How To Become A Foster Parent in North America
Did you just hear about our Foster Care program and don't know how to get started? At Sakeenah, we understand that it can seem overwhelming, but we're here every step of the way.
There are several steps required to become a foster parent. You can expect it to take 4-6 months approximately, but during this time, we get to learn lots about you! The goal is to have a better understanding of who you are, and how you can work with children that may have experienced trauma and challenges in their past. We want to make sure that both you, and the child are comfortable during fostering as it makes a huge difference in care!
In this guide, we'll discuss what you need to know about becoming a foster parent in North America.
1. Contact Us
Initiating an inquiry with us is the first step to the process. You can email us with your interest in fostering at fostercare@sakeenahcanada.com, or submit an inquiry on our website at https://www.sakeenahcanada.com/muslim-foster-care-agency.
2. Application Form / Preliminary Assessment
Once your inquiry has been received, the Sakeenah team will reach out to you via email with an application form to submit. A staff member will then call you for a short discussion, and ask questions for a preliminary assessment.
3. First Interview
If you have succeeded to the next step, we will schedule an in-person interview at your home. This interview will be completed with you, and if applicable, a significant other. The interview is based on a questionnaire that will be provided to you, and this would be a chance to learn about your upbringing, family life, and past experiences. Feel free to share what you're comfortable with - the more we know, the better!
4. Second Interview and Walk Through
If successful, we move on to the second interview! This is also an in-person interview with a questionnaire, however, an interview will be conducted with the potential foster parents separately. This will also be a time where the resource worker can meet with anyone else that resides in the house.
In addition to the interview, there will also be a walk through of your home. We follow a safety checklist to ensure your home is safe and up to ministry standards. We will walk through your home and let you know of any changes required.
5. Documentation
Once all of those interviews are completed, we will request documentation from you. Some documents you will be required to provide include: medical reports, a vulnerable sector check, a child welfare check, and references. It may take some time to receive these, so don't panic! You can submit them to your worker as you receive them, or all together.
6. SAFE Home Study
Now that all of that is completed, you can sit back and relax. Once all of the interviews and walk throughs are completed, our staff will be completing an evaluation called the SAFE home study. This evaluation is to be completed and approved before moving forward.
7. Approval and Training
Congratulations, once your SAFE home study has been completed and approved, you are ready for training. Foster parents require mandatory training before officially taking on foster children in their care. Some trainings include: PRIDE Pre-Service training, Cultural Competency training, Basic First Aid and CPR, etc.
Providing safe spaces for children is our goal, but we want to make sure families are also given the support they need to do that. If you're ready to take on fostering, please send us an email at fostercare@sakeenahcanada.com. We look forward to speaking with you!
Written by Amna Naqvi - Foster Care Resource Worker at Sakeenah Canada. I enjoy spending my free time exploring new spots and doing activities with my friends. Fun fact - I'm a self proclaimed gym rat!
About Sakeenah
Sakeenah, a national charitable organization, was founded in 2018 in response to a gap for culturally and religiously sensitive services for women and children facing domestic violence and homelessness. Since then, our services have expanded to include mental health therapy and counseling. Sakeenah has also started The People’s Market, a food program that helps combat food insecurity and most recently, Sakeenah became the first licensed foster care agency for Muslim children in all of North America. We currently operate 7 transitional homes across Canada: Toronto, Brampton, Milton, London, Montreal, Ottawa, and Winnipeg.
For inquiries, please contact:
Afiyah Mohammed
Marketing Manager
P: 1-888-671-3446 Ext. 129
