Foster Caregiving
Last updated on February 23, 2024On this page
- Need for foster caregivers
- Who can be a foster caregiver?
- What do foster caregivers do?
- What qualities do we look for in foster caregivers?
- How are foster caregivers supported?
- Steps to becoming a foster caregiver
- Caregiver Stories
- Resources
We have an urgent need for foster caregivers.
The need for all types of caregivers is high. We have an urgent need for, and will prioritize, applicants who:
- Have capacity to provide care for sibling groups
- Are passionate about caring for youth
- Are interested in supporting children and youth who identify as LGBTQ2S+
- Identify as Indigenous
- Are skilled in caring for individuals with complex support needs
- Are able to provide weekend respite care for children and youth
Who can be a foster caregiver?
Foster caregivers come from a variety of backgrounds, with diļ¬erent life experiences, skills, and qualities. They share a few things in common:
- Have a strong desire to support families in their community by providing temporary care to children and youth who are unable to live with their parents or extended family
- Support children and youth to maintain connections with family, extended family, and other important people in their lives, as well as maintain connections to their culture and community
- Work collaboratively with the child or youth’s care circle to implement a child or youth’s care plan Have homes that are physically and culturally safe and nurturing
- Are open to learning new caregiving skills, and understand (or are willing to learn) the importance of attachment, belonging and identity
- Are residents of B.C. who and are at least 19 years of age
“Foster caregivers carry out caregiving responsibilities for children and youth who are in the care of the Province.”
What do foster caregivers do?
Foster caregivers carry out caregiving responsibilities for children and youth who are in the care of the Province. Care is provided through an agreement that sets out standards and requirements designed to support high quality care and service to children, youth, and families.
Caregivers provide day-to-day care to a child or youth while keeping them connected with their parents, family and community. Maintaining family ties and cultural identity is crucial in developing a child or youth’s sense of belonging and identity.
When a child or youth cannot live at home, inclusive foster care is critically important. The goal of inclusive care is for the child or youth to return to the care of their parents or family. Inclusive foster care is a partner- ship between the child or youth’s family, the foster caregiver and Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) or an Indigenous Child and Family Services (ICFS) Agency, sharing responsibility for the care of the child or youth, and where parents and kin are meaningfully involved in their care. If a child or youth is Indigenous, their Nation is also part of this partnership.
Do you think you may be able to provide care for a child or youth? Contact B.C. Foster Parents Association or Indigenous Perspectives Society (see Step 1 below) to learn more.
You can also email the MCFD Centralized Retention and Recruitment Team (CRRT) at MCF.CentralizedRetentionandRecruitment@gov.bc.ca with your full name and contact number.
What qualities do we look for in foster caregivers?
- Nurturing – you are warm and accepting of children, youth and families; you create a sense of belonging in your home and family while also nurturing the connections the child or youth has to their family and other important people in their lives
- Openness – you provide a sense of safety and belonging; nurturing a child or youth’s sense of self, including cultural, racial, religious, gender, sexual identity
- Flexibility – you provide care according to a child or youth’s needs
- Curiosity – you are open to learning opportunities that enhance and support your role as a caregiver; you are excited to learn about diverse cultures, needs and families
- Inclusivity – you embrace a team approach to caregiving and partnership where parents, kin, caregivers and MCFD/ICFS Agency social workers support each other in the care of a child or youth
- Trauma Informed – you understand or are willing to learn about how trauma impacts families and how trauma heals within safe relationships
- Bravery – you are willing to ask for and accept support
“While a child or youth cannot live at home, inclusive foster care is critically important. The goal of inclusive care is for the child or youth to return to the care of their parents or family.”
How are foster caregivers supported?
Supports for foster caregivers and the children and youth they care for include:
- Monthly payments to cover the day-to-day costs of caring for the child or youth Insurance
- Training
- Eligibility for childcare subsidy
- Extended health and dental coverage for the child or youth
- Local and provincial caregiver support to help you get to know other foster caregivers
- Some caregivers may be eligible for service payments, in addition to maintenance payments, based on their skills, experience, and type of care and services that they provide
Care Circle
Children and youth in care are supported and surrounded by a care circle.
