members of our community to help you along with every step in your adoption journey. Facebook Support Groups Family Support Workers Search on Facebook or click the links here! z All Ages Adoptive Parents Our team of Family Support z Waiting Parents Group Workers are experienced adoptive z Single Adoptive Parent Support parents, and they’re here to z Adoptive Parents of support you! Indigenous Children Our Family Support Workers z FASD Parent Support provide free community-based z Transracial and Intercountry FIND US ONLINE one-to-one support, workshops, Adoptive Parents and family events to adoptive z Adoptive Parents of Teens @bcadopt and waiting parents as well as to z LGBTQ - Adoptive Parents people considering adoption. Support Network - BC bcadoption.com z Families Raising Family in BC Find the Family Support Worker in z *NEW* Adoption Basics: New [email protected] your region online at: to Adoption bcadoption.com/familysupport

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 5 PROVINCIAL

Provincial AFABC resources the adoption journey. Whether Facebook support groups, and are you are thinking about adopting, available for online chat. Adoption Basics are already parenting, or a bcadoption.com/abasics professional in the field, there Education are courses designed with you in Adoption Basics is an online Pivot Point Family Growth mind. Complete your mandatory presentation that answers your top Centre Inc. adoption education program, questions about adoption. You’ll pivotpoint.ca | 1.866.531.4544 participate in one of our online learn about the adoption programs workshops, or view an on-demand in BC, the adoption process, and Through Distributed Learning, webinar—all online! have a chance to reflect on your Pivot Point provides a wide range of educational services to students motivations to adopt. Online resource centre from pre-school through post- bcadoption.com/resources You can do this presentation any secondary and University. time, at your own pace. Our online resource centre is Teacher’s Tutoring Service (TTS) designed to provide adoptive AgedOut.com tutor.bc.ca | 604.730.3410 families and adoption AgedOut.com professionals access to in-depth TTS’ mandate is to provide AgedOut.com is for young adults information on adoption issues students with one-to-one who were in government care in and parenting. professional tutoring of a BC. It’s an up-to-date warehouse consistently high standard at a Online support of information on resources and reasonable rate. All TTS tutors are bcadoption.com/online-support services available to young adults qualified teachers. and a learning tool to help people We offer a number of online feel empowered as they leave care. supports including Virtual Support Families Sessions once a week during the Education BC Council for Families (BCCF) day, plus one evening session per bcadoption.com/education bccf.ca | 604.678.8884 month. We also host online FASD Education supports and Parenting Support Meetings and BCCF develops and delivers strengthens families throughout Waiting Parents Meetings, have 10 family support resources and

REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 6 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC training programs to professionals and friends of people with Sources Community Resources PROVINCIAL across the province that focus on schizophrenia. Since then, BCSS sourcesbc.ca | 604.531.6226 prevention, inclusiveness, and has grown into a province-wide Sources Community Resources building skills and confidence. family support system. They are Society is an internationally- dedicated to supporting each They support families and accredited, community-based other, educating the public, family service practitioners by non-profit organization. They raising funds for research, and sharing knowledge and building have been providing help, advocating for better services community connections. encouragement and hope for for people with schizophrenia individuals and families in White Family Support Institute of BC and other serious and persistent Rock, Surrey, Delta, Langley, Prince familysupportbc.com | mental illness. George, Parksville, and beyond for 1.800.441.5403 FamilySmart Together over 40 years. The Family Support Institute familysmart.ca | 1.855.887.8004 Indigenous assists and supports families who FamilySmart® comes alongside have a family member with a First Nation Health Authority young people and families to disability. (FNHA) provide support, navigation fnha.ca | 1.866.913.0033 Found Families assistance, and information, foundfamilies.com and then invites them and The FNHA is responsible for professionals to come together planning, designing, managing Found Families is an organization to learn with and from each and funding the delivery of First that provides free family other to enhance the quality of Nations health programs across BC. photography sessions, through a experiences and services for child Guide to Indigenous network of volunteers, to families and youth mental health. that have recently adopted a child. organizations and services Health Link BC gov.bc.ca/gov/content/ Health/wellness/ healthlinkbc.ca | 8-1-1 governments/indigenous-people/ aboriginal-organizations-services mental health HealthLink BC provides This guide is a resource listing of British Columbia Schizophrenia reliable non-emergency health Indigenous community-based Society (BCSS) information and advice in BC. services and organizations. bcss.org | 1.888.888.0029 Information and advice are available by telephone, their The guide provides other BCSS is a non-profit organization website, a mobile app, and a community service organizations, founded in 1982 by families collection of print resources. government ministries and Kelty Mental Health Resource agencies, and non-Indigenous citizens an insight into the scope Centre of Indigenous services and keltymentalhealth.ca | organizations offered in BC. 1.800.665.1822 Jordan’s Principle Helping families across the prov- canada.ca/jordans-principle | ince navigate the mental health 1.855.572.4453 system, listen and offer peer support, and connect them to Jordan’s Principle makes sure resources and tools. all Indigenous children living in ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 7 PROVINCIAL

LGBTQ2S+ Vancouver, that works to improve queer, trans, and Two-Spirit lives. Pflag Canada They provide a safer space for pflagcanada.ca | 1.888.530.6777 LGBTQ2SAI+ people and their allies to fully self-express while feeling Pflag Canada is a national welcome and included. They charitable organization, founded also host Prideline, a helpline for by parents who wished to help LGBTQ2SAI+ people. themselves and their family Canada can access the products, members understand and accept Trans Care BC service, and supports they need, their LGBTQ2S+ children. phsa.ca/transcarebc | when they need them. 1.866.999.1514 Pride Education Network Funding can help with a wide pridenet.ca Trans Care BC supports the delivery range of health, social, and of equitable and accessible care, educational needs, including the The Pride Education Network surgical planning, and peer and unique needs of children and is a small group of committed community support for trans youth who are Indigenous, belong educators who have been people across the province. to the LGBTQ2S+ community, or responsible for the initiation, who have disabilities. development, implementation, Trans Lifeline and advocacy of numerous translifeline.org | 877.330.6366 Métis Community Services of BC resources, workshops, policies, and Trans Lifeline supports a hotline (MCSBC) actions in BC, across Canada, and mcsbc.org | 250.868.0351 and provides micro-grants, offering even internationally. direct emotional and financial MCSBC has a mandate from Métis QMUNITY support to trans people in crisis. citizens to provide integrated, qmunity.ca holistic, family-centered, Trans Rights BC wraparound services to all Prideline (Gay and Lesbian transrightsbc.ca those who need assistance, with Helpline) | Monday to Friday This project aims to disseminate special emphasis on Indigenous 7am - 10pm) 1.800.566.1170 | human rights information that populations—specifically Métis. Vancouver: 604-684-6869 is accurate, accessible, and relevant to the safety and well- Métis Nation BC (MNBC) | QMUNITY is a non-profit being of trans and gender-diverse Ministry of Children and organization based in individuals and their supportive Families allies across BC. mnbc.ca/mnbc-ministries/ children-and-families/ | Special needs 1.800.940.1150 Asante Centre MNBC’s Ministry of Children and asantecentre.org | 1.877.327.71011 Families supports the delivery of the best services to Métis children The Asante Centre staff address and their families in BC. stressors that can affect REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 8 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC PROVINCIAL

