The Saskatchewan Foster Families Association is informing residents of Lloydminster and area on the need of foster care.
The SFFA launched the Foster New Beginnings campaign this week in Lloydminster and North Battleford to contest the high need of fostering in the province. Executive Director Deb Davies says the campaign has been launched all over the province with the first campaign being in Yorkton in 2017.
“The Foster New Beginnings Campaign is to reach out to our community to make them aware that we’re in need of foster homes, especially to foster younger children.”
The campaign will run for two weeks, informing the community about the importance of fostering. Last year the SFFA found 50 new foster homes in Saskatchewan. This year they’re aiming for 60.
Davies has been a part of the child welfare system for 37 years and has been a foster parent for 27 years. She had 2 kids of her own when she started fostering at 22. Davies says her adult children recollect on how fostering was rewarding for their family and the people they helped.
“Still having contact with a lot of the young woman that had joined our family, I have such a huge extended family network. Those are the rewards I have.”
Davies says the campaign is here to educate the public and that there has been more fostering that has come from the program.
“People have come forward and said, “I want to foster, I can open my home and I have room for another child in my home. “We have also had people come forward saying “how can I help the fostering community, what can I do? I don’t want to foster but I want to be a part of the community. What can I do to support foster parents?”
If anyone is interested in fostering or wants more information on the Foster New Beginnings Campaign, visit the SFFA website