This recorded workshop introduces kinship caregivers to the financial and legal supports available to them and features practical guidance and personal insight from two experienced caregivers.

Workshop overview

Section 1: Kinship care & financial issues

  • 0:05 – Overview of kinship care
  • 1:23 – Understanding the different types of kinship care in BC
  • 3:01 – Overview of different MCFD programs
  • 5:03 – Child in the Home of a Relative program
  • 8:35 – The Extended Family Program
  • 14:05 – Section 54.01 and 54.1
  • 16:50 – Post Adoption Assistance
  • 28:34 – The Child, Family, and Community Service Act
  • 30:37 – Family Law Act
  • 32:49 – Out-of-care and permanency options
  • 38:15 – Legal definitions associated with child welfare in BC
  • 45:25 – Kinship Care Help Line

Section 3: Advocacy

  • 45:57 – A family’s advocacy journey
  • 47:58 – Legal and medical advocacy
  • 50:30 – Accessing supports and navigating school
  • 55:49 – Building community and systemic advocacy
  • 56:48 – Advocacy takeaways from kinship caregivers

Section 4: Community connection and peer support

  • 57:45 – Community supports
  • 1:02:11 – Community Empowerment through Harmony gathering

About the facilitators

Gail Moilliet was born and raised in New Zealand and moved to Canada at 21. She now calls the beautiful town of Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island home. Over the years, Gail worked alongside her husband as a self-employed contractor building traditional split rail fencing and later served her community as the postmistress of a small-town post office. Her lived experience raising her grandson, and connection to community have shaped her understanding of kinship caregiving, making her a thoughtful and grounded advocate.

Shari Monsma spent 37 years at the British Columbia Institute of Technology as a Part-time Studies Administrator. After retiring in 2020, she became the President of Fairness for Children Raised by Relatives in October 2021 and will continue this role for another three years. Shari also serves as a Director on the BCIT Retirees Association Board. She has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and has raised two of her grandsons over the past 17 years.

For more information, download our list of supports and resources for kinship caregivers.