What is Foster Parenting?

Foster parents provide a temporary home for children who are in the care of the Kawartha Haliburton Children's Aid Society. Children may need foster care for just a few days, a week, several months or possibly years.

Foster parents work with CAS staff as part of a team to develop a plan for each child in care. While the ideal plan is usually to reunite a child with his or her family, when this is not possible, the plan may include adoption or long-term foster care.

Foster parents provide stability and a caring home that encourages a child's growth and development. They come from all walks of life and have a variety of backgrounds.

They may be:

• experienced parents whose children have grown.
• young couples raising small children.
• older couples, single persons or parents with training in child care, people with no special training in child care

Why be a Foster Parent?

• Improve the quality of life for a child
• Obtain professional development
• Enhance your skills so that you can enrich a child's life
• Network with other foster parents for support in the care process
• Work as part of the team integrating the child back into his or her family

Support for Foster Parents

• Financial reimbursement that covers the cost of daily care for the child
• Training and educational opportunities
• Regular professional support from social workers
• Mutual support and networking between foster parents

How to Become a Foster Parent

For more information on these opportunities, please call our Foster Care Department at 705-743-9751 (for residents of Peterborough County) or 705-324-3594 (for residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County)