Children's Aid Society sees urgent need for foster families in London

As a foster parent, Tracey Dennis has seen the difference fostering children can make firsthand. 

She's helped teenagers enrol in high school, build their self-confidence — and helped children reunify with their families, she said. 

"I feel really honoured to be part of a positive change," she said. The experience has been heartwarming and something she wants to see more Londoners take on.

The Children's Aid Society London and Middlesex (CASLM) says there's an urgent need for foster care providers in the area for children and youth of all ages. There are currently about 150 foster homes in the London area and 450 children and youth in care.  

There's a growing gap as needs increase and more foster parents retire, said Paula Szabo, a spokesperson for CASLM. A larger pool of care providers allows for better matches for children, keeping them connected to their communities based on needs, race, religion and other diverse identities, she said. 

Family has fostered nearly 20 children in six years 

In her work as a foster parent, Dennis says the goal is to help with reunification. "We're able to be a piece of the puzzle," she said. 

Dennis currently has three adopted children and two foster kids at home — all under seven years old. She and her husband Tom have fostered about 19 children since they started six years ago. 

She sees her work as a support for parents and biological families, and finds it special to share growth and developmental milestones with families. 

"All families need to know that the community can support them," she said.

Need for safe, consistent, reliable homes

The community needs more safe, consistent, reliable homes that children can come to, Dennis said. 

With her years of experience, she's found it's important for foster families to be kind, flexible and open to challenges and changes — with a wide range of understanding, Dennis said.

The fostering journey isn't done alone, she said. There are supports, mentorship, training and resource workers through the process. 

There are lots of myths about fostering, including that you need to be a homeowner or married, but that's not true, said Szabo.

CASLM is looking for a diverse pool of people who will accept children and youth with diverse identities and sexual orientation. 

"There is an over representation of Black, Indigenous and 2SLGBTQIA+ children and youth in the child welfare system. So we would really like to call out to folks who are accepting of that, who may identify in those groups themselves to come forward and explore," she said. 

Very short-term relief fostering placements are also options for weekends and weeks at a time, she said.

There is an application, home study and nine-week mandatory training process that happens before individuals and families become approved to foster, she said. It's for folks to learn more about fostering and to ensure the process works for both parties. 

Home studies, record checks, medical exams are also part of the approval process. 

"Our goal as the Children's Aid Society of London and Middlesex is to always keep children and families together when it's safe to do so. So we work with a large number of families with their children and youth to support them in thriving and being safe together," said Szabo.