Table of contentsParameters (specific qualifications)Parameters (benefits)Implementation (agencies)Implementation (how is it implemented?)HistoryStrengthsWeaknessesThe foster care system offers for children and adolescents under the age of 19 an alternative parenting solution for young people who cannot remain safely in the care of their primary caregivers, whose families need specific or short-term support or whose families are in times of crisis. The benefits children receive from foster care include physical care such as shelter, clothing and food, as well as emotional support which includes acceptance into the family, love, guidance and a positive role model. The foster care system in Canada is funded and administered by the federal government. However, each province differs when it comes to the foster care regulations in place. The majority of provinces have third-party groups that serve as supports for both youth in the foster care system and youth who have aged out of the foster care system. This article will focus on the foster care system at the provincial level in British Columbia. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"?Get the original essayParameters (specific qualifications)Three pieces of legislation are used to determine how a child can receive child care. First of all, the “Child, Family and Community Service Act” can apply to two situations. The first situation is where the child's primary caregiver signs a formal custody agreement with a delegated Indigenous organization (DAA) or the ministry because the parents are temporarily unable to care for their child. The second situation is where the child is removed from the home of his or her primary caregiver because he or she needs protection. Additionally, the second piece of legislation is called the “Infants Act” and applies when a guardian or parent dies and there is no legal guardian appointed by a will. The third piece of legislation is the “Adoption Act” which describes a situation in which the primary caregiver consents to the adoption of their child. During the adoption process, the child may be temporarily placed with a foster family. To become a foster parent, there are many steps that must be taken. First, parents are invited to participate in information sessions and orientation sessions during the selection process. The purpose of these sessions and orientations is to provide parents with the information necessary for the recruitment process, to let them know the unique needs of children, to educate them about effective parenting styles and finally, to set expectations for potential guardians. The intention behind these sessions and orientations is to give parents a realistic understanding of what being a foster parent will be like. Additionally, the second stage involves potential foster parents having to go through a comprehensive assessment and selection process. The selection process includes the submission of three references, a home study, a criminal record check, a medical reference and finally, a verification of past and current contact with the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) or the DAAs. Finally, once parents are approved as foster parents, they must complete the BC Foster Care Education program within the first two years of their approval. Parameters (benefits) Foster parents receive amonthly maintenance payment in order to provide appropriate care to the child. The range of wages received differs depending on the age of the child and the type of care they need. The typical monthly rate for a child ages 11 and under is $1,005.32 and the typical monthly rate for a child ages 12 to 19 is $1,107.96. Additionally, salaries vary for youth who need specialized family care homes. Children are placed in specialist care for a variety of reasons such as emotional or behavioral problems, physical disabilities and mental health problems. Foster parents who provide specialist foster families receive a service payment in addition to the typical salary per child, due to the additional parenting skills needed and time required to care for these young people. There are three levels of care which take into account both the number of children in the specialist care home and the severity of their needs. At the first level, where there are up to six children with many developmental needs and challenging behaviors, parents receive $458.02 for each child. In Tier Two, in which there are up to three children with severe developmental needs, health needs and interfering behaviors, foster parents receive $1,140.40 for one child, $1,968.68 for two children and $2,692.92 for three children. At level three, where there are a maximum of two children in the home who require the most daily care, families receive $1,816.66 for one child and $3,113.12 for two children. Additionally, the social worker is the one who ensures that the child receives medical benefits such as medical coverage, medical supplies and equipment, assessment and developmental supports, mental health services, dental and orthodontic benefits and optical benefits.Implementation (Agencies)The MCFD manages the foster care system and works with 5,400 community social service agencies to provide services to support children, youth and families involved in the foster care system. Additionally, the ministry has signed a formal contract with the BC Federation of Foster Parents Association (BCFFPA). BCFFPA is a provincial non-profit organization that aims to bring together foster parents and social workers to improve the care of children. children placed in the foster care system. The organization provides recruitment services to the ministry, provides information about foster care to the general public, and provides education and support to foster parents. The Federation of BC Youth in Care Networks is a youth-led, non-profit organization and was created to improve the lives of children in foster care aged 14 to 24, whether they are supported or not. The program brings young people together to help them build community, talk about challenges and find their second home. Retreats hosted by the nonprofit host distribute resources, fund training opportunities, and support those seeking leadership and training opportunities. The Federation of Indigenous Foster Parents (FAFP) is a non-profit organization that is run by and serves Indigenous foster parents in BC. This organization recognizes the unique needs of those caring for Indigenous children and aims to ensure that these children grow up in an environment that recognizes and practices their culture.Implementation (How is it implemented?)If a child or adolescent is deemed