Foster Families Needed!!!

Child and Family Services of Central Manitoba needs families and individuals who are willing to become a part of the team of professionals who serve children in this region. Homes are needed for children from infants through to seventeen years of age. You can become part of making a difference in a child's life by becoming licensed to provide care under one of the following Foster Care programs:

Regular Foster Care Program - the backbone of the system! Foster parents who are licensed under this program provide care and nurturing to children who are either temporarily or permanently requiring an alternative to their own families. Foster parents work with a variety of Social Workers dependent upon the children they have in their homes. These Foster Homes work with the Foster Care Coordinator to decide on the type of child they are best suited to foster. They provide care for short and long term placements and for children facing a variety of challenges. Their rates vary dependant upon the child they have in their home.

Receiving Assessment Program - These Foster Homes are a part of an on-call rotation of homes which are available for the emergency placement of children 24 hours a day. Frequently foster parents who are a part of this program are also involved in the regular foster home program and may have only one or two spaces available for Receiving-Assessment. These foster parents receive a retainer for the weeks they are on call, as well as a specific rate for any child placed in their home. Placements can last for as short as overnight or as long as six weeks. Foster parents may have to drive to pick children up day or night. These homes are often a child's very first experience with the foster care system and, as such, they are extremely important in giving a child an initial sense of security and safety.

"Respite Program" - Respite Homes provide care for children who are in their own homes or are already living in foster homes, in order to allow their parents or foster parents to experience a break from the stress of parenting.

"Special Initiative Program" - These homes provide specialized care for children who are unable to function successfully in the regular foster care system. Children who are admitted to these homes must be approved for placement by the Child Care Planning Committee of the agency. Foster Parents operate on a higher per diem which is fixed for the home, and have a great deal more financial flexibility in meeting the needs of the children in their care.

If any of these programs interest you, and if you have room in your home and your heart, call or e-mail Dianne or Helena at the office numbers listed below. If you would like to e-mail either of them, just click on their names in hypertext below. They will be happy to share with you the requirements of the homestudy process, along with the joys and challenges of becoming involved in this very important job!!!

Portage Office [Helena] 857-8751
Winkler Office[Dianne] 325-4889