Western Standard - New supports announced for foster caregivers

00:00:00.000 I'd like to start by saying happy Foster and Kinship Caregiver Month.

00:00:04.180 I'm so pleased that we're able to be here with the amazing folks from Alberta Foster and Kinship Association

00:00:09.820 who have kindly agreed to host us as we announce three exciting new initiatives

00:00:15.080 that I'm confident will provide meaningful support to foster caregivers,

00:00:19.220 help with recruitment, and improve stability for children and youth in government care.

00:00:24.940 Foster caregivers are invaluable partners.

00:00:27.160 Our government is always looking for ways to set them up for success

00:00:30.920 so that they can focus on meeting the needs of children in their care

00:00:34.240 and keep them connected to family, culture, and community

00:00:37.860 while providing a safe and loving place to live.

00:00:41.240 Being a foster caregiver is deeply rewarding.

00:00:44.360 At the same time, it's not always easy.

00:00:46.980 Helping children and youth navigate trauma, complex needs,

00:00:50.760 and the difficult process of being taken into care

00:00:53.120 demands a great deal of time, energy, and compassion.

00:00:56.420 And given that, I'm very pleased to announce that starting this November,

00:01:00.580 we will be helping foster caregivers easily access mental health supports

00:01:04.480 no matter where they are in the province.

00:01:07.460 Through an investment of $6.5 million,

00:01:09.860 we'll be covering the cost of five hours of counselling per year

00:01:13.320 for every licensed foster home in Alberta.

00:01:16.260 This support will not only be available to caregivers,

00:01:19.060 but to their family members as well.

00:01:21.600 Counselling sessions can be arranged through CFS

00:01:23.820 or via a licensed counsellor of the caregiver's choice.

00:01:27.500 Caregivers can also access mental health supports

00:01:29.740 through the Counselling Alberta website.

00:01:32.680 Mental wellness is vital, and I hope this new support

00:01:35.340 will give our dedicated foster caregivers

00:01:37.340 more opportunities to take care of themselves.

00:01:40.520 And that brings me to another step we're taking

00:01:42.300 to support our efforts to recruit more foster caregivers.

00:01:45.700 I'm excited to announce our Refer a Foster Caregiver program.

00:01:51.180 This program will leverage the power of community

00:01:53.480 in order to address some of the recruitment challenges

00:01:55.780 we're facing here in our province.

00:01:58.540 Word of mouth referrals are a powerful and effective recruitment strategy

00:02:01.880 within the foster community.

00:02:04.200 Many of our current foster caregivers

00:02:05.760 have some great success stories to share.

00:02:07.880 They know firsthand what makes an excellent foster family

00:02:11.760 and can see those qualities in their loved ones,

00:02:14.280 their friends, and their neighbours.

00:02:16.360 And that's why current foster caregivers

00:02:18.020 will now receive $500 for each successful referral

00:02:22.000 that leads to the creation of a new licensed foster home

00:02:25.300 here in Alberta.

00:02:27.100 We expect this program, which is projected to cost $450,000

00:02:31.080 over four years,

00:02:32.480 it will support our goal of recruiting more foster caregivers.

00:02:35.660 You might have seen our Just Like You campaign,

00:02:39.140 which showed Albertans there's a need for more foster families

00:02:42.040 and reignited interest in fostering.

00:02:45.500 And building on that success,

00:02:46.640 we hope this referral program will help us grow

00:02:48.940 our pool of licensed foster homes across the province,

00:02:52.000 creating stability in the foster care system

00:02:54.100 so that vulnerable children and youth can move less often

00:02:57.520 and stay connected to the people and places that they know.

00:03:01.280 The third initiative I want to tell you about

00:03:03.060 is all about maintaining those crucial connections

00:03:05.520 for youth aging out of care

00:03:07.400 who often deal with a lot of disruption and uncertainty

00:03:10.260 at a critical junction in their lives.

00:03:13.380 Our government understands how important it is

00:03:15.160 for young adults transitioning out of government care

00:03:17.400 to have consistent support from people

00:03:19.640 who already know and care about them,

00:03:21.760 people that they trust.

00:03:23.300 For those foster caregivers who are continuing

00:03:25.240 to provide essential guidance and mentorship

00:03:27.220 and support to young adults

00:03:28.580 who continue to live in their home after turning 18

00:03:31.220 and entering the Transition to Adult Program, or TAP.

00:03:35.100 Government is investing $16.7 million

00:03:37.740 so we can keep paying the daily caregiver skill fee

00:03:40.660 or special rates until the youth in their care turns 22.

00:03:45.900 Caregivers can also receive rent through financial supports

00:03:48.680 available to young adults through TAP.

