For many of us there has been a time when we wanted to reach out to help a child in need, perhaps a neighbour, a relative, or a friend of our own child. Many people who become foster parents have previously helped children and youth in an informal way. Foster parents are a formal extension of that desire to help. Foster families are provided with professional support, training, and financial assistance to help them care for children. Being a foster parent means being a member of a team providing care to children.
• The first step in becoming a foster parent is to learn more about foster parenting by calling the Children’s Aid Society of Algoma. Callers should ask to speak to a Foster Parent Recruitment Coordinator.
• This first contact gives the caller the opportunity to learn more about fostering while giving the Children’s Aid Society of Algoma the chance to find out more about the applicant’s family. This information gathering is done in a sensitive and friendly manner where the caller and the recruiter have an opportunity to discuss foster care.
• It is important for perspective foster families to be open about their situation during the initial call. Since foster parenting affects all family members, applicants are encouraged to discuss fostering before hand with their families.