TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Families new to fostering at York participate in an intensive pre-service training program called PRIDE, after which they and the foster care department will assess the fit of fostering to the family’s lifestyle. Once approved, foster families develop a personalized learning plan, in consultation with their Foster Care Support Worker, and continue to attend regular skills development courses.

Foster caregivers are important members of the child’s care team, and will work together with a variety of professionals – social workers, child and youth care workers, mental health professionals - to meet children’s needs. Professional support is available 24 hours a day, and can range from specific care instruction to meet a child’s special needs, to general guidance to provide healing homes for children.