Community Living BC (CLBC) open their hearts to a wider world communitylivingbc.ca/contact/ of human talents and potential. local-offices | 1.877.660.2522 Special Needs Supports CLBC is the provincial crown for Families corporation that funds supports gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family- and services for adults with social-supports/youth-and-family- developmental disabilities, as well services/special-needs-supports- as individuals who have a diagnosis for-families of ASD or FASD and who also have Resources from the Government significant difficulty doing things of BC, including the Provincial on their own. Assessment Centre (PAC) development during the periods Child Development Centres Community Living and BC of pre-conception, pregnancy, and Find individual centres in your Assessment Centre (CLBC). early childhood. community by searching online. TinyEYE Therapy Services Specifically, they specialize in info.tinyeye.com | working with families affected by Child Development Centres 1.877.846.9393 fetal alcohol spectrum disorder exist throughout the province and offer a variety of services (FASD), autism spectrum disorder TinyEYE connects clients with a including, but not limited to, (ASD), and neuro-developmental licensed therapist through their specialized daycares, skills respite disorder related to a complex range award-winning online therapy programs, Circles of Security, of stressors. platform. They empower their sensory rooms, and more. They experienced team of SLPs, OTs, PTs AutismBC vary by location. and Social Workers with training, autismbc.ca | 1.888.437.0880 GIRLS CLUB mentorship, online tools, and AutismBC empowers, supports, and ingirlsclub.com even robots to serve the needs of connects the autism community students. They can provide direct in BC. AutismBC is a non-profit and GIRLS CLUB is a club for girls with one on one therapy, group therapy registered charity that encourages autism and neuro-developmental and classroom consultations. the inclusion and acceptance of the differences. They are similar to entire autism community. Brownies or Girl Guides for girls Youth with special needs. Canucks Autism Network (CAN) Boys & Girls Club canucksautism.ca | 604.685.4049 Special Olympics BC bgccan.com specialolympics.ca/british- CAN is dedicated to providing columbia | 1.888.854.2276 Tailored to the needs of programs to individuals with communities across the country, autism and their families, while Special Olympics athletes find the Boys & Girls Clubs national promoting acceptance and joy, confidence, and fulfillment— programs tackle relevant social inclusion through community on the playing field and in life. issues, encourage and empower engagement and training They also inspire people in their children and youth, and help initiatives across BC and beyond. communities and elsewhere to them set a path for success. ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 9 PROVINCIAL

Child and Youth Mental Health The Representative for Children relationships to ignite the power (CYMH) Walk-in Intake Clinics and Youth (RCYBC) and potential of young people. gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/ rcybc.ca | 1.800.476.3933 managing-your-health/mental- Help for youth and their families Since 2007, the RCYBC has health-substance-use/child-teen- gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social- supported BC’s young people mental-health/mental-health- supports/youth-and-family-services/ and their families in dealing with intake-clinics help-for-youth-and-their-families the provincial child and youth Children and youth can access welfare system. Resources from the Government free and voluntary community- of BC for supporting youth with RCYBC also provides oversight based mental health supports mental health and their families. to this system and makes and services in BC—CYMH teams recommendations to improve it. bc211 currently have about 100 walk-in chat.bc211.ca | 2.1.1(call or text) intake clinics for children, youth, Transition planning for youth and their families at convenient and young adults bc211 is a BC, non-profit locations throughout BC. gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family- organization that provides a free, social-supports/services- confidential, multilingual service Kids Help Phone for-people-with-disabilities/ that links people to resources for kidshelpphone.ca | 1.800.668.6868 transition-planning-for-youth- help, where and when they need it. young-adults Kids Help Phone is Canada’s Parent Support Services Society only 24/7, national support If you’re a young person with a of BC (PSS) service. They offer professional developmental disability, moving parentsupportbc.ca | counselling, information and to adulthood can be a challenge. 1.877.345.9777 referrals, and volunteer-led, text- A Navigator can help you and your based support to young people in family with the transition. PSS offers parenting programs both English and French. and resources for parents Youth in BC chat and grandparents across the apps.kidshelpphone.ca/ youthinbc.com | Find the number province of BC. They have specific resourcesaroundme/welcome. in your area on their website resources for grandparents raising html 24-hour crisis centre call lines and grandchildren. The second link is a great way to live online chat throughout BC. YMCA find more resources for youth in Connects youth with support, ymca.ca your area. information, and resources. The YMCA is a charity that has Foundry Other resources been helping Canadians improve foundrybc.ca | 1.833.308.6379 their lives since the first Y opened Big Brothers Big Sisters of Foundry offers people ages 12-24 in Montreal in 1851. YMCA Canada health and wellness resources, programs are offered at more than bigbrothersbigsisters.ca services, and supports—online and 1,700 locations across Canada and through integrated service centres Big Brothers Big Sisters enables help people become healthier in in communities across BC. life-changing mentoring spirit, mind, and body. REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 10 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC COAST/FRASER Coast/Fraser

