| RockHaven Children's Services Inc. |
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Frequently Asked Questions
| 1. What is treatment foster care? 2. How to apply to become a foster family? 3. What is the criteria for becoming a foster family? 4. Who are foster parents? 5. Why are children/youth placed in foster care? 6. Who are they? 7. How long do children/youth stay in care? 8. Would I have contact with birth families of the children/youth in my home? 9. Why do we need special training and what is involved? 10. What supports are offered to foster families? 11. What supports are offered to foster children/youth? 12. What is the difference between relief and fostering? |
3. What is the criteria for becoming a foster family?
2. How to apply to become a foster family?
1. What is treatment foster care?
5. Why are children/youth place in foster care?
6. Who are they?
4. Who are foster parents?
11. What supports are offered to foster children/youth?
10. What supports are offered to foster families?
8. Would I have contact with birth families of children/youth in my home?
9. Why do we need special training and what is involved?
7. How long do children/youth stay in care?
Treatment foster homes provide a specialized programming for children/youth who require more
intensive care. This can be provided through the foster care system and do not require the
structure and supervision of a fully staffed home, seen in group care.
intensive care. This can be provided through the foster care system and do not require the
structure and supervision of a fully staffed home, seen in group care.
If you would like to begin the process to become a foster family you will need to contact
RockHaven's office. RockHaven will take your information and book a meeting with the Program
Manager who will come out to you home and meet with yourself and your family. The Program
Manager will also bring you a package which starts the application process.
RockHaven's office. RockHaven will take your information and book a meeting with the Program
Manager who will come out to you home and meet with yourself and your family. The Program
Manager will also bring you a package which starts the application process.
Are you an adult? (18 years of age or older).
Do you have a premise which is approved for the placement of foster children?
(you may own or rent, live in a house, apartment, condo, etc.)
Do you have an available bedroom for the foster child? (not to be shared with another).
Do you have a reliable means of transportation?
Are you financially capable of caring for the needs of a foster child?
Have you demonstrated the ability to carry out the essential duties of parenting?
Are you able to assure a foster child an appropriate developmental environment?
Do you have adequate language and communication skills to relate effectively
to a child, to communicate with RockHaven, the foster child’s Placing Agency
and with any other professionals involved in the care of the child?
Are you willing and able to learn new parenting and child management skills?
Are you willing and able to work with RockHaven and others to provide a supportive system
of care for a child?
Do you have an adequate understanding of foster care and the circumstance under which
children come into care?
Are you willing to work with, and understand, both the child and his/her own family, and to
help work towards the child’s return to home whenever possible?
Are you able to be sensitive to, and aware of the cultural differences and backgrounds of
children in care?
Are you willing to offer a commitment to a child for the expected or known duration of their
stay in foster care?
Do you have a premise which is approved for the placement of foster children?
(you may own or rent, live in a house, apartment, condo, etc.)
Do you have an available bedroom for the foster child? (not to be shared with another).
Do you have a reliable means of transportation?
Are you financially capable of caring for the needs of a foster child?
Have you demonstrated the ability to carry out the essential duties of parenting?
Are you able to assure a foster child an appropriate developmental environment?
Do you have adequate language and communication skills to relate effectively
to a child, to communicate with RockHaven, the foster child’s Placing Agency
and with any other professionals involved in the care of the child?
Are you willing and able to learn new parenting and child management skills?
Are you willing and able to work with RockHaven and others to provide a supportive system
of care for a child?
Do you have an adequate understanding of foster care and the circumstance under which
children come into care?
Are you willing to work with, and understand, both the child and his/her own family, and to
help work towards the child’s return to home whenever possible?
Are you able to be sensitive to, and aware of the cultural differences and backgrounds of
children in care?
Are you willing to offer a commitment to a child for the expected or known duration of their
stay in foster care?
Foster parents can be just about anyone. They are of all ages and backgrounds and come
from all walks of life. Foster parents may work or stay home, be self-employed. They may own a
home or rent. What is most important about a foster parent is they have a genuine care and
understanding of the needs of children and youth and can provide a safe, stable environment.
from all walks of life. Foster parents may work or stay home, be self-employed. They may own a
home or rent. What is most important about a foster parent is they have a genuine care and
understanding of the needs of children and youth and can provide a safe, stable environment.
There are many different reasons why children/youth are placed in care. Some have been
harmed or are at risk of harm. Many have been abused or witness the abuse of family
members. Some are caught in the middle of domestic abuse. Their natural parents or
guardians may not be able to care for them temporarily; or they may need permanent
placement away from their biological family. Other reasons many include mental health and
substance abuse in the family, sexual and emotional abuse, abandonment or chronic neglect.
harmed or are at risk of harm. Many have been abused or witness the abuse of family
members. Some are caught in the middle of domestic abuse. Their natural parents or
guardians may not be able to care for them temporarily; or they may need permanent
placement away from their biological family. Other reasons many include mental health and
substance abuse in the family, sexual and emotional abuse, abandonment or chronic neglect.
Foster children/youth range in age from infancy to 18 years old and come from a variety of
cultural, religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds. Some come into care voluntarily and others
are by court order. Sometimes siblings are in need of a home together or separate.
