Dear ,

Welcome to a new year! In 2020-2021, we saw:
💻 a 26% increase in online support group membership
📞 a 27% increase in requests for support and information
🙋‍♂️ 1,500+ registrations across all educational programs
💪 $200,000 in emergency COVID-relief funding dispersed to youth in care

Thanks for being a part of our family - we're excited to see what we can accomplish together in 2022!

Here are just a few of our favourite memories from 2021:

Every April, hundreds of families brought together through adoption, guardianship, kinship care, and other forms of permanency send us their beautiful photos. Congratulations to the Bunn family for their 1st prize-winning entry!

AFABC's bursaries provide financial assistance to youth who plan to pursue a vocational, trade, or academic post-secondary program at an accredited BC institution. Bursaries are available to youth who joined their family through adoption or another form of permanency and youth in/from care.

Congratulations to our 2021 winners: Calla M. (left), Kristina S. & daughter (middle), Elizabeth H. (right), and Antonio C. (not pictured). Read Elizabeth's story here.

In 2021, AFABC offered almost 50 workshops, support groups, trainings, Facebook Lives, and other forms of educational programming! That's almost one event PER WEEK! More exciting opportunities are coming in 2022 as we continue to expand and grow.

Featured photos: the Frayn family; the Humenick family

The 15th annual Stand Together conference will be taking place from January 20th-21st, 2022. Stand Together is a conference for caregivers, adoptive & permanency parents, and professionals who work with families.

This year's conference will be taking place online: it will include presentations by Elder Emily Henry, the Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Society, QMUNITY, and other community groups.

Hello parents! AFABC is currently working on an FASD resource guide and we would love to include some first-hand stories from parents in our community! We’re searching for two things specifically:

Practical Parenting Tips: What would you tell folks who are newly parenting children with FASD? What has helped you the most over the years?

FASD Success Stories: We know that you're raising some amazing kids, and we want to hear about them! Getting that FASD diagnosis can be scary at first, so we would love to be able to share some of the joys and triumphs your kids have accomplished.

Please send any stories to Allie, our Communications Coordinator, at adavison@bcadoption.com. We look forward to hearing from you!

Click here to view AFABC's complete event calendar

The BC Provincial Director of Child Welfare's Youth Advisory Council is looking for current or former youth in care ages 17-29 to join the Council. The deadline for applications is March 6, 2022.

YAC members are non-government employees who provide recommendations about services and policies that affect children, youth, and families in B.C. Members consult with the Ministry of Children and Family Development, other government ministries, and other organizations.