Non-renewal of the President’s mandate, Jacinthe Boucher

Dear resources,

Here comes the time to vote for the leadership positions of the FFARIQ. This year, the president and secretary positions will be in election during the general annual meeting, next October.

It will soon be six years that I am at the service of the FFARIQ’s resources, including one year as the treasurer and five years as the President. After a challenging but very stimulating path, I would like to share with you my decision to not renew my mandate to the presidency. This is a thoroughly considered decision and is based on my desire to face new challenges.

Also, I had given myself five years to reach my goals. It is time for me to say that I achieved my mission. I draw up an enviable record of the FFARIQ’s path on several fronts. During this very active period of time, the great realisations of our organization were made possible thanks to the trust you have shown me and to your support when courageous decisions were taken. For your records, here are some important issues which powered the FFARIQ to its current state:

• The complete reorganization of our Federation following the legislative change concerning the new conditions of exercice of the resources changed its mission and its general goals;

• The updating of the internal structure which now has a general director who sees to the proper functioning of the organization as well as seven employees to the resources’ service. The office workers deal with the administrative part and the union representatives help you with the representation and accompaniment;

• Two group agreements have been negociated and ratified with the government of Quebec in difficult situations, never forgetting the peculiar nature which distinguishes the foster resources in youth protection. Negociating these conventions is a one thing but to apply them and integrate them to the discussions with the institutions, where we know there are a lot of interpretations, is not an esay task;

• We had to intervene repeatedly through appeals against the institutions and the ministry. Our wins changed the relationship between the foster families and the bodies that govern us. The FFARIQ is the only organization which relies on case law and which led to the end even the toughest cases. And it continues.

The announcement of my decision happens now in order to give you the opportunity to establish a profile of the person who will be interested in pursuing the work in progress. You have the responsibility to find a person for whom the cause of the foster resources and the best interest of the organization are at the center of her piorities. The FFARIQ knows the expectations of the resources because it is entirely dedicated to you. Thus, all the union dues are reinvested in the cause.

I assure you of my constant collaboration and of my availability until December, 2016. I wish to make a smooth transition with the new presidency and see through the issue, dear to my heart, concerning the modifications of the Youth Protection Act. If possible, I will be available for every active disagreements cases with the ministry, as a witness or for any kind of matters.

The FFARIQ is better equipped than ever to deal with rules that are imposed on us. We gave ourselves an action plan which must continue its deployment. The threat of the major unions to control the social services’ environment must be attenuated by the faith in the FFARIQ. Beforehand, every member who constitutes our Federation must remain confident in their own abilities. It is on these gains that we grew up together and the future will depend on your capacity to maintain the course.

I will end this by thanking you sincerely for these outstanding years. Those memories will be with me for all my life. I met some extraordinary people who have a common passion to influence the dream of a children’s lifetime who were not borm in the right place. Your devotion was naturally transfered to our cause and every foster familiy from Quebec receives the benefits of it.

Best regards,

Jacinthe Boucher

FFARIQ'S Outgoing President