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There is a great need for foster parents in Fort St. John, according to Chris Foster, with Community Bridge’s foster parent support.

Foster, along with Ministry of Children and Family Development social worker Todd Stringer, made a presentation at Fort St. John city council’s September meeting. The pair praised the efforts, over the past 33 years of foster parents throughout British Columbia, and in the North Peace region in particular.

“Locally the need is rising, for many reasons,” said Stringer.

Currently, there are more than a thousand children and youth throughout BC who need temporary and long-term foster families. The primary focus of the Ministry, Stringer told council, is to support all children and youth in BC to live in safe, healthy, and nurturing families where they can remain strongly connected to their communities and culture.

Local ordinary citizens have opened their hearts and homes to these children in need and engaged in extraordinary acts of kindness, said Stringer.

“I have personally seen how foster parents have had massively positive impacts on many of these local children’s lives. On a daily basis I see Fort St. John’s foster parents get excited to learn new skills in order to meet the needs and challenges many of these children face. Foster parents commit, tirelessly, to these children of Fort St. John,” he said.  

Foster parents are often called on in the middle of the night to open their homes, and almost daily called on them for emergency placements. Foster families make a great sacrifice in these times and have committed to altering their family lifestyles immediately on these requests for safe homes.

In October, the city will be celebrating Foster Parents Appreciation Month in honour of those who have opened their hearts, homes, and lives to our most vulnerable population. Foster parents prove that time after time that during exceptional times and circumstances they are exceptional people.

Councillor Jim Lequiere said that when he was growing up, his family fostered children. “Fostering is rewarding for the families who do it, as well for the kids.”

If anyone is interested in fostering or learning more about being a foster parent, contact Community Bridge. Their website is: https://communitybridge.ca/foster-parent-recruitment-retention-and-support/ or they can be reached by phone at 250-785-6021 ext 235.