More foster families needed in province

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According to information from the Saskatchewan Department of Community Resources, more foster parents are needed in the province, and there is an even greater need for Aboriginal families to become foster families because they can help Aboriginal children in care to preserve their cultural identity.

Foster families have an important role to play in efforts to ensure children are safe and cared for. Children may be placed in foster care homes for a number of reasons. They may be suffering from neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse or sexual abuse and exploitation. Foster families provide a home for these children until it is safe for them to return to their own homes.

Foster care applicants can be either single or married and can be of any race or ethnicity. Foster parents can rent or own their home. Foster parents must be currently living in a stable arrangement with financial stability. They must be able to pass a criminal record check and child protection screening. And they should have experience with or be willing to learn about children with special needs.

Once these basic qualifications have been met, there are five more steps involved in becoming a foster parent. Prospective foster parents must complete an initial consultation with a foster care caseworker, complete an application and provide medical information.

Potential foster parents must then complete a criminal record check.

Next on the list is completion of foster parent pre-service training and participating in a family assessment home study with foster care case workers.

The pre-service program provides the foster family with information to prepare them for challenges, opportunities and issues associated with fostering. This information also helps them in making the decision about whether or not they want to become foster parents.

The majority of children who come into care remain for only brief periods of time, but a child may be placed in a foster home for a day, for a few weeks, or for months or even years.

There are a number of different types of foster homes-emergency foster homes, short-term, long-term, respite or therapeutic homes. Therapeutic foster families receive specialized training and support to help them provide homes for children and youth who might have a range of behavioural, social, developmental and emotional problems that might make it difficult for the regular foster care system to meet their needs.

A basic maintenance monthly allowance for each child in foster care is provided to foster parents to cover the costs of raising a child. The allowance covers food, clothing, education, transportation and household operations.

For more information contact your nearest Community Resources regional office or call 1-800-667-7002.