Why your help is needed

Foster families are the backbone of the child protection system in Newfoundland and Labrador and they play a critical role in supporting the Department of Children, Seniors and Social Development's overall mandate to keep children and youth safe.

Newfoundland and Labrador is experiencing a critical shortage of foster homes: homes where children and youth in the care of a Manager of Children, Seniors and Social Development can stay temporarily in a safe, nurturing family-based environment. This shortage means that sometimes children and youth have to be placed in staffed living arrangements rather than with family, or they may have to be placed outside their community and their culture.

Currently there are more than 900 children and youth in Newfoundland and Labrador who are unable to live with their families and are in the care of a Manager of Children, Seniors and Social Development. Each child and youth is unique. They range in age from birth to 18 years and come from diverse cultural, religious and family backgrounds. Children and youth in care may need a place to live for a day, a week, a month, a year or longer. Most of all they need a foster family with a willingness and ability to support their unique needs.

To ensure that children and youth are matched with families who can meet their developmental and cultural needs, we need to recruit foster homes in all parts of the province. Matching children and youth in care with foster parents who can meet their need for safety, nurturing, guidance and support, helps assist children and youth in coping with loss and moving forward in a healthy way.

Children and youth need physical, emotional and developmental support. Meeting these needs requires warmth and acceptance, consistency, structure and guidance, all of which can make a significant positive impact on their lives by supporting their growth, development and well-being in a safe and supportive environment.

Studies have shown that quality foster care can vastly improve the future of a child or youth in care. As a foster parent, you can make a direct impact on a child or youth’s future. You can help children and youth stay connected with their family, culture and community. You can provide a positive resource in a child or youth’s life, helping them to achieve their goals and improve their quality of life.

Fostering a child or youth today helps to foster their future.