B.C. Council for Families

Creation

Originally named the B.C. Council for the Family, the B.C. Council for Families is a British Columbian non-profit society founded in 1977.

Emerging from the 1975-1976 B.C. Conference on the Family, it is the result of religious, community, and provincial government concerns over family issues.

The Council’s offices are currently located in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Awards

Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program

Since 1989, the B.C. Council for Families has provided assistance to group facilitators, distributed multi-language course materials, and administered on-going program coordination for Nobody’s Perfect throughout British Columbia. The program today is provided in most communities province-wide.

Nobody’s Perfect is a free, national program first introduced in 1987 and to B.C. in 1989. It currently focuses on providing preventative education for at-risk parents of young children. By emphasizing community-based support networks, it aims to enhance parenting techniques and inspire confidence. Alongside two trained facilitators, these goals are achieved through the ongoing, voluntary participation of parents in guided group sessions.

The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program

Since July 2002, the B.C. Council for Families has provided on-going program coordination for the British Columbian Parent-Child Mother Goose Program. Consultation for program teachers, newsletters, training organization, and connections both nationally and internationally all help to provide good quality programs in many B.C. Communities

Originally developed in Ontario, The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program] was created in 1986. The program is provided nationwide and is a group experience for parents, their babies, and their young children (0-5 in smaller age groupings). Group sessions focus on the use of oral rhymes, songs, and stories. These playful activities contribute to parent-child relationships, parental confidence, parental ability, child development, and both parent-parent and community connections. The Parent-Child Mother Goose Program is provided on a free, voluntary, and community oriented basis.

My Tween and Me Parenting Program

Developed in 2005 and launched by the BC Council for Families in 2006, the Council coordinates facilitator training for experienced parent educators in the program’s promotion, marketing, and implementation. The My Tween and Me Parenting Program is provided in communities throughout British Columbia to prevent potential risks which may arise as a tween becomes a teenager.

The program is designed to improve the relationship between parents and their tween child (ages 7–12). Through emphasizing strong relationships early on, program leaders educate parents on how to remain a key source of information and influence for their growing tween. My Tween and Me is a research based prevention program influenced by ecological systems theory. Working alongside a trained facilitator, groups of parents develop effective strategies by meeting and working through six sessions. Sessions include: Healthy Development, Life at School, Family Relationships, Peer Relationships, Today’s World and Building Community.

The Home Visitor Training Initiative

Since 2007, the B.C. Council for Families' Home Visitor Training Initiative has trained para-professionals across British Columbia in effective home visiting skills, procedures and strategies. The Council also provides online resources, networking opportunities and support for home visitor initiative programs across the province. Home Visiting programs exist in many Canadian provinces. The goals of this service are to bring parents information and support to help improve their skill level, confidence, and to create accessible networks of ongoing parental support, reduce potential risk to children, and engage parents who lack immediate access to supportive assistance.

The Father Involvement Network of B.C. (FIN-BC)

The Father Involvement Network of British Columbia (FIN-BC) supports fathering researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in their attempts to create innovative fathering supports grounded in evidence. The B.C. Council for Families assists FIN-BC in providing training opportunities, resources, and participation in research projects.

BC Alliance for Young Parents

The BC Alliance for Young Parents works to support and empower young parents across the province of British Columbia. It is a network of family oriented professionals and organizations working towards creative, meaningful solutions to many of the challenges young parents currently face. Each year, an annual BC Alliance for Young Parents Conference is held to allow individuals to work together on solving these problems.

Family Connections Magazine

The B.C. Council for Families publishes a free, quarterly magazine called Family Connections. The magazine provides family-service professionals with informative articles, reviews, skill-building tips, and advice to enhance both their professional and personal lives. "Family Connections" is available online for free. A print subscription is available for the cost of membership.

HealthyFamilies Weekly Enewsletter

A weekly electronic newsletter authored by the B.C. Council for Families, HealthyFamilies provides information that is relevant for BC's family service professionals. Each issue presents statistics and reports about parenting and family life programs in B.C., Canada, the US, and internationally. HealthyFamilies also includes news and updates about developments and activities at the B.C. Council for Families and about our programs, including Nobody's Perfect, My Tween and Me, the Father Involvement Network of B.C., and more. Each reader has the opportunity to share their opinions about the current issues facing families and family service professionals in the comments section.

Family Facts: B.C. Council Blog

An interactive, online blog called Family Facts is published weekly. This provides an open forum for relevant commentary on programs, policy, news events, British Columbian provincial services, and research related to families.

Social Media

The B.C. Council for Families was at the forefront of adopting online communication technologies. Today, the Council has undertaken a commitment to embracing social media outlets such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to provide ongoing, contemporary sources of family support.

Other Publications

The Council produces a range of affordably priced publications on subjects that matter to families and people who work with them. Topics include couple relationships, parenting, early child development, fathering, stepfamily dynamics, grief and loss, and more.