AFABC resources Families Resource Centre: 604.709.5720 | [email protected] Family Support Worker— Deltassist Family and and Surrey: City Centre Youth Hub: Lucy French Coast/Fraser Community Services Society 604.587.8100 | [email protected] and bcadoption.com/mainland-coast North Delta, Ladner, Tsawwassen Newton Youth Hub: 604.592.6200 | [email protected] | deltassist.com | 604.594.3455 [email protected]. 1.877.ADOPT.07 Deltassist Family and Community Services Society offers counselling Health/wellness/ Lucy has two biological, adult, mental health children and three young girls and community-building in the form of workshops, events, senior through adoption. She was also a Raven Song Community Health support, outreach programs, and foster parent for 13 years! Centre Vancouver information services. vch.ca/locations-services/ Lucy’s areas of specialty include Pacific Community Resources result?res_id=1365 | 604.709.6400 transitions, early childhood Society (PCRS) Lower Mainland Raven Song Community Health parenting strategies, and parent pcrs.ca | Head office: 604.412.7950 Centre offers a range of health coaching. | Fraser regional office: care services for people of all 604.951.4821 ages. They provide public and PCRS has a 36-year history of community health services, providing a breadth of quality, mental health and addiction accredited social services services, speech therapy, home across BC, including: education, health services, youth health employment, housing, substance services, and nutrition services use, mental health, and youth and that include public health family support services. dietitian, home health dietitian, and ambulatory nutrition care. They also have Youth Hubs in Vancouver: the Broadway Youth The Centre works with community ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 11 organizations and health care and family support services Vancouver Aboriginal Child providers, such as your family to Métis children and families and Family Services Society doctor, to keep you and your living in the Surrey, Delta, (VACFSS) Vancouver community healthy. White Rock, and Ladner area; vacfss.com | 604.872.6723 COAST/FRASER and guardianship, adoption, REACH Community Health and resources services to Métis VACFSS offer a full spectrum of Centre Vancouver children and youth placed in services encompassing Family reachcentre.bc.ca | 604.251.3000 foster homes throughout Metro Reunification and Preservation, Vancouver. Guardianship, Child Protection, REACH is a community health and Residential Resources. centre located in East Vancouver Vancouver Aboriginal that provides medical, dental, and Friendship Centre Society Ayas Men Men Child and Family multicultural services addressing (VAFCS) Vancouver Services Squamish the social determinants of health vafcs.org | 604.251.4844 squamish.net/government/ to the residents of the Grandview- departments/service-delivery/ Woodland Area. VAFCS is a charitable organization ayas-men-men-child-and-family- and emphasizes the philosophies services/ | 604-985-4111 Indigenous and values of varied Indigenous culture and traditions. VAFCS The purpose of the Ayas Men Metro Vancouver Indigenous helps children, youth, families, Men Child and Family Services Services Society (MVISS) adults, and elders maintain their department is to protect and Metro Vancouver Indigenous cultural ties through strengthen the family and to mviss.ca | 604.255.2394 various programs and traditional provide peace to the children of Squamish Nation. This is achieved MVISS provides culturally diverse community activities. VAFCS by ensuring that children have support services creating a safe helps Indigenous people access safety, protection, security, love, and caring environment for education, housing needs, and guidance, spirituality, harmony, people to connect with self and support for families. The centre healing, and respect in their lives. community by healing their strives to provide holistic and Child and Family Services equips trauma to achieve physical, cultural services to all of its children and their families with life mental, emotional, and community members. skills, education, and training in spiritual wellbeing grounded the Squamish language, cultural, in Indigenous wisdom and social and family tradition. resilience. Métis Family Services LGBTQ2S+ Metro Vancouver Fraser Valley Youth Society metisfamilyservices.ca | (FVYS) Fraser Valley 604.584.6621 fvys.ca | 604.200.3203 Métis Family Services is The main focus of FVYS is to delegated under the Child support LGBTQ2S+ and Allied Family and Community Services youth in the Fraser Valley. They Act to provide child protection connect youth to their peers,

REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 12 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC Special needs Sunny Hill Health Centre Metro Vancouver bcchildrens.ca/our-services/ COAST/FRASER sunny-hill-health-centre | 604.453.8300 Sunny Hill Health Centre provides specialized developmental assessments and rehabilitation their communities, and provide services for children, youth, and becoming homeless and mothers supportive and inclusive help their families. in need from losing custody of where needed. their children. To support them on Youth their journey to self-sufficiency, Generation Out Maple Ridge, Pitt Aunt Leah’s provides supported Meadows, Tri-cities BC Centre for Ability housing, job training, and plea.ca/youth-programs/peer- Metro Vancouver coaching on essential life skills. support/gen-out/ | Maple Ridge/ bc-cfa.org | 604.451.5511 Pitt Meadows: 604.708.2648 | Burnaby Youth Hub (The Hub) Tri-Cities: 604.708.2632 The BC Centre for Ability provides Burnaby community-based services that burnabyyouthhub.org | Generation Out drop-in groups enhance the quality of life for 604.569.0951 are for youth who are lesbian, children, youth, and adults with gay, bisexual, transgender, two- diverse abilities and their families. The Hub is a space where spirited, or questioning. youth can access a variety of Aunt Leah’s Place programs and services to support PROUD2BE LGBTQ2S+ Support Metro Vancouver physical, mental, and sexual | Family Services North Shore auntleahs.org | 604.525.1204 health; access to education and North Shore employment; capacity building Aunt Leah’s Place helps prevent familyservices.bc.ca/find-support/ and skill development; and social children in foster care from lgbtq2s-support/ | 604.988.5281 engagement and empowerment. ext. 226 Covenant House Vancouver Those who identify as LGBTQ2S+ Vancouver need a safe place to talk about how covenanthousebc.org | that feels—and how hard it can 1.877.685.7474 be sometimes. That is why Family Services North Shore created their Covenant House Vancouver PROUD2BE programs. offers a clear exit from life on the street to homeless youth. Their They hold a yearly PROUD2BE carefully designed Continuum of conference as well as drop in Care includes a Drop-In Centre, a groups for both youth and parents. 63-bed Residential Crisis Program, ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 13 COAST/FRASER

