JOIN US AS A FOSTER CAREGIVER
If you are currently fostering an LGBTQ2 youth, consider becoming a Five/Fourteen foster parent, so you and your foster youth can benefit from the enhanced support system and dynamic network our agency provides.
If you’re interested in exploring whether you’re right for foster care and foster care is right for you, fill out our information request form** and we’ll contact you.
We’re currently interested in foster parents and those thinking of becoming foster parents in Windsor, Essex County, and the London area.
We’ll talk with you to help you understand the role of a foster caregiver (foster parent) with Five/Fourteen, what it means for you, your family, and the youth in our care, and the services and supports we provide you and our youth. Whether you’re interested in starting next week, next month, or next year, we will gladly meet with you to talk about how fostering can fit into your life.
There isn’t a single set of qualifications to be a great Five/Fourteen foster caregiver. Each youth, each family, and each home are unique, and we are here to support you and guide you along the way. You don’t need to be a parent, or to have worked in youth services, or to be wealthy. Foster caregivers may rent or own their home, be working or retired, be experienced parents or just starting to expand their family.
A few basic requirements are:
- You are interested in sharing your home with an LGBTQ2 youth who needs one.
- You have a desire to mentor and encourage youth.
- You want to share and expand your knowledge and skills through our ongoing training programs.
- You are supportive of LGBTQ2 and gender-independent people, communities, and cultures.
Our most qualified applicants are individuals or couples with:
- experience providing foster care and/or parenting,
- professional, volunteer, or life experience supporting LGBTQ, Two-Spirit, or otherwise gender-independent youth, and
- a background in helping people who have suffered abuse, trauma and loss.
Fostering parenting is volunteering, but our foster caregivers receive compensation for costs of care, room and board, ranging from $50 to $70 per day, depending on a variety of factors including the needs of each child or youth, the location of the foster home, and the experience of the foster caregiver(s).
Experienced foster parents, who have completed P.R.I.D.E. training and are available to begin immediately receive compensation which includes consideration for the experience they bring to the role. We welcome caregivers who want to bring their expertise to a progressive, social justice minded agency.
We also provide:
- Coverage of costs for client expenses (e.g., allowance, clothing, haircuts)
- Regular and ongoing staff support
- Pre-service training and orientation
- Ongoing training and development on fostering for LGBTQ2 children and youth
- Monthly meetings and activities with other caregivers
- 24/7 on-call emergency support
Applicants must:
- be at least 21 years of age,
- be Canadian citizens or permanent residents,
- complete a standardized home study with Five/Fourteen staff,
- submit a Police Records Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening,
- provide 3-5 character references, and
- participate in pre-service and ongoing training and skills development.
We are always looking for high-quality foster caregivers, so fill out our quick and easy information request form**, and we’ll contact you soon to talk about joining our growing team!
**Information provided in the Information Request Form is protected, subject to Part X of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017.