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Becoming a foster family for children and youth

General information

Why become a foster family?

Day after day, foster families give real meaning to the words help, support, giving and love.

And bit by bit, they see the children they have welcomed into their homes grow, develop, find self-confidence and love.

Do you want to make a positive difference by welcoming a child into your life?

 

Application process

Are you interested in becoming a foster family?

  1. Contact the recruitment department at 1-866-420-1584 to express your interest in becoming a foster family.
  2. You will be invited to attend a general information evening, after which you can start making plans to foster a child.
  3. You will fill out an application form and other mandatory documents to activate your request and be assessed as a foster family.
  4. Once the form and other documents have been submitted, the Youth Centre recruitment department will analyze your application.

 

The foster family’s commitments

To be able to foster one or more children, the foster family must commit to:

  • devoting time and energy to a baby, child or teenager in order to meet their specific needs for affection, attention and care;
  • providing a safe, stable, warm and stimulating place to live in the short, medium or long term;
  • treating their foster child like any other member of the family;
  • accepting that the child has had a difficult life, which may be reflected in their behaviour;
  • providing quality services in the best interests of the child, according to recognized practices and in compliance with laws and regulations;
  • working with the child’s biological parents, caseworkers from the Youth Centre, and other professionals or specialists;
  • helping to reunite the child with their biological family, where applicable, or moving them to another facility better suited to their needs.

 

Standards for becoming a foster family

To be able to foster one or more children, the foster family must meet certain standards:

  • You may live alone, as a family or as a couple.
  • You must have no criminal record in relation to the role of foster family.
  • Your accreditation must not have been suspended or revoked or your agreement terminated for serious grounds in the past three years.
  • You must not have declared bankruptcy in Canada in the past three years.
  • You must hold valid, recognized CPR and general first-aid certification.
  • You must have a safe living environment that complies with the Building Act, fire safety laws, and the municipal by-laws in your area. Your home must also meet cleanliness standards.
  • You must be over 18 years old and be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada.
  • You must have the physical space to foster a child, based on certain standards of safety, hygiene and comfort.
  • You must provide a sufficient number of common areas suitable for various daily activities.
  • You must have a room measuring at least 80 square feet, with a window and furniture appropriate to the child’s needs.
  • You must have good budgeting skills.
  • You must be available for the child entrusted to your care.
  • You must have the skills to act as an “accompanying parent” in partnership with the Youth Centre.

 

The evaluation

An evaluator will be assigned to your case. They will contact you and explain the steps in the evaluation process and the types of meetings required:

  • They will assess your abilities and skills;
  • They will determine your profile based on a number of factors, such as your family dynamic;
  • They will establish the profile of the children you are able to foster;
  • They will run a criminal background check;
  • They will visit your house or apartment to ensure that it meets the physical standards.

Once the evaluation is completed, the evaluator will write a report and submit it to their accreditation committee.

If the committee decides that you meet all the criteria and have the required aptitudes, they may decide to sign a specific agreement with you. The evaluator will contact you as soon as possible to inform you of the decision regarding your accreditation.

 

Who are our young people?

  • They are aged from birth to 17.
  • They have experienced difficulties in their families, whether it be neglect, rejection, physical abuse or sexual abuse.
  • They may also have serious behavioural issues, emotional or social problems, or developmental delays.
  • They need to be able to rely on a family that, for a certain period of time, will take care of them, listen to them, support them, love them and help them feel safe.
  • They are followed by a psychosocial caseworker under the Youth Protection Act or the Act respecting health services and social services or, at times, the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
  • They may be francophone, anglophone or allophone. They may be from another culture or practise a different religion than that of the foster family.