Thinking About Foster Care? How We Support You Through the Process

Have you ever considered becoming a foster parent but aren’t sure if it’s the right fit for you? You’re not alone, and many foster parents now have been curious about the same thing.

Opening your home to provide children and youth with a stable and loving foster family is not easy, and we understand that the licensing and onboarding processes can make everything that much more difficult. That’s why at The Family Centre, our goal for the ohpikîhakan (“a child that is being raised”) foster care program is focused on supporting the child as much as supporting you as the foster parent.

If you are feeling any hesitation in becoming a foster parent, Jennifer Hayes, manager for Family Support Services, encourages you to “reach out to us to ask questions, understand the process to become a foster parent, as well as the support that you will receive through The Family Centre from intake to placement and beyond.”

Rosannah, a foster parent in our program, felt this exact way when she started. After thinking about getting involved in fostering for “a good 10-15 years,” she admitted that she never did because the entire process and the idea of doing it by herself was terrifying. However, ohpikîhakan drew her in because of the support and training built into the program for foster parents.

“I’m a firm believer in “it taking a village, and there definitely is a village here,” says Rosannah. “I know other families who are in the regular foster system, and already, I have received more support and training than they had access to and thought I would have during the entire process. It feels like I’ve really been welcomed as part of the team.”

If you’re interested but not ready to reach out yet, here are a few preliminary questions to help you decide if it would be a good fit:

• You have a desire to make a difference and give back to your community by becoming a foster parent.
• You are prepared to be committed, patient, and caring to youth and children.
• You are eager to learn and grow.
• You understand the importance of relationships, especially for the development of children and youth.
• You are willing to connect children and youth to their families and culture.

“If you have a desire to make a difference and give back to your community, becoming a foster parent is one way to do that,” says Jennifer. “We want to ensure that prospective caregivers are making an informed decision that is best for themselves and their family.” If this sounds like you, please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or to learn more about the process.

 

Why ohpikîhakan?

Aside from being a trauma-informed program that is embedded within culturally responsive services and Indigenous worldviews, The Family Centre also provides:

• Help through the licensing and onboarding process.
• Ongoing training and reflective support from a therapeutic supervisor.
• A holistic (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual) support system, including therapeutic supervisors, youth coaches, and more.
• Cultural teachings through our Indigenous Support Services team, including our Indigenous Practice Framework.

For more details, please visit our Foster Care resource page.