Changes in Aboriginal foster care address long-standing concerns

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There are more than 3,000 Saskatchewan children in the care of the Department of Social Services. Roughly 70 per cent of these children are of Aboriginal descent. There are some 850 approved foster homes in the province. Only a small fraction of these homes contains at least one Aboriginal caregiver.

Such are the facts on foster care in Saskatchewan, as laid out in a report released last year by the Saskatchewan Children's Advocate Office. The report detailed many of the difficulties faced by the Department of Social Services and by the youth in its care-too few caseworkers and resources, inconsistent policies and legislation, and a lack of foster families, to name a few. None of these shortcomings, though, has caused as much concern in the Aboriginal community as the overrepresentation of First Nations and Metis youth in the foster program and the under-representation of Aboriginal people in caregiver roles.

"There have been ongoing changes to the foster care system," explained Debbie Davies, first vice president of the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association, when asked about the steps taken to deal with these concerns. "Since the Advocate's report, we've seen the redesign of the child welfare system, the redevelopment of the Children Services manual, the revision of the existing training packages, the hiring of additional Social Services staff."

Part of the system's redesign has involved the launch of several pilot projects to deal specifically with Aboriginal needs. These projects are currently underway in North Battleford, Prince Albert and several other locations throughout the province, and have already generated many innovative ideas.

Lance LaRose is a director at Fort Battleford Urban Metis Development, one of the organizations conducting a pilot project. LaRose discussed several of the programs he is working on. One involves acquiring duplex-style homes where families in need of attention can be brought to live alongside mentor families and improve their parenting and communication skills. Another looks at removing the parents from troubled homes, rather than the children, thus allowing social workers to intervene with both parties while minimizing the disruption in the children's lives. A third seeks to increase the number of Aboriginal foster homes by designing a new training program more responsive to cultural needs.

"It's important that we take more responsibility for our children, and for all social services and programs," said LaRose. "This is a good start. We have good support from the province, and we're a pilot project, so the things we develop here we can pass along to other groups across Saskatchewan."

Shelly Anderson, a co-ordinator for Fort Battleford Urban Metis Development, works firsthand with in-care children. While she, too, is proud of the progress being made, she finds it disturbing that so many Aboriginal foster children must be placed into non-Aboriginal families.

"The children in Aboriginal foster homes have an easier time adapting. They do not lose touch with their heritage," she explained.

The same sentiment is echoed by a Saskatoon First Nations woman who has provided foster care to dozens of youth over a 20-year period.

"In white households, these kids face more problems. They live a whole different life," said the woman, who asked to remain anonymous so as not to attract undue attention to the foster children currently living with her. "There needs to be more Aboriginal foster homes, but I think many families are scared of the time and commitment."

Certainly, becoming a foster parent is a large responsibility, but for those that make the sacrifice, the rewards can also be great. A story related by Davies demonstrates both the highs and lows of foster parenting.

"A young girl came to me at the age of 14 - I'll use the name 'Mary'. She had just been made a long-term ward of Social Services, with her family wanting no contact with her. At the time of placement she wasinvolved in the street life. Her boyfriend was very abusive, had threatened to kill her on numerous occasions. I wasn't sure what I could do for her and if I was even helping her, but with the support of the social worker I hung in. I just kept telling her that I cared for her and would help with whatever I could.

"Mary became pregnant by the abusive boyfriend at the age of 18. She knew that, for the life of her unborn child, she would need things to change. She returned to school and graduated from an aesthetician's course. Today, she is very successful in her career and, best of all, the most caring mother to her precious daughter. Mary once told me if it hadn't been for her social worker and myself she would have never made it through those tough times. She told me that we believed in her. She told me that she loved me.

"Foster care does work . . . it's just that people only hear the bad stories."

To keep foster care working, and to improve its delivery to Aboriginal youth, it will take more than innovative pilot projects and dedicated workers. It will take the involvement of many more Aboriginal people in the programs themselves.

Anyone interested in becoming involved can call their regional Social Services office (with locations in Saskatoon, Regina, Moose Jaw, North Battleford, Prince Albert and Yorkton) or toll-free to 1-800-667-7002. Information is also available through the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association at 1-888-276-2880.