Consider the Enhanced Foster Caregiver Opportunity

The responsibilities below reflect the focused scope of care involved in supporting children and youth with complex needs within a stable, home-based setting:

• Provide care for one child or youth with complex needs within your home, with flexibility and availability to support ongoing supervision and care
• Maintain availability to support frequent appointments, care coordination and timely responses to evolving needs, in collaboration with the service team
• Act as an advocate and collaborative member of a child or youth’s support network and participate in planning for their care
• Accept and integrate approved in-home third-party staffing as part of the care plan
• Support children and youth in maintaining connections to their family, community and school

This role is intended for individuals with relevant professional and/or lived experience supporting children and youth with complex needs:

• Academic or professional background in child and youth care or related fields such as Children and Youth Worker (CYW), Social Work, Developmental Support Worker (DSW), children and youth mental health, and/or demonstrated lived experience supporting high-needs children and youth.
• Experience supporting complex behavioural, medical or developmental needs, with evidence of effective care in highly complex situations
• Knowledge of developmental conditions and developmental trauma, including the impact of adverse childhood experiences across stages of development
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with clinical professionals and act as a core member of a treatment or care team
• Trauma-informed practice skills, including implementing structured therapeutic strategies in the home
• Two professional references confirming experience supporting children or youth with complex needs
• Documented history of successful, coordinated care, including implementation of therapeutic and/or care plans
• Previous fostering experience is an asset

All Enhanced Foster Caregivers complete key components of the approval and training process required for foster care in Ontario.

This includes:

• Home visits by a Children’s Aid Society of Toronto worker
• Completion of a Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE), a comprehensive home study assessing eligibility, suitability, and readiness to foster
• Completion of Parent Resources for Information, Development, and Education (PRIDE), a mandatory 27-hour provincial training program for all prospective Foster Parents in Ontario

All prospective Enhanced Foster Caregivers are required to provide:

• Police background checks and child welfare checks for all adults living in the home
• Personal references
• A medical exam and reference from a family doctor for all household members
• Confirmation of the ability to provide a safe, supportive, and secure living environment for children, including stable household income

In addition to an enhanced per diem, up to $225/day, Enhanced Foster Caregivers receive coordinated and individualized supports tailored to the needs of the child or youth in their care.

You will work closely with a dedicated Foster Care Resource Worker, and depending on the child/youth’s needs, you may also work with clinical professionals, Child and Youth Workers, nursing or therapeutic services, and community-based supports. This team-based approach provides guidance, consultation, and shared problem-solving as care plans evolve.

Enhanced Foster Caregivers also have access to specialized training, ongoing learning opportunities, and reflective support through CAST. These supports are designed to help caregivers continue expanding their expertise, deepen their understanding of therapeutic approaches, and broaden their awareness of community resources available to children and youth with complex needs who are in care.

You bring expertise, experience and a strong understanding of how to support children and youth in care with complex needs.

You may have a background in child and youth care, social work, developmental services, mental health or a related field, and/or lived experience caring for a child or youth with significant needs. You are comfortable working collaboratively and supporting individualized care plans within the home.

As an Enhanced Foster Caregiver, you can contribute meaningfully to care planning and decision-making and apply your expertise to directly influence outcomes for children and youth in care. This role is well suited to caregivers who value partnership, professional collaboration and purposeful impact.