Chilliwack is in desperate need of foster homes, and those interested in opening their homes to youth are invited to take part in one of two upcoming information sessions.
Right now more than 1,000 kids across B.C. need temporary foster families. Many of these children and teens come from tough places, but fostering can have a huge positive impact on their lives. Foster caregivers are people who are willing to open their hearts and homes to youth and children of all ages, says the BC Federation of Foster Parent Associations. “They need stable, nurturing people to care for children who for a variety of reasons, can’t live with their own family.”
In B.C., 60 per cent of the youth in care are aboriginal, and that means First Nation, Metis, Inuit status and non-status Aboriginal foster caregivers are needed across the province, including Chilliwack.
The Chilliwack information meetings are to be held at the local Foster Caregivers’ meeting place, the Hummingbird Centre, located at 104-46167 Yale Road. They will be on Thursday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Thursday, March 1, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Reserving a seat is required to attend one of the sessions, by calling Colleen at 604-316-4599.
To learn more about fostering, visit www.fosteringconnections.ca. The website includes a questionnaire to help decide if fostering is right for you, along with several videos of families who have been through the fostering experience.