March 20, 1997
(Social Services)

The following statement was issued yesterday, March 19 by Joan Marie Aylward, Minister of Social Services. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Training Program For Foster Parents

It is a pleasure for me today to announce approval of $70,000 for the research, development and design of a training program for foster families.

In our province there are approximately 500 foster families caring for 750 children and youth who are in the care of the Director of Child Welfare. Many of these children have diverse personal, emotional, and behavioral needs having experienced severe neglect and/or sexual or physical abuse before entering care. When foster families accept these children into their homes they are presented with many challenges. Securing appropriate placements is difficult.

Although the Department of Social Services and the Foster Families Association have identified the need for foster parent education for several years, there is little training available. In light of research and developments regarding the foster parents role in family preservation and reunification as a strategy to further the best interests of the child, training requirements cannot be ignored. In today's environment caring is not enough. Knowledge and skill are required.

We recognize more and more that foster families must have special knowledge and skills to meet the complex needs of the children placed in their homes. This is recognized as important to ensuring better stability for children/youth in care and a higher level of satisfaction for the foster parents.

In order to research, develop standards and design a high quality training program for foster parents we plan to contract with a qualified person who will work with an advisory committee composed of staff of my department, representatives of the Foster Families Association, birth parents, Youth in Care and other persons in the community in the field of children's services.

Investing in foster parents through foster parent education is an important component of the delivery of responsible, adequate and effective child and family services. My Department is pleased to be able to initiate this project at this time.