Mental Health Clinicians, and Life Foundry: Richmond Richmond mental health and substance Skills training, and more. foundrybc.ca/richmond | use support, primary care, peer 604.674.0550 support, and social services. Directions Youth Services Metro Vancouver Foundry Richmond aims to provide Summit Youth Centre Burnaby directionsyouthservices.ca | a welcoming, inclusive, and burnaby.ca/Things-To-Do/ 866.249.6884 accessible space for young people Community-Centres/Youth- 12-24 and their families to find Centres/Summit.html | Directions Youth Services offers support for their wellness needs. 604.268.1369 low-barrier programs and services to support youth under the Foundry: Ridge Meadows Summit Youth Centre, located in age of 25 who are in crisis or Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows North Burnaby, is a great place for foundrybc.ca/ridgemeadows | experiencing homelessness as a youth to enjoy computer time, 604.380.3133 result of abuse, neglect, substance games, art, and other outdoor use, or mental health challenges. Foundry Ridge Meadows offers activities. All programs are free. young people 12-24 access to Foundry: Abbotsford Abbotsford Urban Native Youth Association health and social services. foundrybc.ca/abbotsford | (UNUA) Metro Vancouver 604.746.3392 Foundry: Vancouver-Granville unya.bc.ca | 604.254.7732 Metro Vancouver UNYA strives to support Indigenous A collaborative community where foundrybc.ca/vancouver-granville youth by providing advocacy, youth and families can learn, grow, | 604.806.9415 and thrive amid life’s challenges. preventative, and support services Foundry Vancouver-Granville offers that respond to their immediate Foundry: North Shore (North young people 12-24 access to and long-term needs. and West Vancouver) North Shore foundrybc.ca/northshore | 604.984.5060

Foundry North Shore offers young people 12-24 access to mental health and substance use support, primary care, peer support, and social services. REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 14 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC Everyone has a story: Meet the Domonkos family

The Domonkos family were the first place winners of our 2020 Faces of Family photo contest. They grew their Try to stay positive family through international adoption, adopting their boys from Lesotho, Africa. and remember why Can you describe your family? you started. We are the Domonkos family! A loud and loving family of four—Meghan, Brent, C, aged 9, and M, at times. With all the ups and downs we had some aged 2. We had always wanted to grow our family disappointments along with a lot of excitement and joy. through adoption and couldn’t wait to start. Africa Working with Sunrise [Sunrise Family Services] was great: was always in our heart, and both of our boys were everyone there was so supportive. We spent over nine born in Lesotho. We love going on family adventures, years in the adoption process and they never tired of especially camping, and travelling. hearing from us monthly—or more—during that time. Can you tell us a bit about your What’s your best bit of advice for experience with the adoption process families considering adopting? overall? Our best bit of advice would be that when they tell Our experience with the adoption process was you it will be a roller coaster ride, believe them! Also, wonderful overall! That’s not to say we didn’t have patience will be a huge benefit—but try to stay extremely difficult parts and wasn’t emotionally taxing positive and remember why you started.

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 15 Can you tell us about one high point in your adoption experience? We feel so grateful Along with the day we met both of our beautiful boys, to be parents to such living life with them, and watching them grow is the best! As far as the adoption process goes, one of the amazing kids. highest points would be the day we got the call to say we were matched with a child. Is there anything else you’d like to add? And one challenging point? We feel so grateful to be parents to such amazing kids. The most challenging part for us was the long wait. With our oldest son, we had a more typical adoption waiting period of a couple of years—but it still wasn’t easy. We waited over six years for our youngest son’s adoption. Waiting is hard! But I wouldn’t change it now for anything. How has AFABC made a difference to your family? We love AFABC! We have taken courses and seminars put on by AFABC and we love receiving the magazine. We have found them to be a very valuable resource.

REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 16 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC KOOTENAYS/THOMPSON- CARIBOO/OKANAGAN 17 |

REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE provide the supportprovide students their full potential. reach need to part are of a life programs The where progression—integrated possible—teachingindependence in a interest and encouraging of learning and workinglifetime within the community. SupportInsight Service Kamloops insightsupportservicesand | educationprogram.ca 250.554.0085 Insight Support Services offers students for choice an alternative

Education Special Education Adult programs—Okanagan College Okanagan okanagan.bc.ca/Adult-Special- Education Special Education Adult The Okanagan at College programs | bcadoption.com/interior | [email protected] 778.256.5350 supportsBrandi families in the and Okanagan. Brandi Kootenays of kids group a great is parenting and adoption. birth,through foster, She specializes in supporting in She specializes kinship and permanency families, and openness. FASD, SupportFamily Worker— and Okanagan Kennedy Brandi Kootenays

regions. regions. Thompson-Cariboo

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC OF ASSOCIATION FAMILIES ADOPTIVE Angie McMullen is the Family McMullen Angie is the Family and Central for Worker Support Island and Vancouver North Thompson-Cariboo | bcadoption.com/interior | [email protected] 778.789.5183 children, three is mom to Angie of whom joined thethe youngest a kinshipfamily through adoption. Family SupportFamily Worker—Angie McMullen AFABC resources AFABC

Cariboo/Okanagan Kootenays/Thompson- Kootenays/Thompson- from Kindergarten to Grade provide therapy for children with 12 with social and emotional identified need (up to age 19) regulation challenges and diverse and support these children, their learning needs. It is a space for families, and the communities in individuals and families to feel which they live. heard, understood, and valued—a safe place where we all belong. Columbia Basin Family Resource Society Columbia Basin programs by the Rehabilitation Mind Over Learning Kelowna cbfrs.com | 250.423.4687 mindoverlearning.com | Accreditation Commission 250.860.0084 (CARF), under the Child and Youth The society will provide support Services Standards. and assistance to families in the Mind Over Learning is a Fernie and Columbia Basin area as Axis Family Resources Ltd.

