FOSTER CARE PROGRAM

DESCRIPTION

The foster care program at Terrace Youth Residential Services has been developed to provide the care and welfare for children and youth in a family situation. Our goal is to provide safety and support for the children and youth in care as well as the foster parents. We encourage communication between the children and youths with their biological family with the support of the foster parents to maintain a consistant and open relationship.

Criteria for being a Foster Parent

• 21 years of age
• Doctor's note stating you're fit to foster
• Criminal record check
• Live in a suitable and safe residence
• Stable family environment
• Can be single, married, divorced, common-law, heterosexual, homosexual, lesbian
• Have own biological children in the household

Steps involved in becoming a foster parent

Step 1: Send us a request via email or by telephone
Step 2: We will call with 2 business days of receiving your request
Step 3: Pre-screening application with the co-ordinator to discuss that basic requirements are met
Step 4: Home Study to be completed by a consulting agency
Step 5: Physical inspection of residence
Step 6: Placement of youth

About the youth in care

Children and youth may have various reasons to be placed in care, for example:

• Minimal behavioural problems
• Mild learning disabilities
• Individual family breakdown
• Transition from a group home to foster care
• Placement breakdown in previous foster home

Services provided to the foster parents and the youths

• Supply 24 hour on-call support
• Youth worker assigned to each youth
• Psychologist provided if needed
• Provide relief to foster parents
• Training courses for foster parents
• Individual goal plan for the youth
• Plans of care for youth
• Progress reports for youth
• Support to foster parents dealing with issues
• Emergency back-up for foster parents
• Foster parents receive payments for the care of the foster child, though they are insufficient to be relied upon as regular family income