Cecile's Story

Cecile has been fostering with her husband for 11 years. According to Cecile, the couple enjoy the company of children in the home and are eager to make a difference to children and youth in need of foster care.

“Being foster parents is like any family,” says Cecile. “There is love, laughter, trust, joy, and respect. Fostering has its challenges and rewards. However seeing the children flourish in their own uniqueness is such a reward. When I was growing up in my parent’s home, our home consisted of immediate family and foster children from the James Bay area who were in agency care further south of Moosonee.”

The decision to become foster parents

As a child, Cecile always wanted to be a teacher. She graduated with an Early Childhood Educator diploma and took great pleasure in working with children. For Cecile and her husband, however, the decision to become foster parents came as a result of a demanding but positive experience with adoption.

“My husband and I adopted two boys who are brothers and are now adults,” explains Cecile. “We then decided to become long term foster parents for a brother and sister. The girl, who is still our foster child is now, 16 years old and attends the local high school. Her brother attends school in Southern Ontario.

“For the past few years we have fostered other children who were in short term foster care and have had parental visits, a process which is new to us and brings challenges. But it’s so rewarding when we see children who are able to go home to their biological families.

“I love working with children and I view every child as unique. It’s unfortunate that not all specialized services can be found in Moosonee, but through education and work experience I have developed skills around how to handle these challenges. I have learned about behaviour management, child development, special needs such as, ADHD and learning disabilities as well as the foster parent training course. In developing these skills I feel I provide a safe environment for the children who come into our home.”

Are you thinking of fostering?

Key Assets Fostering is looking for foster parents across Northern Ontario, Southern Ontario and Newfoundland and Labrador. 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 fostering 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.

Read more Key Assets Fostering case studies.