Ministry of Children and Family Development
VICTORIA – Do you have compassion for young people and feel you could be a strong and positive caregiver for children and youth in need?
October is Foster Family Month in British Columbia, an opportunity to celebrate the selfless commitment of the province's approximately 3,200 foster parents, and encourage others to step up and embrace this rewarding challenge.
Every day, these dedicated families help close to 5,900 children and teens navigate the most challenging times of their young lives. The support, guidance, and positive influence these families provide can last a lifetime.
Foster families are part of an essential team working to safely re-unite children with parents, place them with extended family, or help them make the transition to adoption.
Often the experience is so rewarding that foster parents make children in care a permanent part of their family – of all children in care who are adopted, approximately 39 per cent are adopted by their foster family.
While anyone 19 years or older can apply to become a foster parent, not everyone is suited to the task. Although it takes time, effort and patience – most of all it takes a real desire to make a difference in the lives of children and youth. If you have space in your heart and home for a child in need, please visit: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/foster or call the Foster Line toll-free at 1 800 663-9999.