Q & A about Fostering

QUESTIONS	ANSWERS
Can people who are single become foster parents?	Yes. We have single parents fostering now.
If I work full-time, am I able to be a foster parent?	Yes. We have many people who work full-time and foster.
If you have a history of physical or mental health challenges, can you become a foster parent?	Each situation is assessed individually; however, this does not exclude you from moving forward with the application process.
Can I become a foster parent if I’ve had any involvement with Children’s Aid in the past?	Each situation is assessed individually; however, this does not exclude you from moving forward with the application process.
Can I be a foster parent with no parenting experience?	Yes. It is beneficial to have some experience working with children/youth but people who have not parented can be excellent foster parents.
If I identify as a member within the Rainbow Community, can I be a foster parent?	Yes. Diversity and inclusion are important values in our agency. We welcome foster parents who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ Please refer to our Rainbow Recruitment tab on our website for more information. Rainbow Recruitment \| Family & Children's Services of the Waterloo Region (facswaterloo.org)
What kind of skills do I need to be a foster parent?	The children and youth in need of a safe place through foster care have experienced trauma and loss and these experiences present themselves in individuals differently. Foster parents receive training and ongoing support to help them care for the children in their homes.
Are you looking for individuals with diverse backgrounds to be foster parents?	Children and youth who are in foster care come from all ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds, and may identify as 2SLGBT2SQIA+. To provide the best match, we want our foster parents to embrace and reflect this diversity as well.
Do I have to be a Canadian Citizen to be a foster parent?	No, you don’t. You are required to be a permanent resident at the time of your application as we understand that this process does take some time.
Are most of the children coming into foster care infants?	No, children come into foster care at all ages.
Can you travel when children/youth are in your care?	Yes, we encourage you to travel with children/youth placed in your care whenever possible. This can also be a wonderful experience for everyone.
Can you have pets?	Yes, pets can be great for a child/youth’s mental health. We require that cats and dogs are up to date on vaccinations and will need a record of this. We also need to meet your pets to see that they are friendly, and they need to be good with children.
Will the child/youth have to move schools when they come to live with us?	It depends on the situation. If a child/youth has very good supports, connections and sense of community at their current school, we would look to ensure we can support them staying at that school.
Do you need to have a spare bedroom?	Yes. A child/youth placed in your home requires their own bedroom. It is also possible to share bedrooms based on age and gender.
What is the average amount of time a child is in care?	We do not have this number. The time in care really varies. A child could be in care for only a few months while the agency searches for kin perhaps or a child could be in care for 1, 2 or more years.
What if a child wants to get involved in a sport? Are there financial supports for this?	Yes, the agency encourages children to get involved in extracurricular activities and has funds to help with this.