Child or Youth
Child or Youth's Family
Foster Caregiver's Social Worker
Child or Youth's Social Worker
Other Support Dependent on the Child or Youth's Needs
Steps to becoming a foster caregiver
Step 1:
Call:
B.C. Foster Parents Association: 1-800-663-9999 Mon to Fri, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Indigenous Perspectives Society: 1-250-857-4969
You will be asked to provide some basic information that will be shared with the recruitment oļ¬ce in your area.
Step 2:
Attend an information session
Information sessions are designed to help you and your family make decisions about applying to foster.ā
Central Interior East Kootenays
| Community & Contact Information | Information Session |
|---|---|
|
Fernie Halina Wloka |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Kamloops Anoop Bains |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Salmon Arm Teresa Sommerey, Heather Lessard |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Williams Lake Heidi Wikene |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
North Central/Peace Region
| Community & Contact Information | Information Session |
|---|---|
|
Chetwynd Sienna Randolph |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting.
|
|
Dawson Creek Sienna Randolph |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Fort Nelson Todd Stringer |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting.
|
|
Fort St. John Bhumika Sharma250-224-2770 |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting.
|
|
Prince George Elsa Felker |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
North Coast/Bulkley Nechako
| Community & Contact Information | Information Session |
|---|---|
|
Prince Rupert Tanya Larsen |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
North/East Fraser
| Community & Contact Information | Information Session |
|---|---|
|
Abbotsford Daniela Derksen |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Abbotsford - Fraser Valley Aboriginal Family & Child Services Bhashinie Fernando |
Call to arrange individual/group sessions |
|
Aldergrove (see Abbotsford FVACFSS for Indigenous) Donna Schachtel |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Also do recruitment for Métis Family Services. |
|
Burnaby (see Vancouver VACFSS for Indigenous) Judith Ferry |
First Thursday of each month, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
|
|
Coquitlam (see Vancouver VACFSS for Indigenous) Judith Ferry |
First Thursday of each month, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
|
|
Chilliwack (see Abbotsford FVACFSS for Indigenous) Allison McLeod |
Third Thursday of each month – call for details.
|
|
Fraser Cascades - Fraser Valley Aboriginal Family & Child Services Bhashinie Fernando |
Arranging individual/group sessions as interest is presented. |
|
Maple Ridge (see Abbotsford FVACFSS for Indigenous) Judith Ferry |
First Thursday of each month, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. |
|
Mission (see Abbotsford FVACFSS for Indigenous) Daniela Derksen
|
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting.
|
|
New Westminster (see Vancouver VACFSS for Indigenous) Judith Ferry
|
First Thursday of each month, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
|
|
Pitt Meadows Judith Ferry |
First Thursday of each month, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
|
|
Port Coquitlam (see Vancouver VACFSS for Indigenous) Judith Ferry
|
First Thursday of each month, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
|
|
Port Moody (see Vancouver VACFSS for Indigenous) Judith Ferry
|
First Thursday of each month, 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
|
Okanagan West Kootenays
| Community & Contact Information | Information Session |
|---|---|
|
Kelowna Virnell Zacharias |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Keremeos Recruitment worker |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Info sessions the last Wednesday of every month at 1:30pm. |
|
Lake Country – Okanagan Virnell Zacharias |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Naramata Recruitment worker |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Info sessions the last Wednesday of every month at 1:30pm.
|
|
Okanagan Falls Recruitment worker |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Info sessions the last Wednesday of every month at 1:30pm.
|
|
Oliver Recruitment worker |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Info sessions the last Wednesday of every month at 1:30pm.
|
|
Osoyoos Recruitment worker |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Info sessions the last Wednesday of every month at 1:30pm. |
|
Peachland Virnell Zacharias |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Penticton Recruitment worker |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Info sessions the last Wednesday of every month at 1:30pm. |
|
Princeton Recruitment worker
|
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Info sessions the last Wednesday of every month at 1:30pm.
|
|
Summerland Recruitment worker
|
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Info sessions the last Wednesday of every month at 1:30pm.
|
|
Vernon Joe Marcotte |
Third Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm – call to register.
|
South Fraser
| Community & Contact Information | Information Session |
|---|---|
|
Delta Sarah Quiring |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Also do recruitment for Circle 5 Indigenous & Métis Family Services. |
|
Ladner Sarah Quiring |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Also do recruitment for Circle 5 Indigenous & Métis Family Services. |
|
Langley (see Abbotsford FVACFSS for Indigenous) Sarah Quiring |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Also do recruitment for Métis Family Services. |
|
Surrey Sarah Quiring |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Also do recruitment for Circle 5 Indigenous & Métis Family Services. |
|
Tsawwassen Sarah Quiring |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Also do recruitment for Circle 5 Indigenous & Métis Family Services.