Many of the children/youth who come into care come from a troubled background. Many have
never been encouraged to succeed and have trouble coping with school and family life. They
have had very few role models and have trouble trusting adults for fear of being let down and
betrayed. In sibling groups, sometimes the oldest has become the parent to care for and
protect their younger siblings. In turn they have been forced to grow up very early and may
not have been able to enjoy their childhood.
cultural, religious, ethnic and racial backgrounds. Some come into care voluntarily and others
are by court order. Sometimes siblings are in need of a home together or separate.
Many of the children/youth who come into care come from a troubled background. Many have
never been encouraged to succeed and have trouble coping with school and family life. They
have had very few role models and have trouble trusting adults for fear of being let down and
betrayed. In sibling groups, sometimes the oldest has become the parent to care for and
protect their younger siblings. In turn they have been forced to grow up very early and may
not have been able to enjoy their childhood.
The duration of stay for a child/youth varies and depends on their needs. They may stay a
few days or permanently. The children/youth are often in care because their family needs
time and support to work through their issues in order to get to a point where their
children/youth are able to return home. In some cases these goals are not able to be met and
the children/youth may stay in care permanently.
few days or permanently. The children/youth are often in care because their family needs
time and support to work through their issues in order to get to a point where their
children/youth are able to return home. In some cases these goals are not able to be met and
the children/youth may stay in care permanently.
Most of the children/youth in foster care do have access visits with their biological family
members even though they aren't living with them. It is important to the child/youth to
maintain these relationships. These visits may happen in the community, at the CAS or even
at the biological family's home. Helping a child/youth understand and cope with his/her
history and supporting relationships important to each child/youth is a very important role for
foster parents. RockHaven provides necessary supports to the foster families to help achieve
these goals.
members even though they aren't living with them. It is important to the child/youth to
maintain these relationships. These visits may happen in the community, at the CAS or even
at the biological family's home. Helping a child/youth understand and cope with his/her
history and supporting relationships important to each child/youth is a very important role for
foster parents. RockHaven provides necessary supports to the foster families to help achieve
these goals.
The children/youth who come into care may have come from a different background
(cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, social and medical). They bring their own relationships,
history, genetics and experiences which need to be understood and respected. Foster
families must be able to support each child/youth with his/her feelings and provide guidance.
You attend 20 hours of orientation before you start fostering or providing relief. A home
study assessment is completed which will explore your strengths and challenges as you
make the commitment to the unique role of parenting a child/youth through fostering.
RockHaven also offers Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, First Aid/CPR and blocks of training
sessions twice a year. RockHaven will bring in various Therapists, Counsellors and
Psychologists to provide you with helpful information to better understand and support our
children/youth as well how to cope as a foster parent.
(cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, social and medical). They bring their own relationships,
history, genetics and experiences which need to be understood and respected. Foster
families must be able to support each child/youth with his/her feelings and provide guidance.
You attend 20 hours of orientation before you start fostering or providing relief. A home
study assessment is completed which will explore your strengths and challenges as you
make the commitment to the unique role of parenting a child/youth through fostering.
RockHaven also offers Non-Violent Crisis Intervention, First Aid/CPR and blocks of training
sessions twice a year. RockHaven will bring in various Therapists, Counsellors and
Psychologists to provide you with helpful information to better understand and support our
children/youth as well how to cope as a foster parent.
12. What is the difference between relief and fostering?
Other expenses are covered above your per diem, such as clothing, recreational, medical
and dental. There are certain expenses covered which are looked at on an individual basis
such as braces, glasses/contacts, special interests, etc.
Other Support - We support our foster families through ongoing training, professional
support through therapists and counsellors, 24-7 emergency on-call support, a monthly
newsletter, one paid relief weekend per month, two weeks paid vacation per year (while
child is @ camp), access to therapeutic services that a child/youth may need and volunteer
drivers when necessary.
and dental. There are certain expenses covered which are looked at on an individual basis
such as braces, glasses/contacts, special interests, etc.
Other Support - We support our foster families through ongoing training, professional
support through therapists and counsellors, 24-7 emergency on-call support, a monthly
newsletter, one paid relief weekend per month, two weeks paid vacation per year (while
child is @ camp), access to therapeutic services that a child/youth may need and volunteer
drivers when necessary.
RockHaven follows the WrapAround Process which identifies every child in care as an
individual with individual needs. The WrapAround consists of a team of family members as
well as professionals, is community based, and is culturally competent and unconditional.
Other supports include two weeks of camp, special interests, teen program, summer
program, therapy, support workers and monthly relief.
individual with individual needs. The WrapAround consists of a team of family members as
well as professionals, is community based, and is culturally competent and unconditional.
Other supports include two weeks of camp, special interests, teen program, summer
program, therapy, support workers and monthly relief.
Fostering is a full-time commitment. Relief mainly consists of a weekend (Friday to
Sunday), but may also be need for emergency situations and could last for one night or
weeks. Relief is support for the full time foster parents.
Sunday), but may also be need for emergency situations and could last for one night or
weeks. Relief is support for the full time foster parents.
