Fostering means providing temporary and sometimes long-term care for children and youth who cannot live with their own families. Foster parents are key members of a team dedicated to helping children and youth through difficult situations by offering support and a safe place to live.

Foster families play a significant role in the life of a child or youth in their care. Foster families are:

• Entrusted with the responsibility of nurturing and protecting a child or youth;
• Addressing and meeting the developmental needs of the child or youth;
• Keeping a child or youth connected to their family and supporting reunification; and,
• Working as part of a professional planning team to support the child or youth.

Finding Placements for Children and Youth

Children usually come into care when the court makes a legal finding that a child is in need of protective intervention due to concerns for their safety and well-being, and places a child in the care of a Manager of Social Supports and Well-Being. Parents may also voluntarily transfer the care of their child to a Manager of Social Supports and Well-Being. While children and youth are in care, the Department of Social Supports and Well-Being works with the family to reduce risk and promote positive change in the family so that the child or youth may eventually be able to safely return home.

The type of placement that a child or youth requires is determined based on the best interests of that child or youth. Relatives and individuals significant to the child or youth are considered first when exploring placement options and may be approved as a foster parent to care specifically for that child or youth. If a family member or significant other is unavailable, the child or youth is placed in a foster home or another approved residential setting that best meets the needs of the child or youth.