Fort Smith (Feb 28/05) - No one is yet calling it a critical shortage, but a lack of foster parents is placing Fort Smith on "the edge" of a serious problem.

Currently, there are only two foster parent homes in Fort Smith, aside from a group home and fostering by relatives.

Dana Rasiah, CEO of the Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority, says ideally there would be a number of potential foster parents on the waiting list, "but that's not the case."

The authority sometimes has to "go hunting" for a foster parent when the need arises, he says, explaining the situation places the system "on the edge." There has never yet been a situation when no foster parent homes were available, he said, adding, if that were to happen, the next step would be to place a child in a hotel under the care of a social worker.

Rasiah said that in the last three years, there have been at least two cases when Social Services staff have come to him to say that, if a foster home had not been found in a day or two, a hotel was the next option. "But it never came to that."

Kim Inskip, acting director of community services in Fort Smith, says there has always been a difficulty finding foster parents in the community.

Inskip says the problem in Fort Smith might be due to a lack of knowledge about the extent of the need.

She says finding foster parents for adolescents - 12-16 years olds - is particularly difficult.

"Every community needs a range of those services," she says, noting care could just be for a night or two. "Sometimes that's all we need."

Inskip encourages people to give the health authority a call if they are interested in fostering.

She says foster parenting is rewarding, noting that people get satisfaction from making a difference in a child's life.

"That's an incredible role to play."

Children can end up in foster care for a range of reasons, including illness, child abuse, neglect and domestic violence.

"The vast majority of time it's short term," Inskip says.

The Polar Crescent Group Home was created about eight years ago as a way to help meet the need.

The six-bed group home currently houses three children.

In addition, there are seven extended-family foster homes, in which children are taken care of by relatives, such as aunts and uncles or grandparents.

"That's always the first avenue we pursue," Inskip said, adding it's sometimes not feasible for extended families to be involved.

On Jan. 22, the Foster Family Coalition of the NWT held an information session on foster parenting in Fort Smith and seven prospective new foster homes were identified.

Kirsten Burke, the coalition's executive director, says it was a good turnout, but it will take time for those people to work their way through the approvals process.

"It's not as if a home is going to open the next day," she says. She estimates there are about 250 foster parents in the NWT, including extended families.

The coalition, which has been active since 2003, aims to be the unified voice for foster parents in the NWT.

It offers such things as training on basic roles and responsibilities and working with biological parents.

Burke says the coalition feels there is a change of attitude happening in the NWT. "There's a much more positive view to fostering parenting."

Anyone can foster

Inskip said there is no preferred type of people to be foster parents. It could be anyone over 18, including single people. Anyone wishing to be a foster parent would be interviewed, undergo a criminal record check and must have adequate space available in their home.

"The most important thing is to have a heart for children," Inskip said.

The Fort Smith Health and Social Services Authority spends about $350,000 annually on foster care, including the operation of the Polar Crescent Group Home.

Foster parents are paid between $30 and $90 per day per child.