Foster Care

Foster Care | What is the Care Program? | Expectations | How it Differs from other Foster Care
Criteria | Supports Available | Interested in Joining

CARE is a parent model, staff supported residential program for children and youth. The CARE program is intended to avert the need for more intrusive and costly institutional care for children and youth with specialized placement and treatment needs. Children, youth and their families are served in a community based family home setting augmented with clinical resources.

The model of service is based on an interagency service delivery team approach which includes: parent model care, individual and group based treatment, psychological consultation and assessment, family support counseling and treatment, recreational and activity based programming, and comprehensive support strategies.

Currently there are 8 CARE homes with the capacity to serve 40 children or youth (5 children per home). Each home has full time foster parents and a child and youth worker for 40 hours per week.

• Provide for the child's physical, spiritual, social, emotional and educational needs in co-operation with FACS.
• Carry out recommendations for the child's psychological, medical and dental care in co-operation with FACS.
• Respect the confidential nature of the agency's work and information revealed about the child and their family.
• Seek assistance from FACS when concerns first arise about a child's progress and adjustment within the home.
• Immediately report serious occurrences to FACS.
• Share any changes within the home which could affect the child with F&CS and utilize F&CS resources or referral when difficulties arise as a result of placement.
• Advise F&CS of any addition to the home even if this is only a temporary change.
• Abstain from corporal punishment or depriving the child of any basic needs.
• Show respect for the child's ties with his/her natural family and to help the child in dealing with family relationships.
• Make every effort to help a child deal with his/her position as a foster child and with his/her relationship with FACS.
• Discuss directions and goals for the child in monthly meetings, and work with FACS to achieve these.
• Make themselves and the child available to F&CS and to share with the social worker details of the child's relationships within the foster family, the community, their family, and FACS.
• Co-operate with FACS in all matters necessary to discharging FACS's legal, moral and spiritual obligation to the child, his/her natural family, court, or other agency involvement.
• Recognize the responsibility for continuing education in their role as foster parents and make every effort to attend such programs as they develop.
• Support and encourage the goals of the Foster Parents Association.

• CARE homes are liscenced as parent model children's residences
• FACS provides the housing, groceries and goods necessary to run the home.
• More frequent and intensive working relationship with FACS.
• Relief and vacation are included as part of the package.
• More documentation required. ie: daily logs, monthly team meetings, medication documentation, nightly checks, monthly fire drills
• Level of support is higher.
• Expect a least a two year commitment to the CARE home program

• One parent has specialized training/experience in working with behaviourally/emotionally disturbed children and adolescents.
• Able to work within a diverse treatment system and contribute positively to that system.
• Well organized and able to manage the paperwork.
• Car/transportation available.
• One parent available at all times to the children placed within your home.

• CARE home co-ordinatorsr have a very low ratio of homes; 1 worker - up to 4 homes.
• Child and Youth Worker - 40 hours per week.
• Monthly program meetings.
• Training.
• Relief - 2 days every other weekend.
• Vacation - starts at 10 days a year.
• Per diem.
• Housing, groceries, etc.

Family and Children's Services of the Waterloo Region is currently seeking Foster Parents for this innovative CARE program.We are looking for couples and individuals who have previously fostered or have experience working with children and youth with specialized treatment needs.

(519) 576-0540 and ask for a Foster Care Recruitment Worker
or email us at foster.adoption@facswaterloo.org