00:03:50.920 This voluntary program will help young people aging out of care

00:03:54.500 begin moving towards independence

00:03:55.920 and building bright, successful futures

00:03:58.400 focused on their own terms.

00:04:00.960 Back in the summer,

00:04:02.140 Premier Smith asked me to continue this ministry's work

00:04:04.560 to recruit and retain foster caregivers

00:04:06.700 and to give kids in care the best experience we possibly can.

00:04:11.320 We've made progress

00:04:12.360 and I know that there is still work ahead.

00:04:15.000 For now, I hope these initiatives,

00:04:16.640 representing a combined investment of more than $23.6 million,

00:04:20.800 will get us closer to a system

00:04:22.200 where caregivers feel supported

00:04:23.640 and where children and youth in care

00:04:25.800 can experience stability, safety, and belonging.

00:04:29.180 Thanks again to AFCA for hosting us here today.

00:04:32.280 Thanks to our amazing foster caregivers.

00:04:34.800 And now I'll hand it over to Melissa Jones,

00:04:36.260 the CEO of the Alberta Foster and Kidship Association.

00:04:48.420 Thank you, Minister Turton.

00:04:49.780 Welcome everyone to the office

00:04:51.800 of the Alberta Foster and Kinship Association.

00:04:54.500 Here at AFCA,

00:04:55.760 we provide a variety of practical

00:04:57.440 and relevant supports,

00:04:59.440 programs, and services

00:05:00.620 for foster and kinship families.

00:05:02.920 We build trusted relationships

00:05:04.380 so that those who care for children

00:05:06.400 placed in Alberta homes

00:05:07.760 feel safe, heard, supported, and connected.

00:05:11.520 We advocate with and on behalf

00:05:13.440 of those who care for children

00:05:14.800 placed in Alberta homes.

00:05:16.420 We inform, educate,

00:05:18.220 and engage with external communities.

00:05:21.280 And we act on behalf of foster

00:05:23.220 and kinship caregivers

00:05:24.160 when working directly with you

00:05:25.700 and the Ministry of Children

00:05:27.260 and Family Services.

00:05:30.800 It is a pleasure to be here with you today

00:05:33.020 as we announce new funding

00:05:34.660 and programs that will make impact

00:05:36.940 or improvements to the foster care system

00:05:39.040 and support foster caregivers,

00:05:40.940 as well as limit some disruptions

00:05:43.040 to children and youth in care.

00:05:44.260 Foster caregivers go above and beyond

00:05:47.700 to provide safety and support

00:05:49.440 for children and youth.

00:05:51.020 It's essential that we continue

00:05:53.080 to provide caregivers

00:05:54.320 with the supports they need

00:05:55.820 so they can continue to provide love and care

00:05:58.560 to the children and youth in their homes.

00:06:00.640 I'm so pleased that Alberta's government

00:06:03.460 is providing the additional support

00:06:05.300 to help foster caregivers

00:06:07.020 cover some of the costs for counselling.

00:06:10.640 It's an important beginning

00:06:12.160 to address the unique stresses

00:06:13.800 they experience

00:06:14.840 and demonstrates the awareness

00:06:16.980 and recognition

00:06:17.860 in the importance of promoting

00:06:19.640 the mental health

00:06:20.480 and well-being of foster caregivers.

00:06:22.180 I'm also pleased to hear

00:06:25.500 the government will be maintaining

00:06:26.820 the foster caregiver daily skill fee

00:06:28.820 or special rate

00:06:29.720 when youth transition

00:06:30.680 out of care to adulthood.

00:06:33.440 The dedicated work of a caregiver

00:06:35.300 doesn't just stop

00:06:36.340 because a youth turns 18

00:06:37.700 and this funding will support

00:06:39.620 foster families staying together

00:06:41.100 while these young adults

00:06:42.620 take steps to achieve independence.

00:06:45.440 I would also like to thank

00:06:47.060 Children and Family Services

00:06:48.540 for providing AFCA

00:06:50.360 with a one-time grant

00:06:51.580 that will help us continue our work

00:06:53.700 educating the public

00:06:55.320 about foster and kinship care,

00:06:57.740 recognizing these caregivers

00:06:58.980 for the role they play in communities

00:07:00.620 and hopefully add to foster care

00:07:03.020 recruitment efforts.

00:07:05.400 We at AFCA appreciate

00:07:06.980 the partnership we have

00:07:08.080 with your ministry

00:07:08.720 and we look forward to continuing

00:07:10.540 to represent foster and kinship caregivers

00:07:12.960 and advocating for their needs

00:07:15.080 so they can continue to provide care

00:07:17.680 and stability to children

00:07:19.380 and youth in care.

00:07:20.360 Thank you.

Western Standard - October 24, 2023

New supports announced for foster caregivers

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