BC Council for Families

November 2011: parenting&Family relationships

Helping Parents Parent: Have We Got Our Priorities Straight?

Today's Parent columnist John Hoffman is never one to shy away from controversy. John contends that there is currently such a vast amount of information about parenting practices floating around that it is often difficult for parents to sift through it and determine what is relevant to them. And it's not just that there's too much information out there, according to Hoffman, it's that too often the latest scientific studies are being misrepresented -- their findings oversimplified, or taken out of context. John's conclusion? Listen in to find out!  >> LISTEN IN

october 2011: parent-child mother goose

Starting the Journey of Parenting

"I saw immediately that the opportunity was there with Parent-Child Mother Goose to connect parents who were feeling unhappy, feeling isolated from their children. It is a beautiful, simple way to learn parenting skills by doing, by experiencing." Janene Swalwell , a Parent-Child Mother Goose leader from Australia, remembers exactly what it was that prompted her to become involved with the program. With over 1300 trained leaders, the program is now going strong in that country. Find out what is making it such a success. >> LISTEN IN

september 2011: Family Policy and Services

Saving for the Future

Christine Colbert, Director of Projects and Research at Family Resource Programs of Canada chats with us about the FutureSave Program and their new project Mobilizing Communities. FutureSave uses a train-the-trainer approach with the aim of preparing family serving practitioners to provide information to parents about RESP’s, grant and bond programs, and to share tips on basic financial literacy.  >> LISTEN IN

August 2011: Family Policy and Services

Speaking Out for Parents

Mimi Hudson, President of the BC Association for Family Resource Programs, reminds us that "parents are their children's first and most important teachers". That's why she's behind a recent proposal to strengthen the system of family resource programs in our province, through linkage with Strong Start early learning centres.  >> LISTEN IN

July 2011: Family Relationships

Exploring Anger, Creating Change

"Anger shows up to give you energy to create change,"explains Laura Calderon de la Barca. An anger management therapist, Calderon's unique perspective on anger will surprise and inspire you, and change the way you work with parents and families who experience anger.  >> LISTEN IN

 Father Involvement

Connecting Dads and Kids

Just in time for Fathers Day, we talk to Brian Russell of the Ontario Father Involvement Initiative about the secrets to successful programs and services to dads, and about the recent launch of the website 24-Hour Cribside Assistance -- an online how-to manual for new dads.  >> LISTEN IN

 Young Parent Programs

Growing Together: Positive Outcomes for Teen Families

Celebrating teen parent success! That's what Mary Dolan and Kathy Payne are doing, following the release of the Growing Together Child and Parent Society Longitudinal Follow-Up Study of the Cowichan Valley's young parent program.  >> LISTEN IN

Father Involvement

Fathering Support: AbbyDads

Jeff Mclean, Louise Smith, and Ed Friesen of Abbotsford Community Services explore the challenges and successes they've experienced as they build a community of involved fathers through pioneering programs and services.  >> LISTEN IN

Youth Mental Health

Suicide Postvention and Youth Mental Health

What do youthful survivors of suicide need and want from adults in their lives?
Dr. Jennifer White shares insights from her 20 year career in suicide prevention -- and what she's learned from bereaved youth themselves.  >> LISTEN IN

Home Visiting

Home Visiting Best Practices

Betsy Dew, Executive Director of Great Kids Inc, explains the theory and practice of home visiting.
Listen in for tips and best practices for Home Visitors, discussion of the challenges home visitors face, and the benefits of ongoing learning.  >> LISTEN IN

Family Policy

Connections and Collaboration

The Council’s beloved former executive director, Carol Matusicky, examines the current health of the family serving sector. 
Collaboration is key to solving the challenges faced by community organizations and non-profits.  >>  LISTEN IN

Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program

Changing Parent Education

Busy working parents, new pressures on kids, the advent of technology. What does it all mean for parenting education?
Family educator Betsy Mann shares insights on supporting families in a rapidly changing world.  >>  LISTEN IN

Separation and Divorce

Heroes of Hope

Sandy Shuler, co-creator of the acclaimed parenting program "Effective Co-Parenting: Putting Kids First" shares her insights on how professionals can support both children and parents experiencing divorce.  >>  LISTEN IN

Middle Childhood Issues

How are Tweens Doing?

UBC's Dr. Kimberly Schonert-Reichl discusses the Middle Years Development Instrument.
Learn what works to promote healthy tween development and what parents can do to ensure tweens are happy and healthy.  >>  LISTEN IN

Nobody's Perfect Parenting Program

Strengthening Parent Skills and Confidence

Dr. Berna Skrypnek discusses the findings of her  three-year evaluation of popular Canadian parenting program Nobody’s Perfect.
Do parenting programs really make a difference for participating families and children? Find out!  >>  LISTEN IN

Father Involvement

All Dads Matter

Noted Canadian fathering researcher Dr. David Long discusses the challenges of modern fatherhood and the keys to building effective community supports.
An intriguing look at the realities of fathering and the future of supports for fathers in Canada.  >>  LISTEN IN

Family Issues

Queer Parenting in Canada

Rachel Epstein, advocate and author, joins us for a discussion of the evolution of queer parenting in Canada, and an examination of our changing ideas about what family "should" look like in an era of growing diversity. LISTEN IN

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