Are You the Face of Fostering?

As the concept of family evolves in our community, so does the definition of a foster parent. Foster parents come from a variety of different backgrounds that reflect the diversity of the children who need our care, and the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa (CASO) is always looking to grow and diversify the community of people looking to foster a child when they can’t be taken care of at home.

What is foster care?

Foster care involves providing a caring and supportive home environment for one or more children or youths for a period of a few days, weeks, months, or possibly longer.

What is a foster parent?

Foster parents are an integral part of the CASO team who help develop and support a plan for each child or youth in care. Foster parents are people from any ethnic, cultural, racial or religious background with any sexual orientation who believe that every child deserves love and respect. They provide warmth, safety, consistency and guidance for children and youths in care.

Why do people foster?

Fostering is a personal decision, and affects different people in different ways. Here are just a few examples of quotes from people currently fostering children in Ottawa.

“Fostering has enriched us and our children in ways we could not image it would,” says one couple who have been fostering for 15 years.

“Fostering has been very rewarding for our family to have been able to help our community. Our children have enjoyed the experience thus far,” adds another couple from the Muslim community.

“I always tell people in my community that our children need help and they too could help. It feels good to be able to make a difference,” says a single mother in the Somalian community. “My children have been a great support throughout our fostering experience.”

“We have enjoyed opening our home to children and youth with various needs,” says a single woman from the LGBTQQ community. “We have always had a lot of children in our home so we could not imagine our lives without children.”

“It’s the greatest thing we have ever done as a whole family,” adds another family, who have biological children as well. “If you are a person on this earth, you can do it! It’s not about us; it’s about the children we can help. I wish everyone could foster for one year so that children in need would never have to look for a family.”

One thing we know from talking to foster parents is that most people become foster parents after hearing first hand of another foster parent’s experience. It’s a great message, and shows how rewarding fostering can be for parents and children alike.

Why are children and youths in foster care?

There may be concerns that a child or youth is at risk of abuse or neglect as a result of parenting challenges, such as:

  • inadequate resources and support
  • addictions
  • mental illness that is not well-managed
  • medical illness that impedes an ability to parent needed.

Foster children are no different from any other child in that each one is unique. There is no typical foster child. Foster children:

  • range in age from infancy to 18 years
  • are from diverse cultural, religious and family backgrounds
  • may be part of a sibling group who also require a foster home
  • may have experienced emotional trauma
  • require consistency, stability and structure

Can you foster?

The CASO is actively recruiting for foster parents from diverse backgrounds. That means people who are single or living in a relationship—heterosexual or same sex—and are any race or religion. The children in the care of the CAS are a diverse group, and to ensure a child/youth’s culture, religion, language and gender-specific needs are maintained, we need that same diversity in our foster parents. Of course, having enough space in your home is a necessity as well.

What supports are available for foster parents?

  • monthly reimbursement for the child or youth’s living expenses
  • in home support
  • 24-hour on call support
  • training workshops
  • networking and support groups with other foster parents

How do I go about becoming a foster parent?

For information about foster care, please contact the Children’s Aid Society of Ottawa at 613-742-1620 ext. 1 or visit www.casott.on.ca; there you will find plenty of information about the process, evaluation and training required to become a foster parent.

Fostering a child or youth is a rewarding and affirming experience, so please ask yourself: are you or someone you know the face of fostering?