The Peer Support Program is an initiative designed to provide support to kinship & foster parents by kinship & foster parents. These network-trained kinship & foster parents are referred to as Peer Support Providers.
Peer Support Providers have first-hand knowledge of the increasingly complex challenges to providing care to children and they have been trained in ways to provide assistance in a knowledgeable and healthy manner. They give emotional and social support to empower kinship & foster parents and the children to whom they provide care. At the same time they are helping to support a strong and cooperative working relationship between kinship & foster parents and agencies.
KFFNM believes that an organized and comprehensive support system is critical to assisting all foster families fulfill their role as caregivers.
Vinnie Wiens
Vinnie lives in Kleefeld with her husband Fred. They have been fostering in the south-east area of the province for 13 years. These years of fostering have given her experience in many different areas like FASD, ODD, Autism, attachment, but not limited to this.
Lisa Desharnais
Lisa has lived around Ile des Chenes area for the last 23 years, has 3 bio children and 3 foster children. Lisa has been a foster parent for 8 years and lives for theses little ones. Lisa has attended courses in Autism, FASD, Communication, Relational Attachment and many others. Lisa enjoys using her knowledge and experience to connect with people through the Peer Support line.
Michelle Bruneau
Michelle has been living in Thompson for almost nine years. She is in love with the north. It is a beautiful place. Before moving to Thompson she lived in Powerview, Mb. She owned a fabric and Craft shop called Powerview Fabrics. She loves all things crafty. She is also a certified florist. She has been a foster parent to a sweet boy of six for a year. Her daughter had him since he was born but due to health issues she could not continue to be a foster parent. She gladly jumped at the chance to foster. She is learning so much about fostering and how to care for children with special needs. She is happy and excited to have joined the Peer Support Line.