Application & Approval Process
Foster caregivers are important community members who not only provide temporary homes for children and youth, but also facilitate connections and reunification with their families and community. Could you be a foster caregiver? Find out whether fostering is right for you and your family.
We continue to need, look for, and invite potential caregivers from all communities and backgrounds to participate in our application and approval process.
If you are interested in fostering, would like to ask questions or learn more, please fill in your contact information below and a member of our team will reach out to you.
Application and Approval Process
The fostering application process takes time and may be influenced by factors such as the applicant’s ability to possibly care for children with complex needs, siblings, and teens.
All potential foster caregivers must undergo the approval and training process which includes:
- Home visits by a Hamilton Child and Family Supports worker.
- Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE): This home study is a comprehensive assessment to determine your eligibility, suitability, and readiness to become a foster caregiver.
- Parent Resources for information, Development, and Education (PRIDE): This mandatory provincial 27-hour training program is taken by all prospective foster caregivers in Ontario.
Assessing Foster Caregivers
All prospective foster caregivers will provide the following:
- Police background and child welfare checks for all adults living in your home to ensure no history of child abuse or neglect
- References from people who know you
- Medical exam and reference from your doctor for everyone living in your home
- Proof of ability to provide a safe, supportive, and secure living environment for children, including stable family income