eligible to enter the foster care systemis based on the three pieces of legislation described in the previous section, the next step is to determine the specific form of placement needed. There are five different types of care identified by a family nursing home. First, there are certain situations in which a child or adolescent needs “temporary or short-term care,” which can last as little as one day but does not exceed 24 months. In these situations, a solution is found in the primary caregiver's home to resolve the problem that led to the child's placement. The ultimate goal is for the child to return to his or her family. Second, “long-term care” is necessary if the child does not have a legal guardian to care for him or her. Additionally, if foster parents have received less than 24 hours' notice to care for a child, this is referred to as "emergency care." These courses only last 14 days maximum. “Respite care” is a unique type of care in which family nursing homes care for a child for a day or a few days at a time and may do so several times a month. Respite care is provided to the child's primary caregivers as a family support service, and the aim of this service is to provide a short break for families. With respite care, families have full custody of their children. Finally, “rescue care” is the same as respite care, with the difference that the break is given to foster parents. In terms of types of family foster homes, there are five different homes a child can end up in. be placed in a “relative home”, an “ordinary home” or a “specialized home”, which specialized home has three different levels. First, children are placed in a kinship home if they know or are close to the foster family. The secondary residence is an ordinary home in which the child does not know the host parents beforehand. Finally, children are placed in specialized homes if they have behavioral problems, emotional problems or developmental problems. There are three levels of specified specialist homes and children are matched to a certain level depending on the severity of their special needs. When a youth is between the ages of 16 and 18, they may be eligible for a youth agreement, which is a legal agreement entered into between the youth and the MCFD when that youth is in dire need of protection or assistance. If an adolescent requests this agreement, the MCFD office will first conduct a thorough assessment of the adolescent's situation and, if eligible, provide that adolescent with assistance such as finding housing, helping with coping with mental health issues, education. opportunities, teaching them life skills and more. The department ensures that when a child enters the foster care system, a team approach is taken. The team involved in caring for a foster child involves not only the foster family and the child's family, but also the social worker, resource social worker and other service providers involved in the child's life. The most important aspect of foster care is ensuring that the best interests of the child are at the forefront of everyone's concerns. History Between the 1870s and 1925, large numbers of children were brought from Grande -Brittany to Canada where they were forced to work as domestic servants and agricultural workers. When the children arrived in Canada, foster care took place for the first time. However, at that time, the foster care system did not have in mindthe best interests of children. In an effort to remove children from these undesirable environments, philanthropic movements have emerged and the state has taken steps to fund child welfare services. After much effort, in 1891, the first Children's Aid Society was established in Toronto and subsequently, in 1893, the first child welfare law was passed in Ontario. The Child Protection Act was important because, for the first time, child abuse became a criminal act. Over the next 20 years, there was an apparent shift away from the belief that children should contribute to the workforce in favor of a new belief that children should devote their time to formal education. These changes in attitudes are due to the fact that people have recognized that children should not be exposed to any danger. As a result, child protection services have grown more and more. However, while this period benefited some Canadians, the Indigenous community suffered. Data shows that 52.2% of children in foster care under the age of 14 are Indigenous. However, only 7.7% of children under the age of 14 in Canada are Indigenous. As a result, Indigenous children are overrepresented in the foster care system. These statistics are attributed to an event known as the "sixties scoop." In 1960, Indigenous communities lacked resources, services and were under the control of the Indian Act, which granted provinces jurisdiction over Indigenous child welfare. Eager to assimilate Indigenous children into Canadian culture, provincial child welfare agencies removed Indigenous children from their homes, families, and communities and placed them in foster homes. The majority of them were ultimately adopted by white families across Canada and the United States. Strengths One of the strengths of the foster care system is that it recognizes that each child entering the system needs something different. For example, family homes are divided into five categories to meet a child's specific needs. These five categories take into account whether that child needs a temporary stay, a long-term stay, an emergency stay or a few days of care to give their guardians a break. Overall, it is evident that the foster care system has introduced programs that meet the specific needs of children, since all children need foster care for different reasons. The number of foster children finding permanent placement homes has increased over the years. In 2014, MCFD set a goal of placing 600 youth in adoptive homes within two years. With the help of partners like the Adoptive Families Association of BC and the Indigenous Perspectives Society, they not only met their goal, but exceeded it. Reports have shown that between 2014 and 2015, there was a 20% increase in adoption placements, during which 276 children were placed in permanent homes. By the end of 2015, an additional 368 children had been adopted, a record for British Columbia. Additionally, at the end of 2016, a $3 million budget was distributed for adoption efforts such as adoption education programs, Indigenous agencies focused on permanency planning as well as the support for youth transitioning from foster care to permanent homes. The foster care system is that the MCFD funded the FAFP to help indigenous children as well.