FAQ

Children and youth in foster care range in age from 0 to 17 years and come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Children in care have experienced some form of trauma in addition to being uprooted from their homes. They require gentle, committed and skilled caregivers to help them grow and develop their strengths.

The goal for children in care is for them to be returned safely home, placed with an extended family member or natural support, adoption, or for them to successfully transition to independence.

An individual, or couple, over the age of 18 who:

• Are Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• Rent or own a home
• Are physically and emotionally capable of a providing, quality full time care for a child
• Possess a stable income
• Are committed to continuously improving their caregiver skills
• Ability to provide a safe and nurturing living environment

No. Foster parents can be single or married. They can be renters or homeowners. People from diverse backgrounds and lifestyles can become foster parents. Diversity within our foster care program is great; it allows for purposeful matching and best suites the foster parents as well as the children or youth.

No. That is a choice you make as a caregiver. At McMan we have both stay-at-home caregivers as well as full time working caregivers.

Typically, the process takes 6-8 months, but this timeline may vary depending on the submission of paperwork, completion of required training and results of background checks.

Initially, completion of 30-35 hours of PRIDE pre-service training, first aid and CPR-C certification is required to become a licensed foster parent. There are ongoing training and documentation needs required to maintain a license to foster.

Yes. Foster parents participate in the matching process in partnership with your assigned McMan team member. Consideration is always made regarding the needs of both the child and your own family dynamics.

This varies case by case. The primary goal of foster care is for children to rejoin their family; however, this can vary from weeks to months or even years.

We provide Foster Parents with:

• Individualized ongoing support provided by an experienced McMan team member
• Training and support meetings
• 24/7 support through our McMan emergency on-call
• Access to our agency clinician and employee assistance program
• Appreciation and connection events
• Access to cultural opportunities

Yes. Foster parents receive a tax free monthly per diem to help cover the daily living expenses of raising a child.