Report on Foster Parents Plan Training by Beyond Borders

In September 2004, Beyond Borders (Toronto) committee member David Butt was contacted by representatives of Foster Parents Plan Canada (Plan Canada). Plan Canada was in the process of developing a child protection policy for its work in Canada and abroad, and required some assistance from a children's rights specialist. David referred the matter to Roz Prober, President of Beyond Borders (Winnipeg), who then contacted Mark Erik Hecht, Senior Legal Counsel to Beyond Borders, and Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Windsor. Mark worked with the staff of Plan Canada, on behalf of Beyond Borders, to draft a comprehensive set of guidelines, regulations and procedures aimed at protecting the children that are involved in the work of Plan Canada, directly and indirectly. The outcome document was based on the internal procedures of the organization, as well as the domestic and international laws on child protection. Mark also traveled to Toronto and spent a day with the senior management of Plan Canada to provide them with suggestions, tools and resources for implementing the outcome document. He also spent a day with the Plan Canada office staff teaching them about child protection measures and the necessity for installing guidelines, regulations and procedures in institutions who work with and for vulnerable groups, including children and youth. Following Mark's visit, Plan Canada senior management held a training session with their office staff on the outcome document.

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