Karen Keshane was elected President of NIICHRO by the delegation attending the National Training Session and AGM. She replaces Oliver Okemow, outgoing president. She will serve in this role for a two-year term. Congratulations Karen.

Karen is a mother of 8 (4 are her natural children and 4 are foster children), and a grandmother of 2. She has served as a CHR at Key First Nation in Saskatchewan for 19 years. She oversees the health program in the community. Ms. Keshane was instrumental in developing their home and community care program and works closely with the home care nurse. Karen is also no stranger to NIICHRO. She is the former vice-president of her provincial CHR organization and in that capacity served on the NIICHRO Board in the past.

She is familiar with the issues being discussed at the National Training Session. "My little foster daughter has FAS. Sometimes I get so angry with the system." Ms. Keshane has worked with girls in the group home setting. Issues around abandonment have been one of the areas she has focused on with these girls. "I believe in treating these kids how I wanted to be treated as a child - with care and respect."

Karen feels it is important that CHRs have a national organization to represent them. She recognizes the need for better communication among CHRs. "Our system needs to be enhanced and the CHRs need to be utilized to get back to the communities." She would like to help improve lines of communication.

"CHRs are afraid we're being phased out. What we need is to enhance our program. CHRs are at the grassroots. We were the founders of a lot of the programs in our communities."

Karen had a few words to say to her fellow CHRs. "Thank you for putting trust in me. Remember I am only one voice. We need to hear from you to know your concerns. That's why our board members need to listen to the CHRs and bring that back. I see that many CHRs fear other programs are taking over the role of the CHR. What do we do to ensure our role is valued and promoted? We've gained skills and knowledge - like at this conference - and we take these skills back to the community." She suggested that CHRs need to have a national job description - as each varies so much community to community.

Karen invited the regions to tell the NIICHRO board what the key issues are in their areas. "We need to hear so that as a national organization we can help to address them."