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Some children have families that are in significant conflict, others come from homes that are not providing them with the necessities for a healthy life. Other reasons may include mental health and substance abuse in the family, child abuse and neglect. There is no typical foster child, each child is unique. Some children are placed in foster care voluntarily and others through a court order.

Foster children range in age from infancy to 18 years and come from diverse cultural, religious and family backgrounds. Many foster children are teenagers; some are siblings. Some foster children face physical, developmental, emotional and mental challenges.Each foster child is going through a troubled period and needs the care and love offered by a foster family. Many require not only warmth and acceptance but consistency, structure and guidance.

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The duration depends on the child’s needs, and may be anywhere from a few days to a number of years. The average placement lasts six months to one year. Families with children in care often need time and support to work through their issues and arrive at a point where their children can be returned home. In some cases this goal is not realized and a permanent plan must take place. We have other Care Options available for these children.

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The matching process is essential in placement for a child to succeed. Many factors are considered when approving a home, including gender, age, language, and cultural needs. Therefore these decisions are on a case-by-case basis and reviewed regularly. Finding the right match is key to successful fostering.

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Foster parents come from all walks of life and a diversity of culture, religion and lifestyle. They may be:

• experienced parents whose children have grown
• young couples who become foster parents while raising their own children
• older couples
• single persons
• parents with training in child care or related professions
• people with no special background in child care

All have a genuine interest in children and a sense of community responsibility. They enjoy the challenges and rewards presented by foster care.

We seek foster parents with different skill sets and abilities. Foster parents are offered training specific to the age group of children placed. Some foster parents are equipped and trained to care for medically fragile children, children with developmental disabilities, or behaviourally challenged children.

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The Children’s Aid Society or Family and Children Services agencies hold the legal responsibility, however delegate the day to day care of the children to the foster parent.

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Your residence must meet various physical standards set by ourselves and the Ministry of Children and Youth. You do not have to live in a mansion or a fancy, large home in order to be approved as a foster parent. The main criterion is that you provide a safe and caring environment.

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Maintaining birth family, kin and community relationships are essential to a child's sense of overall well being and belonging. Helping a child deal with his/her history and respecting the continued relationships that are important to the child is a significant role for foster parents. Some children in foster care have regular visits with their birth families, even though they are not living with them. We provide support to foster families in achieving this in a safe and comfortable fashion.

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An ideal outcome of fostering is to reunite a child with their family or kin. Therefore it is important for the birth parents to have some involvement with your foster child and you. As part of our fostering team you will receive support and training to assist you in these situations.

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You will receive compensation to help cover the cost of each child’s care and sustenance, clothing and other needs such as recreation costs. Foster parents do not receive a salary, therefore are not required to pay income tax on the compensation received.

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Once you have contacted us to become a foster family, we will answer your initial questions and help you get started with the application process. There are some slight variations from agency to agency, but generally:

• you will complete an application form,
• we will visit you in your home and discuss if fostering is right for you
• your residence will be assessed through a HomeStudy process to ensure that you can provide a safe and healthy environment
• we will provide specialized training to prepare you for your role as a foster parent

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Foster parents receive several weeks of training during the Homestudy process and additional training after being approved. Foster parents have many opportunities to upgrade their skills. Training is offered on a variety of topics relating to different age groups and needs, and reflects the latest research available.

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Fostering requires commitment, patience and skill. It is not for everybody. Successful foster parents will tell you that it is very important to work collaboratively with us and to know your own abilities and limitations. However, the knowledge and understanding of children is more sophisticated than ever, as a result we can provide support, training and assistance to you to help overcome difficulties as they arise. Nothing worthwhile was ever easy!

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Fostering is not the same as parenting a child born to you. The foster child brings his/her relationships, history, genetics, social and medical background, and experiences that need to be understood and respected. Foster parents must be able to support the child with his/her feelings about being in care or being adopted. The PRIDE training we provide, will assist you in preparing to parent under these circumstances. As well, through the SAFE home study assessment, you will explore your strengths and challenges as you anticipate making a commitment to the unique role of parenting a child through fostering or adoption.