KOOTENAYS/THOMPSON- specialized tutoring centre for North and Interior well as providing programs and CARIBOO/OKANAGAN students with Autism Spectrum axis.bc.ca | 1.877.392.1003 services that will encourage safe Disorder, ADHD, NVLD, FASD, and healthy families. The society Dyslexia, and learning disabilities Axis Family Resources delivers may also carry on education and in all components of language community social services, research related to families. and math. specializing in providing community-based programs, Community Connections Families resources, and opportunities for Revelstoke community-connections.ca | ARC Programs South Okanagan, families seeking support. 250.837.2920 Kootenays Central Okanagan Family Hub/ arcprograms.com | 250.763.2977 Early Years Centre (COFH) Community Connections Revelstoke Society is a non-profit ARC Programs is a multi-service Okanagan community agency, based cofh.ca | 250.826.6264 organization providing social in Kelowna and operating in support and services. The COFH is a one-stop-shop for communities of the Central and supports and services for families. Kamloops Family Resources South Okanagan Valley, as well It is a welcoming second home Society Kamloops as the Kootenays. ARC Programs for families to connect with each kfrs.ca | 250.377.6890 is committed to providing the other and to community supports. highest quality services, and has Kamloops Family Resources achieved the Accreditation of our Children’s Therapy & Family Society is a non-profit society and Resource Centre Kamloops kamloopschildrenstherapy.org | 1.855.370.4100 The Children’s Therapy & Family Resource Centre is an accredited, non-profit agency owned and operated by the Thompson Nicola Family Resource Society. They REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 18 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC registered Canadian charity. At their supported programming to and youth, individuals, and Family Tree Family Centre, families people of all ages. families, and provides referrals and enjoy a warm and respectful connections for various services in environment where they find Nelson Community Services the community and area. support in each other, in visiting Nelson professionals, and in the caring staff servicesfyi.ca | 250.352.3504 Trail Family and Individual who understand how to connect Resource Centre (FAIR) Society NCS is a multi-service, multi- Trail people with the help they need. funded non-profit agency that trailfair.ca | 250.364.2326 supports the well-being of Kootenay Family Place Kootenays families, youth, and individuals Trail FAIR Society provides free, kootenayfamilyplace.org | in the community by providing confidential services in the Greater 250.365.8448 counselling, housing, support, and Trail area. They offer 19 community

Kootenay Family Place is a outreach services. programs offered by staff and KOOTENAYS/THOMPSON- registered non-profit organization volunteers in five service locations. CARIBOO/OKANAGAN North Kootenay Lake with charitable status whose staff Community Services Society is passionate about serving the Health/wellness/ Kaslo needs of children, youth, and nklcss.org | 250.353.7691 mental health families throughout the West Kootenay Boundary region. North Kootenay Lake Community Interior Health—Developmental Services Society offers various Disabilities Mental Health Kootenay Kids Society Nelson councelling, family support, and (DDMH) Locations across the region kootenaykids.ca | 250.352.6678 a family centre out of their Kaslo actcommunity.ca/resource/2921 Kootenay Kids Society supports office, among other services. The DDMH program provides and strengthens families. They North Okanagan Youth Family mental health services for deliver a wide range of programs Services Society (NOYFSS) individuals aged 14 years or and services including licensed Okanagan older who have developmental child care, Indigenous family noyfss.org | 250.545.3572 disabilities. The program is programs, resources for child delivered by Interior Health care providers, physiotherapy NOYFSS provides a broad range staff located throughout the and occupational therapy for of social programs reflecting the Interior Health region including young children, a wide range of dynamic needs of the community psychiatrists specializing in parent education programs, and that strengthen, nurture, and developmental disability issues, opportunities for families to meet protect the healthy development psychiatric nurses, and behavioral socially and connect. of our children, youth, and families. consultants. Interior Community Services The Shuswap Family Centre Nelson Cares Society (NCARES) (ICS) Kamloops and Interior Salmon Arm Nelson interiorcommunityservices.bc.ca | familyresource.bc.ca | nelsoncares.ca | 250.352.6011 250.554.3134 250.832.2170 NCARES supports a wide variety of ICS is a non-profit accredited The Shuswap Family Resource and community programs and services multi-service agency providing Referral Society supports children including affordable rental housing; ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 19 an emergency shelter; residential LGBTQ2S+ and employment services for adults with disabilities; legal information; Columbia Valley Pride Invermere and victim services. columbiavalleypride.org | 250. 505.7410 Indigenous Columbia Valley Pride exists within Circle of Indigenous Nations the territories of the Ktunaxa and Society (COINS) West Kootenay Secwepemc Nations, and the coinations.net | 250.231.4968 Columbia Valley Métis Association KOOTENAYS/THOMPSON-

CARIBOO/OKANAGAN for caring for their children in a and serves the LGBTQ2iA+ people COINS provides programs rooted in these communities. in Indigenous practices that culturally relevant manner. Fernie Pride Society Fernie strengthen cultural connection North Okanagan Friendship ferniepride.ca and support holistic healing and Center Society (NOFCS) Vernon learning. vernonfirstnationsfriendship The Fernie Pride Society supports Ki-Low-Na Friendship Kelowna centre.com |250.542.1247 and connects the LGBTQ2S+ kfs.bc.ca | 250.763.4905 community in the Elk Valley. NOFCS is a place where people They host monthly connectivity The Ki-Low-Na Friendship can meet for social, recreational, events, maintain relationships Society provides for the mental, cultural, and education activities. with local and regional groups emotional, physical, and spiritual There are diverse programs and organizations, work with well-being of all peoples through that offer support and many local schools and organizations the development of community- opportunities for prevention, to find opportunities within their based services, while encouraging counselling, prenatal care, early organizations to support and the community to preserve, share, childhood development, youth connect LGBTQ2S+ youth, and and promote Indigenous cultural and elder programs, housing for more. distinctiveness. young people (19 – 30 years), Kelowna Pride Kelowna and employment and training Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Child and kelownapride.com Family Services Cranbrook programs. ktunaxa.org/five-pillars/ktunaxa- Kelowna Pride is a not-for-profit Ooknakane Friendship Centre kinbasket-child-family-services/ | organization that supports the Kelowna 250.489.4563 friendshipcentre.ca | 250.490.3504 The Ktunaxa Kinbasket Child and Family Services is committed The Ooknakane Friendship to working collaboratively Centre is an Indigenous not-for- with Indigenous families and profit society that is committed communities of the Ktunaxa to providing holistic, culturally- Traditional Territory, to help driven programs, and services increase their ability and to designed to support, educate, and help fulfill their responsibilities strengthen people of all nations. REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 20 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC queer communities of Kelowna provide support, awareness, children, youth, and adults and beyond. They work to ensure education, and social events. experiencing a wide range of equal rights and representation challenges and differences for every person of diverse sexual Special needs that may include: learning and and gender identities. academic difficulties, Autism FASD Okanagan Valley Spectrum Disorder, Attention Assessment and Support Kootenay Pride Kootenays Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Society Okanagan facebook.com/kootenaypride | developmental disability and fasdokanagan.ca | 250.938.5022 250. 505.7410 social-emotional or behavioural Bringing together all members FASD Okanagan is interested in difficulties, FASD, and more. of the LGBTQ2S+ community increasing resilience and reducing and their allies throughout the harm by advancing how people Youth

