THUNDER BAY — The Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay is looking for community members to provide alternative care.
The CAS held an alternative care information open house and recruitment session on Thursday.
Alternative care, formally referred to as foster care, looks a lot different than most people would suspect, said Dana Leeder, director of service for the Children’s Aid Society of the District of Thunder Bay.
“We're looking for people who could provide emergency respite services, full time care or part time alternative care. We're also really focusing on a live-in model, so we're looking for interested community caregivers who would be able to reside in a home where we provide the rent and the grocery subsidy.”
Leeder said the open house also aims to support families regardless of what they might be interested in. She added CAS has a spring program that has a lot of supports for caregivers, including a resource worker assigned to them to help navigate challenges and successes.
“(We’re) really just hoping people that might be curious and have some questions to come out and meet current alternative caregivers, but also ask some questions from our team on what that might look like,” she said.
We’re seeing a decrease of caregivers right across the province, Leeder said.
“(There are) a variety of reasons and I think that's why our agency is trying to evolve and ensure that we're meeting some of those newer needs that have come forward. For example, looking for people willing to open their home for some of our older youth and our teens to provide that mentorship in a safe place for them to come to.
“I think also there's the older view of what fostering looks like and it's very different. These open houses provide an opportunity to answer some of those questions because people might be curious and think that it's something they have to do full time when that's not the case,” she said.
Most people think alternative care is full-time, when in reality CAS needs people available for emergency care or respite care, she said, adding that emergency care is for a short period of time, and respite care is when someone comes into your home every other weekend or once a month.
“We've had some (open houses) before and we will be having regular open houses so that if you're not able to meet Thursday, please reach out to one of our team members here by calling the agency.”
Leeder said it is very meaningful to have caregivers in our community.
“I believe strongly that the children of our community are our future. There are other ways that we can look at supporting youth and sometimes we need short term, sometimes we need long term, but I believe that the work that our resource parents do is absolutely critical and is very rewarding and fulfilling.
“There are challenges, of course, I think with anything you do when you're working with children, but the success and fulfillment that you have in supporting youth is really important and valued,” she said.
Tamara Byrne, director of service, said CAS is looking for diverse community members, who have a passion for working with children and youth, and would love to care for them in their home.
“We have training, support, families are connected with a resource worker who will check in with them and provide supports that are needed. There are some financial supports that come along with that. We do have the spring team, which is an eclectic group of individuals here at the organization that have a great wealth of experience, knowledge and training, to help with therapeutic intervention in the homes,” she said.
“This is a big decision, and we encourage people just to give us a call just to find out some information. It doesn't cost anything, and you might find that this is an opportunity that you might enjoy.”
CAS has information on Instagram, Facebook, and its website. Information is also available by calling CAS directly.
