6. Support for Foster Parents

Chatham-Kent Children's Services provides:

• Initial orientation and ongoing training
• Regular visits and support by trained social workers
• Access to other therapeutic services a child may require
• Daily non-taxable reimbursement for living expenses, medical, dental, clothing and school related expenses

3. Who are Foster Parents?

Foster parents come from all walks of life and a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

They may be:

• Experienced parents whose family has grown
  
• Young couples who become foster
  parents while raising their own children
  
• Older couples
  
• Single persons
  
• Parents with training in child care or related professions
  
• People with no special background in child care

All have a genuine interest in children and a sense of community responsibility. They enjoy the challenge presented by foster parenting.

7. How can YOU become a Foster Parent?

Call Chatham-Kent Children's Services and let them know that you are interested in learning more about fostering. A staff person will talk to you and answer your questions.

If you are still interested in fostering or adopting, a home visit will be arranged to answer your specific questions and begin the process.

Please call (519) 352-0440

4. Who are Foster Children?

Each foster child is unique.
There is no typical foster child.

• Some are voluntarily placed with Chatham-Kent Children's Services while others are in foster care by court order.
• Some may come into care because there is a conflict within the family or because of a parent's illness.
• Some may come into care because the
  family cannot provide adequate care or the necessities of life for a variety of reasons.
• Others may have been neglected, abused or abandoned.

Foster children range in age from infancy to 18 years and come from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds.

• Many foster children are teenagers; some are brothers and sisters
• Some foster children face physical, emotional or mental challenges
• Each foster child is going through a troubled period in his/her life and needs the care offered by foster parents
• Many require not only the warmth and acceptance but consistency, structure and behaviour management

2. What is Foster Care?

Foster parents provide a temporary home for children who are in the care of Chatham-Kent Children's Services. Children may need foster care for just a few days, a week, several months or possibly years.

Foster parents work with Chatham-Kent Children's Services staff as part of a team to develop a plan for each child in care. The ideal plan is usually to reunite a child with their family. Where this is not possible, the plan may include adoption or long-term foster care.

Foster parents provide stability and a caring home that encourages a child's growth and development.

While the legal responsibility for the child remains with the agency, foster parents play an important role in the child's daily life.

5. Why become a Foster Parent?

• To share your energy and your enthusiasm with children
• To work with community professionals to help both the child and their natural parents work out their problems
• To help a child while learning new skills

1. Be a Foster Parent

Chatham-Kent Children's Services is responsible for the safety and protection of children.

Wherever possible, Chatham-Kent Children's Services works to keep children in their own family. When this is not possible, a child may be brought into the care of Chatham-Kent Children's Services.

Foster care is the first choice in these situations because most children's needs are often best met in a family situation.