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Our Strategy
Our Values
CHRISTIAN ROOTS
We are driven to live by faith & biblical values in our unique bridge-building role. With historical baggage & ongoing missteps of the Church, the challenge to represent the Church in child welfare is not lost on us. Yet, we love the Church deeply; grieving for her & rooting for her in all that we do. We enjoy re-imagining what biblical Christianity looks like in our Canadian contexts. We value biblical unity & functional diversity within the Church, to live out genuine love for God & our neighbour.
CHRISTIAN FOUNDATION
We value biblical integrity and seek to lead by standards that are consistent to scripture. While the Church as an institution is imperfectly lead by humans, we also recognize that our faith is not in the systems of humanity but in the Lordship of Christ and our need for God's guidance. We seek to primarily focus on churches, not to be exclusive, but to encourage inclusive church communities with our practical connections & supports. We exist to champion the church to live out their biblical mandates.
CANADIAN CONTEXT
We respectfully acknowledge that Canadian churches are on treaty lands and hold responsibility as treaty people to pursue truth and reconciliation for the well-being of our nation's future. We value understanding the worldviews of those involved in child welfare & believe Christianity can be lived out in context, including our language and approach. We value healthy relationships amidst diversity, seeking to be relevant in the contextualization of our resources, methods, & services, eh?! ​
​COLLABORATIVE ACTION
In an era of relational poverty, we are determined to build healthy diverse relationships; building uncommon healthy connections across all sectors involved in child welfare; discovering effective working partnerships & facilitating opportunities for the Church to extend beyond herself with informed action
We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God.
We believe that there is one triune God: Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit.
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We believe in the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ.
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We believe that God desires a relationship with all of humanity; that all are in need of reconciliation which comes through Christ’s death and resurrection, accessible to all who put faith and trust in Him.
We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, amidst diversity.
Our Statement of Faith
Meet The National Team
Wendi
Park
Forever Families of Canada EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR / CO-FOUNDER
CarePortal
NATIONAL LIAISON &
WESTERN CANADA AREA DIRECTOR
Resides in Manitoba
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Wendi lives & breathes the mission of Forever Families. With an undergrad from Central & South America and her Masters in Global Studies through Providence with a peace mediation internship in the Middle East, Wendi has also gained leadership experience in cross-cultural ministry, church planting & community development. She is passionate about inspiring Canadian church communities to know their biblical roots & is called to build uncommon healthy relations with government, community & church leaders for the wellbeing of vulnerable children and families. She is married to Harold and is mama-bear (bio / foster / adoptive) to 5 children, 2 grandchildren & 1 dog.
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Dr. Harold
Park
Forever Families of Canada
CO-FOUNDER / NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
CareWell Academy
NATIONAL TRAUMA CARE FACILITATOR
THERAPY SUPPORTS
Resides in Manitoba
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Harold is a therapist who specializes in trauma, attachment and parental resiliency. He is a TBRI® practitioner and certified in TCC, ETC and Circles of Security. While formerly a professional wine-maker and high-tech stocks investor, Harold's journey lead him to pursue his Masters in Counselling Psychology, and a career as a prison chaplain & family counsellor. He later completed his doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy out of Denver Seminary. He is married to Wendi and together they have 5 children, 2 grandchildren, 1 dog. Harold is passionate about helping people through active listening and offering evidence based supports.
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Beth
Ralko
Forever Families of Canada
BOOKKEEPER / NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
Resides in Manitoba
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Beth connected with Forever Families as a volunteer at a Belong Summit. Her passion for the mission of this organization, her deep love for the vulnerable and her noted administrative skills made Beth an instant go-to as the ministry grew in administrative responsibilities. Beth has experience as a book keeper, in running her own business and supporting other organizations. She is an accomplished figure skater who continues to coach, maintain our books from home, while embracing her new role as mom along with her husband.
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Dr. Alison
Wells-Dyck
Forever Families of Canada
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
CareWell Academy
NATIONAL COORDINATOR /
TRAUMA CARE TRAINER
Resides in Manitoba
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Full bio coming soon.
Trauma-Informed Practitioner (TBRI®, TCC); foster & adoptive mom; experienced Children's Ministry Director & University Professor in Inclusive Education (Ph.D)
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Eric
Edwards
Forever Families of Canada
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE / ONTARIO DIRECTOR
CarePortal
EASTERN CANADA AREA DIRECTOR
Resides in Ontario
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Full bio coming soon.
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Tim
Smith
Forever Families of Canada
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE / ATLANTIC REGION
CareWell Academy
NATIONAL TRAUMA CARE FACILITATOR
Resides in Nova Scotia
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Full bio coming soon.
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Galina
Smith
Forever Families of Canada
ADVOCATE
CareWell Academy
ATLANTIC REGIONAL ASSOCIATE / FACILITATOR
Resides in Nova Scotia
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Full bio coming soon.
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Janet
Blatz
Forever Families of Canada
IT SUPPORTS
Resides in Manitoba
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Full bio coming soon.
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Meet The Board
Kevin
Harris
BOARD CHAIR
Saskatchewan
Kevin wears many hats, including 38+ yrs with Sasktel (Executive Director of Strategic Accounts), president of the Canadian Foster Families Association, chair of the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association, Trauma trainer, and father to 8 children (bio / foster / adoptive). Kevin is passionate advocate for Indigenous cultural understanding and reconciliation
Philip
Cavey
TREASURER
Manitoba
Phil is a Chartered Registered Accountant and partner of MNP who has extensive experience working with non-profits and First Nations communities. He is also a father of 4 children (bio / foster). Phil is passionate about helping organizations succeed in the details and cares as much about the people he serves as the details to support them.
Sherwood Armbruster
MEMBER AT LARGE
Manitoba
Sherwood's love for people, particularly the vulnerable, is seen in the many ways he invests himself in life: at his City of Winnipeg management position, his community and church involvements, and the way he dedicates himself to his wife and 5+ children (and their families). He has a background in law and experience in non-profit executive leadership.
Kathy Boschmann
INCOMING MEMBER
Manitoba
(bio coming soon)
LEAD SPONSORS:
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