Foster Care Training and Support

Like all children, some of the children and youth in foster care have specialized needs and behavioural difficulties.

Foster parents receive training to help them care for children.

To assist foster parents in providing quality care, training modules, based on the classification level of the foster parent is provided to develop foster parenting skills. 

Foster parents are reimbursed for all training-related costs, including transportation, accommodation, meals and babysitting.

Caregiver Orientation Training

Everyone interested in becoming a foster parent must attend caregiver orientation training. This training consists of eight, three-hour sessions. This training explores the applicant's motivation for fostering and covers topics such as:

  • child development;
  • special needs of children in care;
  • duties and responsibilities of foster parents; and
  • supports provided to foster parents. 

Level 1 Training

All new foster parents start at Level 1.  Level 1 foster parents must complete an additional nine hours of training each year. Core training for foster parents is delivered through 31, three-hour modules which are grouped into eight categories:

  • Working with Legislation, Policies and Procedures
  • Facilitating Transitions
  • Identifying Influences on Child Development
  • Guiding Behaviour of Children and Youth
  • Managing the Environment of Children
  • Maintaining a Child’s Culture
  • Working with the Child’s Birth Family and Significant Others
  • Managing the Fostering Experience

Level 2 Training

Foster parents can ask to be given Level 2 status so they can care for children or youth with higher needs, such as disabilities, addictions and behavioural issues. In order to become a Level 2 foster home, foster parents must complete all core training and take additional training that addresses the specific needs of the child in their care and supports the individual learning plan of the foster parent. They must also understand the performance expectations at Level 2 and demonstrate the competency of the higher classification, as assessed by the foster care support worker. Level 2 foster parents must complete a minimum of 12 hours of supplementary training each year.