Inclusive Foster Care
[A child’s] circle is a sacred space where healing can occur, interconnectedness and interdependent relationships with one another are emphasized and unity respectful of our diversity may be found”. – Aboriginal Policy and Practice Framework (APPF) in BC; MCFD 2016
Welcome to the VACFSS Inclusive Foster Care platform! This website was developed to support you – foster caregivers – in your work towards inclusive fostering. It is our hope that the information and resources available here will help you strengthen children’s connections to their family, Nation, and culture. Inclusive fostering is an important practice when working with Indigenous children and youth in care, and having a deep understanding of what Inclusive Foster Care entails is important for you to develop! The Inclusive Foster Care website is not intended to provide information on general caregiving practices; the purpose is to deepen your understanding of, and engagement with, children’s families, communities, and cultures.
On this site you will be able to access information on what Inclusive Foster Care is and what it includes; who to contact when you have questions about inclusive fostering and how to contact them; descriptions of the cultural programming available at VACFSS; key messages about how to connect children to their culture and to their family; advice from other foster caregivers engaging in Inclusive Foster Care; a map of the journey children experience throughout care; access to resources regarding topics such as colonization; and much more!
Engaging with Inclusive Foster Care
An important piece of engaging with Inclusive Foster Care is understanding the history of colonization and colonial policies on Indigenous peoples and communities, including Residential Schools.
To learn more about colonization and the continued colonial impact watch a short video on the impact of Residential Schools and visit the resources page for additional information.
On this site you will be able to access information on what Inclusive Foster Care is and what it includes; who to contact when you have questions about inclusive fostering and how to contact them; descriptions of the cultural programming available at VACFSS; key messages about how to connect children to their culture and to their family; advice from other foster caregivers engaging in Inclusive Foster Care; a map of the journey children experience throughout care; access to resources regarding topics such as colonization; and much more!
An important piece of engaging with Inclusive Foster Care is understanding the history of colonization and colonial policies on Indigenous peoples and communities, including Residential Schools. To learn more about colonization and the continued colonial impact watch a short video on the impact of Residential Schools and visit the resources page for additional information.
How inclusive are you? Use this self-evaluation to think about your strengths and where you may need some support in inclusive fostering. Your Resource Worker will ask you about this during your Annual Review.
Hear what one foster parent writes about what it takes to be Inclusive, and why it is worth the effort.
