York Region foster mom ready to open her arms and doors

Declining number of foster families is a serious issue for Children’s Aid Societies across the province.

Thestar.com
Oct. 18, 2015
By Erin Silver

Cynthia always wanted to be a foster parent.

Now, she is getting her chance. Following a nine-month process that involved a series of background and police checks, nine weeks of classes and four home visits, each lasting up to three hours long, Cynthia is opening her doors.

“I’m very excited but also nervous,” says Cynthia, who has taken a leave of absence from her job as a child and youth worker with the York Region District School Board to devote her full attention to her new role. “I help kids at school who have behavioural difficulties or special needs, but so many children need so much more on a day-to-day basis.

She has bought and collected everything she may need for the children who are placed in her care.

“I have toys, books, clothes, shampoo, lice treatment products, diapers and even things like mattress covers so I can be prepared for anything,” says Cynthia, whose last name cannot be provided for the safety of her incoming children.

A single woman, Cynthia is offering what many might think of as an untraditional foster home.

But according to the York Region Children’s Aid Society, “untraditional” is exactly what the organization needs.

“Our society is incredibly diverse,” says Kim Sylvester, residential development supervisor with the CAS. “We are encouraging same-sex couples, single parents, working parents and families with a variety of backgrounds to join our fostering community.”

Although the CAS is seeing more applications from single workers and two-parent families, it’s just not enough.

An increased emphasis on keeping children safe within the family unit means there are fewer children going into foster care than in the past.

“At the same time, there is also a decline in the number of people who are interested in fostering and a decrease in the number of foster homes being opened each year,” says Sylvester.

On average, less than 10 per cent of foster homes have space to accept new children coming into the agency’s care. As a result, children may need to be placed in homes that are not the best match culturally or geographically and siblings may need to be split up and sent to separate homes.

“It’s a struggle for us and we are worried,” says Sylvester. “This is why we continue to need people to come forward who are willing to foster.”

Sylvester says the trend exists across the province and adds it is a national and international issue as well. She and her colleagues are working with community partners to recruit foster families.

She wants people to understand that the main goal is to keep children with their families, “but if that option is exhausted, foster care is critical.”

The need for foster parents is especially great when it comes to infants, teens and siblings.

The organization stresses that foster families can make a difference in a child’s life, offer hope, healing, understanding and fun.

“Many children coming into care have already experienced at least one form of trauma,” says Sylvester. “Finding a safe home during a time of crisis is an important beginning to the healing process.

“If you’ve ever thought about fostering a child, call us. We can help support you all the way through training and assessment.”

Cynthia, who is grateful for all the support she has received since making her call in January, has managed to gather clothes and items that weren’t even on her original list. “Sometimes kids will show up with nothing.”

Her first child was placed with her earlier this month.