JF&CS typically has between 25 and 35 Jewish children in our care at any given time. We strive to  place Jewish children in Jewish homes, and are always looking for more foster parents. As the only government-mandated Jewish Children's Aid Society in Canada, JF&CS provides a supportive atmosphere for Jewish children who are separated from their families. 
 

Who are the children:

 

Foster children come from many different and diverse backgrounds. From low income to the affluent, from Orthodox to secular.  They could live next door, attend your synagogue or be playmates of your children. They are members of your community. Children entering foster care range in age from newborns to eighteen years of age. Foster families may specify the age range and gender of children they care for in their homes. 

 
The process to become a foster family takes approximately 6-12 months. It is an opportunity for all family members to participate in the decision.

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Step 1: Is fostering right for you and your family?

If you are interested in fostering, please contact our Intake team at 416.638.7800, ext. 6234. They will collect your information and have a Resource Worker get in touch with you.

Step 2: Will fostering fit your lifestyle?

The Resource Worker will schedule a home visit to meet with you and provide more information about the foster care program. During this meeting, we can discuss how fostering will fit your family’s values, routines, culture, and lifestyle. Part of this process involves police checks and child welfare checks for all adults (age 18+) living in the home.

Step 3: Attend PRIDE training.

PRIDE (Parent Resources for Information Development and Education) is 27 hours of mandatory intensive training that must be completed before you can begin fostering. Alternate caregivers and other adult children living at home may also be required to attend PRIDE training. During this time, your family participates in a home study process called SAFE (Structured Analysis Family Evaluation), which includes several home visits and interviews with all family members.

Step 4: Confirm your decision to foster.

Once PRIDE training and the home study are complete, your family and our agency will review and confirm if fostering is right for you and your family. If we mutually agree, then your family will sign a service agreement that outlines the expectations of both the foster parents and the agency. Then your family will be ready to begin fostering!

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Click here to learn more about foster parenting.