By Jill Slater

Province to review mandatory licensing for foster homes

Sep 17, 2014 | 9:32 AM

Saskatchewan’s Advocate for Children and Youth wants the province to make it mandatory for foster homes to get licensed.

The recommendation follows the release of a detailed report about a toddler who died in care in 2009. Bob Pringle says we license day cares, so why not license foster homes?

“We see it as an accountability issue,” said Pringle at a news conference on Tuesday.

Pringle acknowledged that Saskatchewan’s regulations for foster homes are tighter than in other provinces but says he still wants to see licensing.

“But in Manitoba, Alberta and Ontario foster homes are licensed, and I recognize there are differences among provinces but we continue to promote that,” said Pringle.

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Minister of social services Donna Harpauer says the province is reviewing the idea.

“One thing I don’t want to see is licensing just for the sake of a license. It’s got to have regulations that indeed make it meaningful,” said Harpauer. “We have fairly stiff regulations that are more meaningful than some of the licensing requirements in the provinces.”

Would-be foster parents have to pass a criminal record check and have no current or recent cases of child protection in their families. A social worker will do a home assessment and parents must complete a training course with the province.

Harpauer says the province is consulting with First Nations groups on the idea of licensing. There is no timeframe on when a decision will be made.

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