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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The Yellowknife Health and Social Services Authority recognized the work of foster families during National Foster Parent Appreciation Week, Oct. 19 to 25, with an annual banquet and party for the kids in their care.

Christine Bressette is the executive director of the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT. She was out recruiting new foster families and showing appreciation for the families who currently care for children at Centre Square Mall. - Jason Emiry/NNSL photo

Jude Billard, a social worker with NWT Child and Family Services Foster Care, said foster families "are extremely important – particularly because we don't have enough.

"We'd like to be able to offer a full foster care program with respite homes and no overcrowding in any of the homes. Right now we're not able to do that."

There are about 70 foster families in Yellowknife. Half of these families are aboriginal.

Most foster children in the territory are aboriginal, said Christine Bressette, executive director of the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT. She said they need more aboriginal foster families.

"Eighty-seven per cent of foster children are aboriginal," said Bressette. "My office is based in Yellowknife. I could recruit more families in the communities if I had a budget to travel there."

Bressette recently went to the territorial government with a proposal for a budget, and was turned down. She said she does her best with limited resources.

"It is okay to say 'I need help,'" said Bressette. "Maybe someone needs to leave their kids with their grandparents or another family member for a short period of time. This is fine."

Billard said awareness is key to recruiting more foster families.

"We've done a lot of marketing already this year," said Billard. "We're going to continue to do more marketing."

People show interest in fostering, but they don't always follow through, she said. It is a big decision to make. Potential foster parents are worried their family routine will be disrupted.

"Sometimes it's tricky dealing with the birth family," said Billard. "You're dealing with people who are dealing with issues of their own, the reasons why their children are in foster care."

Young, elderly, single parent, regular family or provisional families can provide foster care.

Provisional families are chosen by the birth family to look after their kids. These can be grandparents or aunts and uncles.

Foster kids may enter permanent care, temporary care or may even be adopted by their foster family.

The goal of temporary care is to eventually return children to their birth parents.

Billard said families that want to take in foster children must provide three references, complete a criminal record check and physical exam.

"We're looking for families that are giving, loving, able to provide care and are financially stable," said Billard. "They need to be stable in their family make-up and in their relationship. We don't want to bring kids into more chaos than they've been taken out of."

For their annual banquet the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT will be giving gifts to families who have cared for children in the territory.

"The families who have opened their doors need to be recognized for their efforts," said Bressette.