When Stephen Paquette and husband, Glen Town, made the decision to become foster parents five years ago, their reasons for doing so were rather unique.

The couple had recently adopted two young boys through the Ministry of Children and Families and were touched and inspired by the care the children had received from their former foster parents.

“It was about coming full circle,” explains Stephen. “When this foster family took care of our boys, they actually helped Glen and I to start our own family. We wanted the opportunity to do something similar for someone else.”

Shortly after welcoming their sons, Stephen left his busy job to become a full-time, stay-at-home parent and provide a stable base for their new family. The Town-Paquette household grew even larger when the couple agreed to foster two young girls. During this time, Stephen began attending a monthly Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) foster parent support group where he received invaluable advice and encouragement from other experienced foster families. Last year, MCFD also created Caregiver Support Networks (CSNs) for foster families across British Columbia. Stephen acts as the CSN Support Home Leader for the Tri-Cities area.

“The value of peer support has been well-documented and I’m pleased to be part of an initiative where peer support is actively provided as part of fostering,” says Stephen. “Sometimes foster parents tend to work in isolation; however, there are some true innovators who can give a hand up to new foster parents. CSNs allow for that.”

For four years, Stephen and Glen juggled the responsibilities associated with parenting four small children. Recently, the couple and their sons helped their foster children successfully transition to a new adoptive family.

“Saying goodbye is, in a word, bittersweet. However, it’s also gratifying to have been a bridge to permanency for these kids,” explains Stephen. “When the girls came to us, the youngest was 11 months old. Before she was adopted she celebrated every single birthday with us. We know we helped to give her and her sister a positive start in life.”

While there are challenges associated with foster parenting, Stephen also speaks passionately about the benefits. Cautioning that fostering vulnerable children is “not for the faint of heart”, he also describes the joy associated with being a positive influence during a fundamental time in a child’s development.

“Our entire family has played a role in fostering. For example, our sons learned and modelled healthy ways of dealing with conflict, sharing, giving back and placing another person’s needs before their own,” says Stephen. “Someone once said, ‘you will not get rich fostering, but you will be enriched by the experience.’ That has described our family’s journey perfectly.”

October is Foster Family Month in British Columbia – an opportunity to honour and celebrate the remarkable contributions foster families make in our communities. If you are 19 years old or older, can provide a safe, loving and stable environment, and are able to meet the day to day duties and responsibilities of caring for a vulnerable child or children, please call the Foster Line toll-free at 1 800 663-9999 or visit: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/foster/

Quick Facts:

• Foster family homes are the primary placement resource for children in care in B.C.
• These homes support children and teens who are unable to live with their traditional family for reasons of abuse, neglect, emergency or tragedy.
• 60% of children in care in B.C. are Aboriginal compared to only 12% of B.C.’s foster parents. There is a need for more Aboriginal families willing to foster so that all children in care can maintain their cultural and community connections.
• Foster parents must be in good physical and mental health. They receive training and undergo background, criminal record and reference checks. On average, the approval process takes three months.
• Once the approval process is successfully completed, new foster parents sign an agreement outlining their responsibilities and complete the 53-hour B.C. Foster Care Education Program within two years.

Learn More:

Foster Family Month in B.C. information kits: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/foster/ffm.htm

Interested in fostering? Call the Foster Line toll-free at 1 800 663-9999 or visit: http://www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/foster/

B.C. Federation of Foster Parent Associations: http://bcfosterparents.ca/