In Alberta there are over 3000 children in approximately 1,800 foster homes. Children under the age of 18 who are unable to live with their families, and who have no other alternatives (relatives, close family friends, etc.) are placed in foster care.
Once placed, a child’s government caseworker immediately begins to work towards a permanency plan for the child. This might include working with the family to get them strong and stable, or it might mean looking for relatives willing and able to take the child into their home.
While the caseworker works on a permanency plan, the foster parents get to know the child, settle the child in school or pre-school, ensure regular medical, dental and optical check-ups, and identify and address any issues they might have.
Foster care is meant to be temporary. Foster parents work with caseworkers to keep children connected to their natural families, whether the plan is for them to return home or not. The goal of service teams is to prepare children to have a successful move to a permanent home. However, sometimes a child will become a permanent ward, in which case the caseworker will look for an adoptive home. The foster home where the child has been placed may be considered for adoption of that child, but not always.

Foster parents are required to provide the following before beginning the application process.

• Applicants must be twenty-one (21) years of age or older
• Resident of Alberta, Canadian Citizen, Landed Immigrant, or have Permanent Residency Status for the past five (5) years
• Satisfactory Intervention (Child Welfare) Record Check
• Police Criminal Record Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Check
• 3 positive references, including work, long-time friends, close relative
• Your family must be stable, and not have experienced any major changes or crises in the past year. (i.e. new marriage, death, illness, etc.)
• Couples cohabiting must have been in a stable relationship for the past five (5) years.
• Physical health check
• Have a stable source of income (a financial statement as to income and expenses will be required)
• Willing to work with a child’s natural family
• Willing to incorporate aspects of a child’s cultural background into the family routine and activities (i.e. Aboriginal, African, etc.)
• Willing to parent according to the terms set out by the Child, Youth and Family Enhancement Act (including no capital punishment, approved behavior management methods, following caseworker and agency service plan, etc.)

Absolutely. Foster parents state what age range and what gender of a child they feel they can best provide care for. Often, this will be based on the age and gender of their own children, and the foster family’s lifestyle.

Foster parents are part of a team. They are never alone in this very important, often stressful job. Each family will be provided with a knowledgeable, experienced Foster Care Support Worker (FCSW). This individual is in contact with the foster parent by phone and email, and visits the foster home at least every two months. A new foster family, or a family with a new placement, may expect more frequent visits as necessary.

FCSWs work with a Manager, who works with a Director. These individuals oversee any issues that might occur, and are there to provide support, assist in communication with caseworkers, and more.

Foster parents receive:

• An assigned Support Worker
• Regular visits and ongoing phone and email contact with your Support Worker
• On-call support 24 hours a day
• Financial compensation
• Respite care
• Initial placement supports
• Crisis intervention
• Agency FOG Training: Fostering Orientation Group
• Support during investigations and training on allegation prevention
• Counseling