Ranch Ehrlo Society is looking for people who want to make a difference in children’s lives.
The Treatment Foster Care Program is currently seeking families to become foster parents. The next training session begins Nov. 2013.
Foster parent Lori Abbott grew up in care and said she understands the critical role that foster parents play in a child’s life.
“I grew up in care so I understand how important it is for children to have quality care and good people in their lives,” she said over the phone. “Years down the road these kids will be able to look back and see that we were there to help them, support them, and give them good memories.”
Lori welcomed a 12-year-old boy into her care six months ago, and while the road has been rocky, she said it’s one worth travelling.
“Despite the challenges we’ve gone through, I have absolute faith that our foster child will remember the core values that we are teaching him and the good times we have given him. I think he’ll grow up to realize that we tried to offer him a different perspective on life.”
The Treatment Foster Care Program helps children and youth, between the ages of six and 15, develop and maintain healthy relationships with their families and plan for reunification.
The primary goal of the program is to provide a supportive and loving family environment in which children and youth can develop to their full potential.
Former Ranch employee Trevor Schleede was a foster parent to two brothers, age 9 and 11. He said having the brothers in his family’s home, along with his wife and four children, made for a busy but exciting household.
“It was sometimes chaotic but it was a great experience,” he said from his home in Regina. “We helped make a positive impact in their lives, gave them some good experiences, and helped them make some new memories.”
“It was great for my own children as well because they had the opportunity to see life from a different perspective, learn the importance of helping others, and develop a strong sense of empathy,” he added.
Children in the Treatment Foster Care Program are referred directly by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, or from within Ranch Ehrlo programs. Referrals may include children requiring out-of-home care or children transitioning from more intensive levels of group or residential living.
Ranch Ehrlo caseworker Angela Montano became a foster family, along with her husband and two-year-old son, last year. Her family is currently caring for two sisters, ages 10 and 12 years old.
“It’s something I had always wanted to do,” Angela said of becoming a foster parent. “The Ranch Ehrlo program offers a great deal of support with counselling, respite, 24-hour on-call care, and financial compensation.”
“It’s been a good experience for everyone,” she said. “We’re really happy to have the girls in our home.”
Caregivers are provided with training, clinical and consultative support, and respite services, including access to a 24-hour on-call system. Foster parents work collaboratively with a number of professionals and participate in the treatment planning and implementation of the child in their care.
A caseworker meets separately with the child and the parents at least twice per month to review the child’s progress and the overall service delivery. Regular and consistent contact is maintained with the treatment foster parents on a monthly basis to evaluate safety needs and well being of the child, and to provide support for the foster parents.
“We feel really supported by Ranch Ehrlo,” said Angela. “The staff always checks in to make sure we have the resources and tools we need.”
“The Ranch has been beautiful to work with,” Lori agreed. “Help is always there; I can call a caseworker 24/7 and I haven’t had to wait five minutes for a reply. There’s lots of support.”
“I’m heard, and I’m valued,” she continued. “I absolutely feel like I’m a part of the professional team when it comes to treatment planning and implementation.”
“Becoming a foster parent is extremely rewarding,” said Lori. “You have an amazing ability to make a positive impact on a child’s life.”
In keeping with Ranch Ehrlo standards, the Treatment Foster Care Program ensures that all foster parents provide a nurturing and safe home for the children that are placed in their care. The process of becoming a foster parent involves three comprehensive phases: a telephone inquiry, a screening meeting/interview, and a home study.
A legal service contract is signed between the Ranch Ehrlo Society and the foster parent(s) detailing expectations about how the home will be managed - including the quality of the environment, food, clothing, recreation, and related areas. Further, the contract details what the agency is prepared to provide relative to respite, crisis support services, on-call procedures, and other considerations.
A maximum of two foster children are placed in each home. One parent must be the designated caregiver and have no other job. Lisa Neill, senior manager of the Treatment Foster Care Program explained, “We are professionalizing foster care with the services and supports we provide. It is a professional team working together to supply that which includes the parents. That’s why fostering becomes their job.”
Ranch Ehrlo Senior Director David Rivers added, “The Ranch program is a member agency of the Foster Family-Based Treatment Association. As such, we believe in the power of family living as a normalizing influence. One of the core values of FFTA is doing ‘whatever it takes’ to maximize a child’s opportunity to live successfully in a family and in a community. This is why we place great importance on supporting our foster parents.”
For more information about the Foster Treatment Care Program visit www.ehrlo.com/community-services/family-care-program/family-care-program/ or contact Lisa Neill at 306-751-9808.
