After the Conference Dinner at the IFCO2010BRIGHTON European Training Seminar singer Nikita performed her great song about Foster Care called "Second Chance" and then got the delegates from 25 countries up and dancing the night away! 

What is Second Chance? -  The name comes from the lyrics of the song that features on Nikita's Single CD. The song has been co-written by a foster carer using the thoughts and memories of a girl who went through the care system in England.  One of her wishes was to be given a second chance in life.  Nikita who sings the song, was that girl.  

Preview clip > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhFDKt79fpo

Who are Second Chance? – Second Chance is a small group of people in the UK who are either directly involved with fostering as carers, have experienced being in care or are supportive towards fostering & adoption…    Ordinary people with a common desire to help children. http://secondchance.uk.com/   Any profits from the sale of the CD plus other fund raising events will be used for the benefit of children in care.  You may buy the single online here

>>> IFCO's JULY 2011 WORLD CONFERENCE IN CANADA click HERE <<<

IFCO is seeking bids from individuals or organizations to develop networks to enhance the use of family based care (foster care)

Regional Network Development

IFCO is seeking bids from individuals or organizations to develop networks to enhance the use of family based care (foster care) for children without parental care by assisting IFCO in achieving its organizational mission.

Targeted regions: Southeastern Europe & Eastern Europe

FOR MORE INFORMATION & AN APPLICATION FORM CLICK HERE

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The NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child is looking for a Child Rights Officer with a strong commitment to children’s rights who has effective experience in (written and oral) communications, capacity building, and monitoring and/or implementation of the CRC. This position involves a combination of project management, technical assistance, writing, training and administration skills. The ideal candidate will be passionate about supporting national NGOs and children to effectively monitor and implement the CRC, have good political sense, be hard working and have excellent drafting skills.

The NGO Group for the Convention on the Rights of the Child (IFCO is a member and has an elected member of their Executive Committee) is an international network of national and international organisations guided by the vision of a world in which children’s rights are universally recognised and realised. They work to facilitate the promotion, implementation and monitoring of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC).

The work of the NGO group is coordinated by a small secretariat based in Geneva (Switzerland), which plays a central role in supporting NGOs from around the world, the Committee on the Rights of the Child and children to monitor and implement the CRC.  Click here to read the full job advert.

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The sold-out IFCO2010BRIGHTON conference was a big success - many thanks & congratulations to the many people who helped to achieve this : )) The message is >>> BIG FISH, LITTLE FISH, CARDBOARD BOX!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ynbzBcKXAs < you had to be there to understand the significance of this!!!   There will be reports & pictures in the forthcoming IFCO members' July Enewsletter. 

Now our attention turns to IFCO's WORLD CONFERENCE in Victoria, Canada from 10-15 July 2011 - take a look at the web site >  http://www.ifco2011.com/

Bids are invited from member organisations to host future IFCO Conferences - 2012 (Regional) & 2013 (World).  More details from president@ifco.info 

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The 2008-2009 global financial and economic crisis had, and continues to have, complex and profound impacts on countries around the world, including in West and Central Africa. While signs of recovery were visible in most of the economically advanced countries from late 2009, the consequences of the crisis on poverty and well-being risk being felt throughout the world over a longer period, in particular in the absence of appropriate policy interventions.

In this context, children are at high risk of suffering serious consequences from the crisis and being neglected in policy responses.  Download the Research Brief  Key findings > http://www.unicef-irc.org/bulletin/view_article.php?id_article=92

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On Thursday 16 and Friday 17 September 2010, Pleegzorg Vlaanderen vzw, the umbrella association for foster care services in Flanders/Belgium, is organising a European conference on Foster Care in Leuven, Belgium.

Foster Care is the strongest growing area in Flemish welfare, with registrations increasing at 5% per year. At the moment there are 4.500 foster families and 6.400 service users.

Foster Care Flanders say "We would like to invite you to learn more here http://www.fostercareflanders.be/ (3 languages). A mix of presentations will be offered during these days to appeal to all parties involved.

Conference languages? Dutch, French and English"

SAVE €€€!!!  Are you a Foster Parent or a fulltime student?

The first 50 foster parents registered will benefit from a reduced price of €7.50 per day / first 50 students €15 per day. Quickly send an Email to fosterparent@fostercareflanders.be or student@fostercareflanders.be

The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child has issued its Concluding Observations for countries reviewed during the Committee's 54th session. You may download the Committee's recommendations for each country below.

 Argentina | Belgium | FYR of Macedonia | Grenada | Guatemala | Japan | Nigeria | Tunisia

For full details of the 54th UN CRC session, visit CRIN's  CRC news page.

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On 14 June the new format monthly IFCO Enews was sent out by the new Canadian volunteer editor Margaret Howley - looks good!  It will only be going to paid-up members in the future so please join or renew your IFCO membership!

Take a look: http://tinyurl.com/IFCO-Enews-June-2010

Includes details of 2 part-time IFCO consultancies, the IFCO 2011 World Conference in Canada, Country singer Jimmy Wayne walking halfway across the USA, a multi-millionaire foster parent / carer and lots more! 

FCOI / IFCO's ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WILL BE HELD
AT 5.30 on 6 JULY 2010

AT THE IFCO EUROPEAN CONFERENCE AT
Bramber House,  University of Sussex,  Falmer,  Brighton,  BN1 9QU, England

All paid up FCOI / IFCO members are invited to attend and the business of the meeting will be to receive reports and discuss and vote on any resolutions that have been submitted, all in accordance with the Memorandum & Articles of Association. 

Voting by proxy is permitted on the prescribed form and must conform to the Memorandum & Articles of Association.  Signed proxies must be received by the company secretary at least 7 days prior to the AGM. 

To download the Agenda & Proxy voting form CLICK HERE

Regional Network Development

IFCO is seeking bids from individuals or organizations to develop networks to enhance the use of family based care (foster care) for children without parental care by assisting IFCO in achieving its organizational mission.