|
|
White Rock Sarah Quiring |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. Also do recruitment for Circle 5 Indigenous & Métis Family Services.
|
Vancouver Coastal
| Community & Contact Information | Information Session |
|---|---|
|
North Vancouver (see Vancouver VACFSS for Indigenous) Lucy Allen |
Call to set up a meeting or get details of a Zoom meeting you can join. |
|
Richmond (see Vancouver VACFSS for Indigenous) Marlyse Lam |
Zoom Info Sessions every 6 weeks – call for details. |
|
Squamish – MCFD Alexandra Hammond |
Call to set up a meeting or get details of a Zoom meeting you can join. |
|
Vancouver – MCFD Marlyse Lam |
Zoom Info Sessions every 6 weeks – call for details.
|
|
Vancouver - Vancouver Aboriginal Child & Family Services Carmen Martin |
Zoom Info Sessions: Second Tuesday of each month, 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Fourth Tuesday of each month, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
|
|
West Vancouver Lucy Allen |
Call to set up a meeting or get details of a Zoom meeting you can join.
|
Vancouver Island
| Community & Contact Information | Information Session |
|---|---|
|
Campbell River Diane Bojsza |
Call to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Comox Valley Laurie Sheldon |
First Wednesday of each month (Virtual), 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. |
|
Courtenay Laurie Sheldon |
Online Zoom sessions with FPSS: https://fosterhope.ca 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. |
|
Duncan Christine Manly |
Call to set up a meeting or get details of a Zoom meeting you can join.
|
|
Gulf Islands Resource Duty Social Worker |
Online Zoom sessions with FPSS: Second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Fourth Wednesday of each month, 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Register: https://fosterhope.ca/2020/06/23/south-island-foster-parent-information-sessions/
|
|
Ladysmith Tanya Pohl |
Online Zoom sessions with FPSS: https://fosterhope.ca/
|
|
Lake Cowichan Christine Manly |
Call to set up a meeting or get details of a Zoom meeting you can join.
|
|
Nanaimo Tanya Pohl |
Online Zoom sessions with FPSS: https://fosterhope.ca/
|
|
Parksville Iain Hay |
Call the contacts to set up an individual meeting.
|
|
Port Alberni Glynn Sutton |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting.
|
|
Port Hardy Ekaterina Verzilova |
Call the contacts to set up an individual COVID-friendly/virtual meeting. |
|
Victoria, Gulf Islands Resource Duty Social Worker |
Online Zoom Session with FPSS https://fosterhope.ca/
|
āStep 3:
Submit your application
After attending an information session, submit an application to become a foster caregiver. The application screening process includes:
- Personal references
- A medical assessment
- A criminal record check for the care provider and all those 18 years of age or older who are living in the home or who may have significant and unsupervised access to the child/youth
- A review of records to check for previous child welfare involvement
NOTE: Criminal or child welfare records and/or health concerns do not automatically prevent you from becoming a caregiver. The assessment considers historical context and current situation when talking about historical or current concerns.
Step 4:
Attend pre-service training
Foster caregiver applicants are required to complete training prior to receiving approval as a foster caregiver. This online training takes approximately 35 hours to complete and is self-paced over a 12-week period. Learners are supported by specialized facilitators. An assigned social worker will register foster caregiver applicants for this training.
Step 5:
Complete in-home interviews
A social worker will complete several in-home interviews with prospective caregivers. Many topics are discussed during the interviews, such as:
- History and personal characteristics of caregiver applicants
- Parenting style and skills or work experience with children and youth
- Family and partner relationships, other personal supports
- Lifestyle, schedules and commitments
- Community and cultural involvement, spiritual beliefs
- Home environment
- A conversation with all other members of the household
- Willingness to collaborate and connect with social workers, a child or youth’s family and a child or youth’s Indigenous community (if a child or youth in the home is Indigenous)
Caregiver Stories
Resources
- BC Foster Parents Association
- Indigenous Caregivers of BC
- Representative for Children and Youth - Belonging
- The Federation of Community Social Services of BC