The Children's Aid Society of Oxford County is responsible for the safety and protection of children.  Wherever possible, the Children's Aid Society works to keep children in their own family.  When children cannot remain at home because of serious concerns about their safety and protection, they come into the care of the Children's Aid Society where every effort is made to give a child a family and a home.

Where possible, the preferred option is to place the child with a member of their immediate or extended family or a member of the community.  If this is not possible, foster care may be the best alternative.  Foster parents provide short-term, long-terms or respite homes for children in the care of the Children's Aid Society.  Foster parents work with the CAS staff as part of a team to develop a plan for each child in care.  The ideal plan is usually to reunite a child with their family.  Where this is not possible, the plan may include adoption or long-term foster care.  Foster parents provide stability, and a caring home that encourages a child's growth and development.  While the legal responsibility for the child remains with the agency, foster parents play an important role in the child's daily life.

Who Are Foster Children? 

·        Each foster child is unique.
·        There is no typical foster child.
·        Children come into care because there is a conflict within the family, because of a
       parent's illness or incapacity to take care of their child/children.
·        Some children may come into care because the family cannot provide adequate
      care or the necessities of life.
·        Other children may have been neglected, abused or abandoned.
·        Foster children range in age from infancy to 18 years and come from diverse
      cultural, religious and family backgrounds.
·        Many foster children are teenagers; some are brothers and sisters.
·        Some foster children face physical, emotional and mental challenges.
·        Each foster child is going through a troubled period in his family life and needs
       the care offered by foster parents. 
·        Many require not only warmth and acceptance but consistency, structure
      and guidance. 

Who Are Foster Parents?

Foster parents come from all walks of life and a diversity of culture, religion and lifestyle.  They may be:

- Experienced parents whose family has grown;
- Young couples who have become foster parents while raising their
   own children;
- Older couples;
- Single persons;
- Parents with training in child care or related professions; and/or,
- People with no special background in child care;

All have a genuine interest in children and a sense of community responsibility.  They enjoy the challenge presented by foster care.

To learn more about becoming a foster parent through the Children's Aid Society of Oxford County, please call (519)-539-6176 or 1(800) 250-7010.