What is foster care?

Foster care is a way of providing a family life for someone else’s child in your own home.

There are a number of reasons why children require foster care. Foster care could be a result of illness, relationship problems, family breakdown or a situation where the child’s welfare is threatened.

For the duration of a foster care placement – whether it lasts for days, months or years – a child or youth remains the legal responsibility of the Children’s Aid Society in Ontario (or the birth parent, in the case of a voluntary care agreement).

What is a foster care placement?

‘Foster care placement’ describes the arrangement of a foster home for a child or youth.

Key Assets Fostering provides different types of foster care placements that require different levels of commitment, and sometimes special training or skills. Foster care placements can last for any length of time and may guide a child or youth towards reunion with their birth family, independence, or adoption through the permanence planning process.

Our foster parents are at the centre of these fostering placements, providing a safe, secure and stable environment for children and youth. Find out more about foster care in your province by selecting from the links below:

Could you get involved in foster care?

To become a foster parent you should be enthusiastic, willing and prepared to make a full time commitment to foster care. Certain skills sets and experience are also a benefit, which you should talk to your local fostering advisors about. Key Assets Fostering provides all our carers with local support services and frequent foster parent training courses on a wide range of issues from anti-social behaviour to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

More information about foster care

Key Assets Fostering is looking for foster parents across Ontario. We are happy to talk with anyone who is thinking of fostering to provide more information about the training and support we offer to suit your needs.

If you think foster care sounds like something you could do, or if you want to begin a meaningful career which could change the lives of children and youth across Canada, please contact Key Assets Fostering today.

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