Why Ontario Needs More Foster Families
Ontario has more children in need of safe homes than there are available foster families. Many children enter care because their families are struggling with issues such as addiction, neglect, or unsafe living conditions. Foster parents provide children with a stable home environment, and care during uncertain times.
The demand for foster families is especially high for children with complex needs, teens, and sibling groups. We see a growing need for homes that can keep brothers and sisters together, since separation adds to the trauma children already face. More diverse foster parents are also needed so children can stay connected to their culture, religion, or language.
When you open your home, you make it possible for children to stay in their community and continue school without disruption. The care you provide gives them a chance to heal and grow while their families work through challenges.
How the Fostering Process Works
The process to become a foster parent in Ontario is structured but supportive. It ensures children are placed in safe, nurturing homes while giving you the training and guidance you need. From the first phone call to final approval, the steps usually take three to four months, depending on paperwork and training schedules.
The journey has several stages: showing interest, interviews and home visits, background checks, training, a home study, orientation, and finally certification. Each step allows both you and us to confirm that fostering is the right fit.
Step 1: Showing Interest and Your First Contact
The first step is simple: you reach out to us. During that first contact, we explain what fostering involves and ask about your motivations. We want to know why you’re interested, what experiences you bring, and whether your family supports this decision.
This conversation is a chance for you to ask questions and get honest answers. If both sides want to move forward, we will schedule the next step—a visit to your home.
Step 2: Home Visits and Family Interviews
A home visit helps us understand your living situation and meet everyone in the household. We speak with you, your partner if you have one, and any children or relatives living with you. The goal is to make sure fostering is supported by the entire family.
During the visit, we ask about your daily routines, how you handle stress, and what kind of children you imagine fostering. These interviews are also a time for you to express concerns or ask about challenges. The process is about fit and readiness, not perfection.
Step 3: Documentation and Background Checks
Once we agree to move forward, you will begin submitting documentation. This includes medical information, references, and financial details. We want to know that you can manage your household costs without depending on foster care funds.
We also conduct extensive safety checks. You and other adults in your home complete a broad sector police check, one of the most thorough in Canada. We check with child welfare organizations to confirm there is no history of abuse or neglect investigations. These steps protect children and ensure everyone in your home can provide safe care.
Step 4: Training Requirements (PRIDE, Trauma-Informed Care, CPR, Cultural Competency)
Training prepares you for the realities of fostering. All foster parents complete PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education), which covers child development, trauma, and the foster care system.
You also complete courses in:
- Trauma-informed care
- Indigenous cultural competency
- Caring for Black youth
- Crisis intervention
- CPR and First Aid
These programs give you tools to handle difficult behaviours, support children from diverse backgrounds, and respond to emergencies. Ongoing training continues after approval so you can build new skills.
Step 5: The Home Study – What to Expect
The home study happens while you complete training. It is a series of in-depth interviews in your home with everyone in your household.
The study explores your strengths, challenges, and lifestyle to help us match you with the right children. We ask about your parenting style, your support networks, and your cultural background. Identity and culture are especially important—we want children to remain connected to their roots whenever possible. This process helps both you and us decide whether fostering is a good fit.
Step 6: Orientation and the Service Agreement
After training and the home study, you attend orientation. This is where we review policies, expectations, and responsibilities in detail. We go over the service agreement, which outlines how fostering works and what support you’ll receive.
The orientation ensures that before you sign, you clearly understand the commitment. We encourage open discussion and questions so you feel prepared.
Step 7: Certification – Becoming an Approved Foster Home
Once all requirements are complete, we generate Home Opening letters, providing a copy to the foster parent(s) and putting one in their file.
From this point, we maintain regular contact with you, even if you don’t yet have a child placed. We begin sending referrals for children who may be a good match, based on your home study and preferences. You always have the final say about accepting a placement.
Becoming certified is the start of your fostering journey, not the end. With our ongoing support, you’ll be ready to welcome children into your home and give them the safety and care they deserve.
Safe Harbours Needs Foster Parents Like You
Ontario’s children need more safe, supportive homes, and we cannot meet that need without you. Every new foster family makes it possible for a child to find stability, growth, and care when they need it most.
If you’ve ever thought about fostering, now is the time to take the first step. Reach out to us at Safe Harbours today, and let’s talk about how you can open your home and change a child’s future.