Resources

Fostering Children and Youth with Special Needs

Some foster parents choose to care for children and youth with special needs — who require significant additional educational, medical/health and social/environmental support – beyond that required by children in general to enhance or improve their health, development, learning, quality of life, participation and community inclusion.

The degree of support required depends on the individual strengths and needs of the child or youth.

For more information about fostering a child or youth with special needs, contact your local MCFD office, which you can also reach by calling Client Relations at 250 387-7027, outside Greater Victoria call toll-free 1 877 387-7027.

What is Different about Fostering Children and Youth with Special Needs?

  • A child or youth with special needs will often require extra help and support (for example, help with hygiene, dressing and feeding themselves).
  • More time and energy may be spent with professionals who provide specialized services to meet the child or youth’s needs.
  • The child or youth’s skill development may occur at a different rate than other children and youth.

Do I have what it takes to Foster a Child or Youth with Special Needs?

There are many things to consider when deciding whether to foster a child or youth with special needs. The following questions may help you.

  • Do you believe that people with special needs should be included in all aspects of family and community life?
  • Is each member of your family willing to share their home with a child or youth with special needs? It is important to candidly discuss how everyone’s life will be affected.
  • Do you have the time to be involved intensively with a child or youth with special needs, their family and a variety of community specialists?
  • Are you in good enough physical and mental health to cope with the added stress of caring for a child or youth with special needs?
  • Can you accept the fact that the child’s developmental gains may occur at a different pace from other children’s developmental gains?
  • Do you have patience, imagination and a sense of humour?

Support Services for Foster Parents Caring for Children and Youth with Special Needs

You will have ongoing support from your worker and the child’s worker, and you may be referred to supports for the child or youth such as:

  • medical professionals (e.g. doctors, psychiatrists, nurses, physiotherapists, speech-language pathologists)
  • mental health services (e.g. behavioural support, psychiatric assessment)
  • school district services (e.g. counselling, psychiatric testing, tutoring)
  • intervention and family support services (e.g. infant development program, paediatric therapies, autism intervention, respite)