Released on November 8, 2016
The Saskatchewan Foster Families Association and the Ministry of Social Services are expanding the successful community drive that encourages interested individuals and families to become foster homes for vulnerable children to Swift Current and surrounding areas.The drive, which was launched in Yorkton in September, includes billboards, advertising, direct mail and outreach to human service organizations, such as places of worship and community organizations.
“So far, 26 people have expressed interest in becoming foster parents from Yorkton and area since the launch of the campaign,” Social Services Minister Tina Beaudry-Mellor said. “The community has really stepped up and now we’re very much hoping to replicate that success in Swift Current. If a child has to come into care because it’s not safe in their family home, it’s so important that we have family-based care options in their home community.”
The Saskatchewan Foster Families Association is the community-based organization that provides support for prospective and approved foster parents across Saskatchewan. They also jointly deliver training with the Ministry of Social Services through an internationally recognized, comprehensive program called the PRIDE model, which is used to provide ongoing support to foster families in providing a home environment that is safe, caring and respectful. The organization also employs approximately 160 people across the province to offer training and in-home supports for foster families.
“We hear from people who are interested in fostering that they’re worried they may be too caring to take on that role but that’s exactly the kind of person we need,” Saskatchewan Foster Families Association Executive Director Deb Davies said. “Many different types of individuals and families could potentially be a good fit and we have one of the best training programs in the world to prepare people to take on the role of foster parent. I can’t promise becoming a foster parent is easy, but I know from experience it’s one of the most rewarding and meaningful things you can do.”
The Government of Saskatchewan is also developing new approaches to better support vulnerable families to return children home safely and identifying extended family members who are able to act as alternate care providers. Foster families remain the most important resource for families in crisis, and work is being done to better retain existing families while recruiting new ones.
For more information and to learn more about foster families in Saskatchewan or what is required to become a foster parent, please call the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association at 1-800-667-7002 or visit their website at www.sffa.sk.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Leya Moore
Social Services
Regina
Phone: 306-787-3610
Email: leya.moore@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-519-7835
Deb Davies
Saskatchewan Foster Families Association
Saskatoon
Phone: 306-270-3172
Email: deb@sffa.sk.ca