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By paNOW Staff

FOSTER FAMILIES MONTH

Need for families still exists as Foster Families Month wraps up

Oct 30, 2023 | 5:00 PM

While the month is drawing to a close, the need for foster families will be in Saskatchewan year-round.

October is Foster Families Month, a national initiative recognizing the importance of foster care. Earlier this month, the provincial government proclaimed October as Foster Families Month in Saskatchewan.

“Foster families help strengthen families by opening their homes and hearts to children and youth in times when their families are in crisis,” said Social Services Minister Gene Makowsky.

According to the latest quarterly statistics released by the Government of Saskatchewan, 462 foster homes were registered as of March with more than 3,800 children in care.

Deb Davies, the executive director of the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association said they’re currently running several recruitment initiatives in the province to educate and provide information to those interested in becoming foster parents.

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“There is no child that is waiting to come into foster care, but we want to ensure that we have enough families to be able to respond when a family needs that extra support.”

Davies couldn’t speak to the obstacles foster families can face, saying they are a resource for families to help overcome any challenges they’re facing.

In the past Saskatchewan’s foster care system has faced its fair share of obstacles, including a 2015 report from the province’s children’s advocate showing a lack of quality case management and supervision in many homes.

Overcrowding has also been an issue in the past with foster homes or out-of-home care and a large number of children in foster care are Indigenous.

According to the 2021 Census, 53.8 per cent of children in Canadian foster homes are Indigenous, for Saskatchewan.

(Government of Canada)

More than three per cent of Indigenous children living in private households in 2021 were in foster care compared to the 0.2 per cent of non-Indigenous children.

That prompted the federal government to pass the “Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families” which came into law in 2020.

Davies emphasized that when it comes to foster care, its goal is to reunite children with their families and to keep them connected in the community.

“Our goal is always to be able to have families within communities that is close to children’s communities. It is very important to keep children connected to their families and communities.”

Right now, Davies said there are no children waiting for foster care but new families are always welcome.

You can find out more through the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association website.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com