Who Are Foster Parents?

Foster parents are people who are committed to making a difference in the life of a child and their family. Foster parents provide a stable and supportive environment for children and youth who need a temporary family to live with while their parents work with our agency and community services to reestablish a safe home environment. The goal is to strengthen a child/youth’s family so they can return home as soon as possible.

Foster parents have a significant role in supporting the reintegration of children and youth back to their families. The ability to parent collaboratively with a child/youth’s parents is crucial for a healthy, safe return to family.

Foster parents come from a variety of backgrounds and can be single, living common-law, married, and with or without children of their own. They range in age, cultural, ethnic, and religious backgrounds.

There are many reasons people decide to foster. For some there is a personal connection: they either knew someone who was in foster care as a child or perhaps know someone who is a foster parent. Often, people think about fostering for years before they find themselves in a position to take the next step. Sometimes, fostering presents itself when a child is known to a family and in need of a safe and stable home. Regardless of the reason, if you are able to open your home to learning how to support families to continue to grow and be a safe, cohesive unit, then your help is needed.

If you are interested in becoming a foster parent, please call us at 519-352-0440 to learn more or email us at foster.permanency@linck.org.