Kootenays for over 20 years! understand and respond to FASD. Freedom Quest Kootenays KOOTENAYS/THOMPSON-

This is done through advocacy, CARIBOO/OKANAGAN LGBTQ/2S Rainbow Families of freedomquestyouthservices.ca | community engagement, and 1-877-304-2676 Vernon BC and Area Vernon-area building community capacity facebook.com/ through education seminars. They Provides free, community-based, groups/328598551012136/ | aim to reduce the incidence of client-centred, low-barrier, 250.777.3088 FASD and ensure people who are confidential, voluntary, and A North Okanagan and Shuswap affected by FASD have the support non-judgmental services and group for parents, grandparents, they need to lead positive, programming to youth and and other caregivers who identify meaningful lives. families who have been negatively impacted by substance. as LGBTQ2S+ and/or who are Kootenay Career Development raising LGBTQ2S+ identified Society (KCDS) Kootenays Other resources children, youth, and young adults. kcds.ca | Nelson: 1.877.952.6200 South Okanagan Similkameen | Castlegar: 1.855.365.6515 | Trail: Castlegar and District Pride Society (SOS PRIDE) 250.512.3001 Community Services Society Penticton Castlegar From employment readiness cdcss.ca | 250.365.2104 sospride.ca programs and supports to training SOS PRIDE aims to bring opportunities, the KCDS team is Provides assistance, counselling communities together all across the here to help both job seekers and and support, and works for social 2SLGBTQIA+ gender spectrum to employers meet their goals. change in our communities. Okanagan Ability Centre (OAC) Kamloops Family Resource Okanagan Society Kamloops okanaganabilitycentre.com | makechildrenfirst.ca/parents/ 250.762.7790 community-resources/kamloops- family-services/ OAC is a private facility that provides diagnostic assessments Resources in the Kamloops area and consultation services for for families, children, and youth.

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 21 North Families South Fort George Family Resource Centre (SFGFRC) Prince George sfgfrc.com | 250.614.9449 SFGFRC is a neighborhood based facility that offers programs and activities to promote the health and wellbeing of families NORTH and individuals of all ages and AFABC resources incomes in a friendly, family- centred environment. Northern Health: Services and Family Support Worker— Facilities Region-wide Brandi Kennedy Region-wide Health/wellness/ northernhealth.ca/services/ bcadoption.com/north | mental health mental-health-substance-use/ [email protected] | services-by-community 778.256.5350 List of resources provided by Brandi Kennedy is the Family Northern Health, organized by Support Worker for the North. community and region. Major centres include Dawson Creek, Fort St. John, Prince Haida Gwaii Health: George, Prince Rupert, and Mental Health Haida Gwaii Smithers. haidagwaiihealth.ca/services/ mental-health-addiction/ Brandi lives in Fort St. John and is parenting children through birth, Mental health resources provided foster, and adoption. by Haida Gwaii Health.

REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 22 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC Indigenous link directly to the distinct culture, in the Prince George area and traditional practices, and language improves the quality of life in the Aboriginal Family Services of each family. community as a whole. Dawson Creek facebook.com/Aboriginal-Family- Nezul Be Hunuyeh Child and LGBTQ2S+ Services-341400505929235 | Family Services North-central 250.782.1169 nezulbehunuyeh.ca | Fort St. North Peace Pride Society James: 1.866.996.0015 | Prince North Peace Aboriginal Family Services George: 1.855.562.0790 northpeacepridesociety.ca promotes and provides respectful and confidential services to Nezul Be Hunuyeh is a Delegated The North Peace Pride Society Indigenous families and the Aboriginal Agency (DAA) works to empower, celebrate, and Dawson Creek community. established to provide child and promote inclusivity and respect family services to the communities among people of all sexual Carrier Sekani Family Services of Tl’azt’en and Nak’azdli. orientations and gender identities Prince George within the North Peace area. csfs.org | 1.800.889.6855 Nisga’a Child and Family Services (NCFS) Northwest Prince George Pride Provides holistic health and nisgaalisims.ca/nisgaa-child-and- Prince George wellness services for Carrier and family-services | 1.866.633.0888 facebook.com/yourpridepg Sekani people in North Central BC. NCFS works to ensure the spiritual, The pride organization for the Kermode Friendship Society physical, mental, emotional, and Prince George community. Terrace cultural well-being of all Nisga’a Quesnel Pride Quesnel kermodefriendship.ca | children and families. 1.866.635.4906 facebook.com/QuesnelPride NORTH Northwest Inter-Nation Family Quesnel Pride Society is a The Kermode Friendship Society and Community Services registered non-profit serving the offers culturally sensitive, quality Society (NIFCS) Northwest LGBTQ2S+ community in Quesnel programs and services to the nifcs.org | Terrace: 1.888.310.3311 | and surrounding areas. Indigenous community members Prince Rupert: 250.622.2514 and the community-at-large. Prince Rupert Pride Prince Rupert NIFCS is an Indigenous based facebook.com/PRPride2014 Nenan Dane zaa Deh Zona agency that provides family Family Services Society (Nenan) support, guardianship, and Prince Rupert finds its Pride! A Northeast caregiver services to seven First social media hangout for those nenan.ca | 1.866.637.2151 Nations communities in the living in Prince Rupert looking Nenan is a group of dedicated Northwest region of BC. for a place to connect with other LGBTQ2S+ members at large. professionals, focused on Prince George Native Friendship strengthening healthy families by Centre (PGNFC) Prince George Smithers Pride Society Smithers creating appropriate, child-centred pgnfc.com | 250.564.4324 smitherspride.com Indigenous systems of support that honour and meaningfully engage The PGNFC services the needs The Society initiates, creates, children and families. Their services of Indigenous people residing sponsors, and develops ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 23 youth, and family services; youth centre; counseling; and more. Youth Community Bridge Fort St. John educational and cultural activities communitybridge.ca | Intersect Youth & Family and events, to promote the 250.785.6021 Services Prince George development, visibility, and pride intersect.bc.ca | 250.562.6639 greater LGBTQ2S+ communities of Community Bridge offers Smithers. counselling and support services Intersect Youth & Family Services in the and will adapt their services provides voluntary counselling Terrace Pride Terrace to best suit the needs of those for children and youth under the facebook.com/Terrace2SLGBTQIA/ they serve. Their services are free age of 19, offering a wide variety of programs to clients and their Terrace Pride is a place for of charge to individuals, families, families at no cost. 2SLGBTQIA+ (and allies) in Terrace children, and youth. to find a community. Connaught Youth Centre Other resources Special needs Prince George connaughtyouthcentre.ca | Kitimat Community Services AiMHi Prince George 250.561.1467 Society (KCSS) Kitimat aimhi.ca | 250.564.6408 kitimatcommunityservices.ca | The Connaught Youth Centre is 866.632.6581 AiMHi provides advocacy, supports a public facility within the City and services to people who have of Prince George for youth and KCSS offers adult literacy NORTH special needs and their families. community sports, education, and programs, victim services, both public and private events. employment services, and Fort St. John Association for operates the local youth centre. Community Living (FSACL) Foundry: Terrace Terrace Fort St. John foundrybc.ca/terrace | North Peace Family SuperPark fsjacl.com | 250.787.9262 250.635.5596 Facility Fort St. John npsuperpark.com | 250.785.5401 FSACL has contracts with Foundry Terrace is offering young Community Living BC to people 12-24 access to mental A registered non-profit that offers provide services to adults with health and substance use support, indoor play and programs to developmental disabilities. They primary care, peer support, and families in the community. provide services in the Fort St. social services. Wyld Acres Farm and Arena John and District area. Haida Gwaii Health: Child & Fort St. John Terrace and District Community Youth Mental Health Haida Gwaii wyldacresbc.com | 250.793.5055 Service Society (TDCSS) Terrace haidagwaiihealth.ca/services/ Wyld Acres Farm and Arena offers tdcss.ca | 250.635.3178 child-youth-services/ to connect nature and community TDCSS provides essential List of resources for children and through equestrian events and community services such as child, youth in Haida Gwaii. connective workshops. REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 24 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC VANCOUVER ISLAND 25 |

REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE developmental disabilities, their disabilities, developmental on families and their caregivers TheySouthIsland. Vancouver in partnershipwork with other and individuals, organizations, the inclusion ensure to government of all people in our community. Nanaimo 2 Families Families | 204.881.795 families2families.ca is a network 2 Families Families and individuals, of families, offer They community groups. and assist courses parenting on and caregivers parents Island in raising Vancouver way. in a positive children these parents goal is for Their about confident become to in a loving, with children engaging nurturing relationship. Services of Greater Family (FSGV)Victoria Victoria Greater | 250.386.4331 fsgv.org supportFSGV provides for all family members facing change and challenges in their relationships.

joined the family | 250-380-6363 cocf.ca Options is aCommunity innovative welcoming, a wide provides that organization of servicesrange people with to Families Options for Community and Families Children South Island | 250.667.7597 clarolife.com in 2010 as a founded was Claro studentssupportive for place learn, grow, to with neurodiversity in located centres With and shine. BC, ClaroNanaimo and Kelowna, support individualized offers in skills, self- life academic tutoring, recreation, therapeutic regulation, social skills, and emotional each by inspired awareness pace. unique abilities and student’s Education Nanaimo Nanaimo Claro of whom through adoption.

and for Central and Central

south of Saltair. Central and NorthCentral Island South Island

| [email protected] ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC OF ASSOCIATION FAMILIES ADOPTIVE Family SupportFamily Worker—Angie McMullen AFABC resources AFABC Family Support Worker—Tara SupportFamily Worker—Tara Pugh She specializes in supportingShe specializes kinship and permanency families, and openness. FASD, communities the oldest children, has four Tara Angie McMullen is the Family McMullenAngie is the Family Support Worker for children, three is mom to Angie of whom joined thethe youngest a kinshipfamily through adoption. Support is the Family Pugh Tara South Island for Worker bcadoption.com/vancouver-island | 778.789.5183 Island North Vancouver regions. Cariboo Thompson bcadoption.com/vancouver- | island | [email protected] 250.507.0716 Vancouver Island Vancouver families, being a new mother, families. Our services are offered being a single parent, raising better at no cost and can be accessed babies, setting boundaries for through self-referral as well as children, teens, and adults, youth by referral from government and leaders in training, the after school community agencies. program, peer helpers program, and much more. Health/wellness/ Saanich Neighbourhood Place mental health (SNP) Saanich Children’s Health Foundation of saanichneighbourhoodplace.com Vancouver Island Vancouver Island Greater Nanaimo Early Years | 250.360.1148 islandkidsfirst.com | 250.940.4950 Partnership (GNEYP) Greater SNP is a non-profit organization Nanaimo area that delivers a wide range of Assisting Vancouver Island nanaimoearlyyears.org | programming aimed at helping residents with early child 250.816.1699 families access resources and development, youth mental The GNEYP is a diverse group of supports they feel they need, in health, children and youth living engaged community partners a barrier-free environment and with complex needs, and more. within their own neighbourhoods. who are committed to improving Island Health the health and development of Society of Organized Services Vancouver Island children ages pre-natal to six in (SOS) Central Island islandhealth.ca/our-services the Greater Nanaimo area. sosd69.com | 250.248.2093 List of services and programs Nanaimo Child Development SOS is a not-for-profit, registered Centre (NCDC) Central Island provided by Island Health. Canadian Charity. Since 1968, SOS nanaimocdc.com | 250.753.0251 has responded to the needs of You can also find services specific The NCDC provides support, individuals and families in District to child and youth: assessment, and therapeutic 69 (Qualicum-area). SOS provides islandhealth.ca/our-services/ services to nearly 1,900 children 30 programs and services to all children-youth-services and their families in Ladysmith, ages, including programs that VANCOUVER Nanaimo, Lantzville, Gabriola meet basic needs, as well as ISLAND Island, and the Protection Island programs that promote healthy areas each year. living and social connections. The SOS Thrift Shop is the key funder The Hope Centre Gabriola Island of SOS. gabriolahopecentre.com | 250.247.8730 Sources Oceanside Resource Centre Central and North Island The Hope Centre is designed to d69fra.org | 250.752.6766 touch the lives of individuals and families as they face the challenges Sources Oceanside Resource of: parenting, creating healthy Centre helps children, youth, and REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 26 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC Mental Health Recovery LGBTQ2S+ Partners Society Central Island bcssnanaimo.org | 250.760.6031 Victoria Pride Society (VPS) Greater Victoria Supports individuals living victoriapridesociety.org with mental illness and their families and friends by providing Victoria Pride is a not-for-profit education and support. organization of volunteers that is dedicated to supporting Greater Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre Vancouver Island Crisis Society Victoria’s LGBTQ2S+ communities. (VICS) Vancouver Island, the islands Nanaimo of the Salish Sea, and the mainland nanaimoaboriginalcentre.ca | Youth communities between Powell River 250.585.0947 and Rivers Inlet Victoria Youth Clinic Society The Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre vicrisis.ca | 1-888-494-3888 (VYC) Victoria focuses on education, culture, victoriayouthclinic.ca | The VICS is committed to and family. While all programs 250.383.3552 providing accessible voice, text, and services are designed with and chat crisis intervention and the urban Indigenous community VYC is a not-for-profit organization suicide prevention services, in mind, all of the programs and that provides integrated and including postvention programs. services are open to anyone living comprehensive primary health in Nanaimo. care services, including mental Indigenous health and addiction care for Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal youth aged 12 to 24 years. Kw’umut Lelum Child and Friendship Centre Nanaimo Family Services Vancouver Island tillicumlelum.ca | 250.753.4417 Youth Core Victoria kwumut.org | 1-800-613-1777 youthcore.ca Provides essential services to the Kwùmut Lelum Child and Family urban Indigenous population of Youth Core was created by the Services is an Indigenous based Nanaimo and area. Youth Service Provider Network agency located in Snuneymuxw to be an online hub for youth territory that provides caregiving Victoria Native Friendship to connect to programs, events, services and community programs Centre (VNFC) Greater Victoria services, and networks. Youth VANCOUVER vnfc.ca | 250.384.3211 and services to nine Indigenous Core is managed by members of ISLAND communities on Vancouver Island. the City of Victoria Youth Council. VNFC provides services to an estimated 20,000 Indigenous people living off-reserve in the Greater Victoria area, as well as the 5,000 residents from the Indigenous communities in the Southern Vancouver Island region, in addition to a sizable Indigenous population from across Canada. ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 27 This platform provides a safe and Foster Parent Support Services cardholders the opportunity inclusive place for youth living Society (FPSSS) Vancouver Island to enrich mind and body with in Victoria, BC to easily access fpsss.com | 1.888.922.8437 hands-on experiences at cultural support and a myriad of local institutions and recreational opportunities. Their vision is to The FPSSS is a non-profit centres. Examples of passes empower youth to engage with grassroots organization whose available: Butterfly Gardens, their communities and realize their purpose is to administer support Maritime Museum, Craigdarroch potential to make a difference. and education services to family Castle, Robert Bateman Centre, care network caregivers within the Saanich Recreation, Royal BC Other resources Vancouver Island Region. Museum, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. If don’t have a library card Beacon Community Services Greater Victoria Public Library: yet, don’t worry, they’re free! Just South Island Free Culture and Recreation visit any GVPL branch. beaconcs.ca | 250-658-6407 Passes Greater Victoria gvpl.ca NARSF Programs Ltd. Nanaimo A community-based charity, Beacon narsf.org | 250.754.2773 staff and volunteers work to help Did you know you can borrow people and improve lives across passes to local museums and NARSF provides a range of southern Vancouver Island, on Salt attractions from the library? innovative health, harm-reduction, Spring, and the outer Gulf Islands, In partnership with local and counseling services to through a wide range of programs organizations, the Greater Victoria individuals, children, youth, and and services. Public Library gives library families.

REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 28 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC Everyone has a story: Meet the Lafortune family

The Lafortune family were the second place winners of our 2020 Faces of Family photo contest. They grew We learned to trust each their family through adopting sibling boys through the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD). other, and we are now a Can you briefly describe your family? VERY strong family unit. We are Mom, Dad, two energetic boys, and two crazy chihuahuas. We are fairly young parents and our boys were older when they were adopted, but we make it brothers with mischievous grins, described as high- work. We are sometimes asked if we are all siblings, energy adventure seekers. We were in the position to which can be awkward! adopt two children and thought, “Well, here they are!” After a few Skype meetings with the boys, we met Can you tell us a bit about your them in their foster home. Because they were older, experience with the adoption process we could already see their little personalities and overall? could identify interests that we would share as a family: outdoor adventure, cooking, gardening, and We met our boys when they were 7 and 8. We had creative pursuits. already been approved to adopt by MCFD and had come across their profile. Our social worker had The first year was very difficult and stressful for suggested other potential matches, but something everyone involved. Our kids were doing their best to about their profile grabbed our attention: two navigate their new school, their new family, their new ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 29 home, and we did our best to figure out parenthood. absorbed that. Even as their parents we don’t know We had lots of counselling, lots of activities together, much about their younger years, but we are trying to lots of exercise, and we tried to keep a general routine walk beside them as they work through it. every day. We survived, our bonds strengthened, we learned to trust each other, and we are now a VERY Behaviours, big feelings, big questions, and trauma strong family unit. triggers are everyday things in our family. That is not something anyone else understands unless they’ve What’s your best bit of advice for been through it themselves. families considering adopting? How has AFABC made a difference to Consider older children. They can have baggage, but your family? they also have resilience and unbelievable strength. The online resources are invaluable, especially during Can you tell us about one high point COVID-19. and one challenging point in your adoption experience? There have been many high points, but it has been especially heart-warming to see the boys’ confidence grow. They walk tall, they speak their minds, and they are happy with who they are. A challenge has been the isolation that comes from living a unique experience. Our children have experienced heartbreak and as a family, we have

REGIONAL RESOURCE GUIDE | 30 ADOPTIVE FAMILIES ASSOCIATION OF BC Help us help kids

Hundreds of children and teens in BC foster care are waiting for families of their own.

When you donate to AFABC, you make it possible for waiting kids and parents to find each other and stay strong together, no matter what life throws at them.

That’s the gift of family. Give today at bcadoption.com/donate. Adoptive Families Association of BC #200-7342 Winston Street Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 2H1 Canada bcadoption.com [email protected] 604-320-7330 | 1-877-ADOPT-07