Let’s Talk About: Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society New Foster Parent And Adoption Recruitment Campaign

THE PARENTING BIZ A New Foster Parent And Adoption Recruitment Campaign Let s talk about . . .

The curtain has been lifted on a new recruitment campaign that seeks to gain 50 more foster homes for the Windsor Essex area.

The “refreshed look,” featuring a house as a centrepiece, calls out to individuals in the region who may wish to open their homes and hearts to children and youth who need a safe place to grow and thrive. Currently, the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society (WECAS) has 132 foster homes and 34 kinship care homes (where children reside with extended family or members of their community).

There are approximately 440 children currently in the care of the Society, and there are not enough foster/care homes to cope. As a result, the agency contracts with outside providers to fill the gap.

“Throughout Ontario, the circumstances related to 89% of families involved with CAS are often due to a parent’s inability to meet their child’s physical and emotional needs,” explains WECAS Executive Director Derrick Drouillard. “These parents often struggle with substance abuse, mental health, social isolation, trauma and extreme financial stress. As these underlying issues are addressed, 85% of children and youth return to their families within 36 months. In the interim, every child deserves an enriching environment.”

There is no standard model for being a foster parent. People of all ages, cultural backgrounds, gender identities, orientations, relationship status and family types are welcome to apply. Extensive training and support is provided.

Let’s read now about two local success stories, proving everyone can make a difference! (Last names withheld for privacy). Cindy and Sal adopted twin girls from WECAS about 17 years ago. When their daughters turned 13, they applied to foster. They have been fostering now for nearly five years and are loving it!

Their daughters have been very involved in the process. Currently caring for a toddler, they had to advise the girls the little one would be moving on to an adoptive family.

As a family, they decided that instead of transitioning the toddler to a new family, they would adopt this child who had become so much a part of their family. They are now in the beginning stages of adoption. Anne, a single Mennonite foster parent, began fostering in 2011. She shares that the best part of being a foster parent is seeing a child grow and develop in her care.

She also enjoys being part of a child’s reunification with his or her birth family. During times when this is not possible, Anne

During a press conference on February 11, 2020, at the WECAS office, located at 1671 Riverside Drive East, attendees had the opportunity to meet special people, such as foster parents Sal, Cindy and Anne who truly make a difference in the life of a child. Photo courtesy of Paul Medved/WECAS.

enjoys seeing children achieve permanency through adoption. This is how she has grown her family.

In Anne’s case, she first adopted a sibling group of four after reunification with the birth family was not possible. These siblings had bonded with her and each other, so it made sense to her to put forth a plan to adopt them to avoid disruption due to a move to another home.

These children — in addition to a sibling group of three others later placed with Anne — have all achieved permanency after she adopted them.

During this time, the second group of siblings were placed with Anne, an infant from a separate family was not able to return to the care of his birth family and was also placed with her. Today, Anne has adopted eight children. Is fostering for you? Can you envision yourself being one of the 50 new homes?

“Children need families and we need YOU (new tag line)!” Drouillard expresses. “Come see what it’s all about!”

To find out more about WECAS and get details on upcoming information sessions, visit their website: WECAS.on.ca.