Diverse range of foster parents sought

Agency appeals for help because of shortage

WATERLOO REGION — More foster parents are needed to open their homes to children in Waterloo Region, and a wide range of people are urged to consider fostering.

“We are looking for a whole variety of people,” said Deb Gollnick, senior service manager for Family & Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region.

Foster parents can be single or in a relationship. They can work full or part-time or be retirees. There’s also a need for foster parents from the diverse backgrounds that make up Waterloo Region.

“The main thing is we’re wanting people who are stable, patient, open-minded and flexible,” Gollnick said.

Next week is Foster Family Week in Canada.

Gollnick said the local agency’s pool of foster parents has been declining over the last few years, a trend mirrored across the province.

When a foster home cannot be found in the community, then a child must be placed outside the region. “That is not ideal,” Gollnick said. When a child is taken out of their home community that makes it more difficult to stay connected with their family while the agency is supporting parents with aim of ensuring children can be cared for safely at home.

“Our preference is always to work with the family,” Gollnick said.

Only in exceptional cases are children put into the foster care system. An average of 480 children and youth, from newborns to 18-year-olds, are living in foster care in the region, representing only about three per cent of those served by the agency.

Children will stay in foster care for varying lengths of time before returning home or another permanent situation is found. About 80 per cent of children in foster care return to their families within the first year.

Misconceptions about who is eligible to be a foster parent may keep some people away. The most prevalent one is that single people can’t foster a child, but single people are more than welcome.

“I think there’s a lot of myths of fostering that are out there,” Gollnick said.

People often think that those who have struggled in the past or had encounters with the agency are not allowed to be foster parents, but often those people who’ve had a range of experiences can relate better to the children who are facing their own challenges.

“We will work with people,” Gollnick said.

She is always surprised to hear from foster parents about how enriching they find the experience, and “seeing these kids flourish and have that safe place.” “It’s filling them up,” she said. People who want to learn more can go to www.facswaterloo.org/foster or call 519-5760540.

“We’re always wanting to talk to people about it,” said Tanya Sood, senior manager of communications.