Hi my name is Kari Bepple and I am the Program Coordinator for the Support To Family Care Network; I have worked out of the Kamloops area since June 2003 covering: Ashcroft, Barriere, Clearwater, Kamloops, Lillooet, Merritt, and Revelstoke, as well as supporting staff in the Cariboo, East and West Kootenay areas. It is an honor and a privilege to work with Foster Parents throughout these communities as well as working with social workers from MCFD, Delegated Aboriginal Agencies and First Nations bands and other community partners.

Fostering has changed over the last several years since I started fostering in the late 90’s. I spent lots of time volunteering on local and regional boards of the BCFFPA and appreciated the work that everyone did to help support foster parents. I always tell folks I can’t foster right now so I do the next best thing – I help educate, train and support new foster parents as well as the ones that have had quite a long career whose mentorship and friendship I have appreciated over the years. There isn’t anything harder or more rewarding than fostering! Foster parents are positively changing the lives of the children and youth they work with on a daily basis.

Kari Bepple

Hi my name is Renata Bonthoux and I am a Network Facilitator with the Support To Family Care Network. I began working at Interior Community Services in the spring of 2008. The majority of my experience in this field has been crisis focused youth work in a variety of programs which include: Youth Living, the Youth Safe House/Youth Shelter, and Youth Street Outreach supporting individuals between the ages of 13 – 24 before joining the Support to Family Care Team in November of 2015. I have also spent time with the Interior Indian Friendship Center’s Early Childhood Programs and the Phoenix Centre’s Osprey Youth Treatment Program.

Quite often in my work with youth they talk about the Foster Parents who have impacted their lives and I am excited to support the amazing individuals who care so deeply for some of our most vulnerable children and youth.

Renata Bonthoux

Hello, my name is Jessica Galbraith and I am a Network Facilitator with the Support to Family Care Network Program. I am proud to have served ICS for many years in a variety of front line services, including Supervised and Supported Visitation, various staffed resources and Kamloops Youth Shelter. I have directly cared for and supported at-risk youth and folks with diverse abilities over the years in my career. I am passionate about supporting my community and keeping our most vulnerable sector safe. I have always found this work to be challenging and highly rewarding. I practice from a client centered focus and strengths based perspective.

In this next chapter I look forward to building positive connections, supporting and walking alongside all of our skilled caregivers as we strive towards creating a healthier community.

Jessica Galbraith