Becoming a Foster Parent
Who Can Foster?
Couples or single applicants over the age of 21 can apply. The commitment to fostering does require that one caregiver must be home full time. You need to have a stable home environment with sufficient space to comfortably accommodate the child and be financially stable independent of the fostering reimbursement. It is important to note that smoking in the home is not permitted when you commit to being a foster parent.
Children We Foster
Reachingout works with Children’s Aid Societies to place children who cannot otherwise live with biological family. Our children come from all backgrounds and cultures and have most likely faced some type challenge that they will need to be supported with.
Children may be socially and/or emotionally challenged or be delayed in educational success. They may be developmentally or physically disabled or medically fragile.
How to Become a Foster Parent
There is an application and assessment process that Reachingout completes when a person expresses an interest in fostering. This begins with an initial phone contact to discuss the commitment required to be a foster parent.
If it is determined that you would be a good prospect to become a foster parent, a worker from our team will carry out a full assessment which will include four to six visits in your home with all members of your household. These visits will help us learn information about your household, your experiences and your skills.
You will be required to provide a Police Check including a Vulnerable Sector Search for all members of your household over the age of 18, a safety check on your home including a fire inspection, a medical check and three to five references.
Upon completion of this homestudy and the compilation of a detailed report, a team of professionals from our agency would determine if your home would be a good fit for our agency.
Types of Placements
Fostering placements can present in many different ways:
At times a foster parent is contacted for an Emergency placement where a child needs a home for a few nights.
A Short term placement usually involves providing a home for a child for a few weeks or months until challenges within the natural family can be resolved or alternate living arrangements are made for the young person.
A Long term placement occurs when a child is unable to return to their natural home and a decision about a permanent family for the child is unable to be resolved. A long term placement offers some permanence for a child who cannot return home and a long term fostering placement is more appropriate for the child than adoption.
Support and Training
Reachingout Family Homes provides excellent support to our foster families and the children placed within their care. A support worker is provided to your family and will help you and your family in dealing with all aspects of being a foster parent. Our staff is also on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We offer regular training to our foster parents to further enhance their skills in supporting the children in their care.
Fostering Payments
Reachingout Family Homes provides a financial reimbursement to provide a home for a foster child. The amount of reimbursement is dependent on the type of placement you have.
For more information about reimbursement, please contact our agency.
Stories From Experienced Foster Parents
“We chose to foster when I decided I wanted to be home with our young children. It has been an incredible experience for our whole family. Our children have benefitted from learning about the difficulties other children face and I believe it has made them stronger and more empathetic people. Being foster parents has presented some challenges at times but the rewards of supporting children who need help has been well worth the work.” ~ Janey, foster parent for 5 years.
