Q:      How are foster parents compensated?

A:      There are a number of approved methods for financially compensating foster parents: 

Basic Maintenance Rate – Reimburses foster parents for expenses incurred meeting day-to-day needs of foster children, and is set based on the age of the child.  Click here to check out the rates.  

Special Rates – Compensate foster parents based on their demonstrated abilities to meet the needs of a specific child. 

Q:      What support is available to foster families?

A:      Child and Family Services of Western Manitoba provides individual ongoing support via your support worker.  Training via workshops, conferences, accredited courses are made available to foster parents. The Westman Foster Family Association and the Manitoba Foster Family Network also provide ongoing support for foster families through general meetings, social gatherings, and training. 

Q:      What is it like to be a foster parent?

A:      Foster parenting is challenging and can be difficult – but is very rewarding.  Read one foster family’s story. 

Q:      Who are the foster children?

A:      A foster child can be of any gender between newborn and 18.  The act of coming into agency care means an interruption in their current attachment with their parents.  Often these traumatized children have special needs that may include behavioral, emotional or learning disabilities.  They require care, nurturing, comfort, security and stability.  Often we need foster homes that can accept sib groups. 

Q:      I have a previous criminal record – am I ineligible?

A:      Please discuss your criminal record with your worker.  Any positive results of the criminal record check will be evaluated as part of the home assessment.  Convictions that include violence, threats, and/or actions that would reflect poor judgment and potentially compromise child safety would point to ineligibility for acceptance for this program.