To report child abuse or neglect, please call 416.638.7800 x 6234. Outside of regular business hours, please call our after-hours answering service at 1-800-404-1393 to be redirected to one of our staff. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Become a
Foster Parent
Jewish children and youth need Jewish homes.
JF&CS typically has between 5 to 25 Jewish children in our care at any given time. JF&CS is urgently recruiting Jewish foster families within Toronto and York Region. Our community is facing unprecedented challenges, which in some cases, can escalate to incidents of child abuse or neglect. We need Jewish foster parents to care for children and youth so they can remain within our community.
Please reach out to our Intake team (416-638-7800 ext. 6234) with your interest or questions, or email foster@jfandcs.com.
Learn more
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“Become a Jewish Foster Parent” infosheet
Support for Foster Parents
We are here to support all of our foster parents in being successful
caregivers, including:
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per diems to cover the child's expenses
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24-hour on-call support
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home visits from social workers
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ongoing training and skills development
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holiday celebrations and special events
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funding is available to cover the costs of programming for children in care (for example, camp and other extracurricular activities)
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respite care
“My husband and I have a special place in our hearts for vulnerable children.”
Shani, foster parent since 2010
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ
Who can be a JF&CS foster parent? We are looking for a diverse range of people who care about children and want to work with us to meet a foster child’s needs. This includes people who are married or single, renters or homeowners, and of various levels of religious observance, and of a variety of backgrounds and identities. You can help us reflect the diversity of the children we are caring for. At least one person in each household should identify as Jewish.
Why foster? You may be drawn to fostering for one or more reasons, such as: • Wanting to help children in need • Wanting to make a world of difference in the life of a child or youth • Finding meaning in giving back to the community • Having empathy for people who are going through personal struggles • Recognizing the value of supporting others during difficult times
What type of child might I be caring for? A foster child can be between a newborn to 18 years old. Sometimes, we may be caring for an adolescent or child who has a developmental disability, for example, autism. JF&CS also supports Jewish foster children and youth who may be biracial or LGBTQ+ and would search for a foster parent or parents who will be a good fit.
How long is a foster placement? The hope for foster care is to be temporary. Children and youth may be in foster care only a short time while their parents address the family’s safety concerns. In other cases, children may require a longer-term placement.
Why is being a Jewish foster parent so important? Our sages teach us that there is no greater mitzvah (Divine commandment) than adopting or fostering a child. The founder of Chassidut, the Baal Shem Tov—who was orphaned at a young age—personally fulfilled this mitzvah many times. He took in children without homes, provided for all their needs, and ultimately helped them establish families of their own. In the Book of Esther we read that when Esther's parents died, Mordechai "adopted" her. The Torah teaches us that those who adopt children are as if they themselves brought these souls into the world. The Talmud (Tractate Megillah) writes that Pharaoh’s daughter Batya is given credit for ‘giving birth” to Moshe (Moses) because she raised him after she rescued him from the Nile. One of the greatest European rabbis, Rabbi Shlomo Kluger (1786-1869) wrote that “by raising an orphan, one fulfills the mitzvah to bring children into the world.” In fact the Talmud (tractate Sanhedrin) states that: “Anyone who saves one life is as if they have saved the whole world.” Today, amidst increasing antisemitism and financial struggles, Jewish families are facing unprecedented challenges, which in some cases, can escalate to incidents of child abuse or neglect. We need Jewish foster parents to care for children and youth so they can remain within our community.
How expensive is it to have a foster child? Foster parents receive a per diem to cover the cost of daily expenses to care for the child and youth living with them. This includes the cost of food, clothes and transportation. Children and youth in care also have access to additional funding to cover the cost of activities such as tutoring, summer camp and other extra-curricular activities.
How does fostering impact one’s biological children? Fostering can provide biological children with an enormous opportunity to develop empathy, patience, boundaries and awareness of others. At the same time, biological children may experience initial feelings of loss or stress due to changes in the family’s routines, their parent’s unavailability, or having a person they feel to be a stranger in the home. Your JF&CS resource worker will help you work through these challenges.
What do we do if things aren’t working out? All children and youth who are placed in foster care experience some form of grief, trauma or loss at being separated from their family. It is not uncommon for children or youth to experience feelings of hurt or sadness, or to act out. Children and youth can learn to process these feelings with the support, commitment and care of their foster parent. All foster parents have access to a resource worker to help coach and support them through any difficult periods. Respite is also provided. In some instances, a foster placement is not a good match and JF&CS will find an alternative placement.
How to Apply
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Fill out the form below , or
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Call JF&CS telephone intake at 416-638-7800 x 6234, or
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Email us at foster@jfandcs.com
You will be put in touch with a resource staff who can help you apply or respond to any of your questions.
Apply to be a Foster Parent with JF&CS! Or if you have questions or need more information, our Intake team will contact you with your information below.