NunavutSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Child and Family Services is putting a public call out for foster homes, in anticipation of future need.

The department currently has 45 foster homes and will need more homes available for new or repeat cases, said Yvonne Niego, deputy minister of the Department of Family Services.

Asked how the call out for families will adhere to the departmentSA国际影视传媒檚 policy of keeping Inuit children in culturally relevant homes, Niego said the department is focused on SA国际影视传媒渂eing more culturally appropriate.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to increase our Inuit foster home numbers. We want to do our work better and for the children.SA国际影视传媒�

In previous years, the department has always made a call for foster homes but is appealing through media for the first time, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淭his year we wanted to cast a wider net and inform families of what it would be like to host a child,SA国际影视传媒� said Niego.

The department is making the call because where a child is placed varies on a case-by-case basis and based on specific needs of a child, said Niego.

In total, there are 450 children in care, with 250 in foster homes across the territory. The department has enough homes to foster those children.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 more preemptive. If we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have a home and we have an apprehension, a social worker will stay with the child until a home is found,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The department is SA国际影视传媒渁lways in need of good foster homesSA国际影视传媒� and recognizes that going through the on boarding process takes time.SA国际影视传媒�

We want to inform the general public the difference you can make in a childSA国际影视传媒檚 life in extended family, even through extended family relationships there is a possibility to become a foster parent,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need culturally relevant and Inuit specific homes for Inuit children. Keeping children as close to home as possible is our overall department policy,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The department SA国际影视传媒渨orks closelySA国际影视传媒� with families to put more children in their parental home on plans of care, said Niego.

Of all the children in care, just over 50 percent are placed in Nunavut homes. Roughly 20 per cent are in their parental homes where family services is working with the family to support them, said Niego.

In total, 70 children apprehended from within the territory are in residential out-of-territory care, where they get access to services for complex medical or behavioural needs that canSA国际影视传媒檛 be met by services in Nunavut, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淎lthough we have a foster homes for the current children in foster care, still we need more foster homes available for when new cases or repeat cases come up,SA国际影视传媒� said Niego.

In previous years, the department hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 put out a public service announcement in the media but always does an annual call out for foster families.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 the first time weSA国际影视传媒檝e done it this way. We recognize the need with a growing population to keep up with our foster care availability,SA国际影视传媒� said Niego.

There is an application process with a criminal record check and a home inspection to ensure a family is capable of housing a child.

SA国际影视传媒淲e want to make sure the child has an appropriate place to sleep, we check references and then once the application is made there is a home study,SA国际影视传媒� said Niego.

Foster parents are compensated between $43 and $50 per day for their service, depending on the community they are based in, said Niego.

People who are interested in becoming a foster parent can contact their local community social workers, Niego.

SA国际影视传媒淏ecoming a foster family itSA国际影视传媒檚 about making a difference in the life of a child. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 to help children and families in your community when they need that help the most,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Some children are temporarily in care while others are there long term.

Single-parent homes are eligible to apply, though the department is ideally looking for two parent homes with one parent at home who can provide fully for the child, she said.

Children are often coming from homes where there is SA国际影视传媒渟ome sort of agitation in the family and they need that respite SA国际影视传媒� and some time for the family to recover,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Any foster family should be able to support SA国际影视传媒渉ealthy relationships between children and their family and be part of a team to nurture a child,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Fostering a child is intended to SA国际影视传媒渂ring a family to recovery and meet that childSA国际影视传媒檚 developmental needs,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The department recognizes that overcrowding is a problem in Nunavut and is exploring equipment and training initiatives for foster parents in the coming months, said Niego.