Resources

The Steps to Fostering

As a guardian for children in care, MCFD has a very important responsibility to ensure that the people approved as foster families are capable of providing a caring, nurturing and safe environment that children in care need and deserve.

For this reason, the assessment process for foster families is in-depth and very thorough.

STEP ONE – Talk to someone

The process to becoming a foster parent starts by connecting to a ministry resource social worker in your region. People interested in receiving more information on fostering can also call the British Columbia Federation of Foster Parents Associations (BCFFPA) at 1 800 663-9999 or the Federation of Aboriginal Foster Parents at 1 866 291-7091.

Your initial contact with a resource social worker or either Federation is your opportunity to ask any specific questions you may have about becoming a foster parent. A worker may ask for some personal information about you, such as your name and age, the names and ages of the people who live in your home, and what kind of space you have available for a child in care.

You may also be asked about what kind of children you would be able to foster, including your preference regarding their age, gender and any type of special need for which you may be able to provide care.

After the initial phone call, if you are still interested in learning more about fostering you may consider moving to the next step.

STEP TWO – Deciding whether fostering is right for you

Some MCFD resource teams hold regularly scheduled information sessions on fostering. Following your initial call, you may be invited to an information session where you meet a resource social worker and other prospective foster parents. You will learn more about how to become a foster parent and what being a foster parent involves, including the ministry’s expectations of foster parents and the shared experiences of current foster parents.

If you are still interested, you will be asked to attend the next 18 hour pre-service orientation session in your area. The orientation will give prospective foster parents an overview of the foster care system in BC. The orientation helps participants decide if they are ready and willing to become foster parents at this point in their lives.

STEP THREE – Apply to be a foster parent

After the pre-service orientation, you may decide that you have the necessary skills, desire and commitment to be a foster parent. At that point, you can formally apply to become a foster parent with the Ministry. You will be asked for three references to support your application to provide care for children. One reference must be a relative.

STEP FOUR – The homestudy assessment

After you have applied to become a foster parent, the resource office will start a homestudy assessment. As part of the home study process, all prospective foster parents are required to complete the following:

  • Medical assessment completed by their physician.
  • Criminal Record Checks (this also applies to anyone over the age of eighteen who will be residing in the family care home).
  • Criminal Records Review (this provincial legislation requires every person who works with children to undergo a criminal records review; this is separate from the criminal record check above).
  • Assessment Interviews. A social worker will visit your home to complete a series of interviews. The information obtained in the interviews is assessed to determine if you, as a foster parent, have the ability to respond to a child’s physical, emotional and cultural needs. The interviews will also address your willingness to work with the social worker, the child’s family and where appropriate with the child’s Aboriginal community.

STEP FIVE – The Approval

If the references, criminal record check, medical report and assessment interviews are satisfactory, the home is approved. At this point, a Family Care Home contract will be signed. Based on discussions and assessment regarding your abilities, your resource social worker will talk with you about specific children who may be appropriate for you to foster.