When children are growing, the connections and people they are surrounded with are essential for having them grow happy, healthy, and well adjusted. With over 1,900 children in foster care in the province, foster families help kids have a healthy childhood, and October 18-23 is Foster Families week in Saskatchewan.
The week is intended to honor all families who take children in to their home, but for one family there is an award to honor their dedication to children in the province. The Helen Montgomery Award for Excellence in Fostering goes to a family which has been an example of how Fostering can help children and families. This year's recipients are Vanessa and Kenneth Buchan of Yorkton.
"We know that this family has been fostering for over 40 years, they have had over 100 children in their home, and they have made a huge difference in so many lives, so that as a province and as a society we should be honoring them, and thanking them for their love," says June Draude, Minister of Social Services.
The Buchans began fostering in 1965 when Kenneth, an Anglican minister, wanted to do something to help others while staying at home with their own children. In the years since, they have seen over 150 children in their home. Apart from their own two daughters, the Buchans have adopted five children which they began fostering, and are in the process of adopting a nine-year-old who has been with them since she was an infant. In 1974 they began primarily fostering infants with high medical needs. That continues to this day.
The Buchans also train new foster families and help prepare them for their roles. Vanessa says that the role is something which she is particularly well suited.
"I love it! I know what I'm doing and I know by experience."
Part of the goal of fostering is to help reunite children with their birth families, and the Buchans have kept contact with these families and work to support these parents as they transition to having the children home.
Deb Davies, executive director of Saskatchewan Foster Families, says that another reason why the Buchans have had so much success as a foster family is their willingness to work with the Department of Social Services.
"The key to being a successful foster family is teamwork," Davies says.
A week highlighting the contributions of not only the Buchans, but all foster families in the province is important, notes Draude, because the service they provide is vital for many kids.
"We have a number of children in our province who are staying in other people's homes, and we need to make sure as a government and as people that we show the families how much we appreciate them, we need them, and the fact that they give a loving, caring home to children," Draude says.
There is a need for more foster families to step up and Draude says that the government will partner with families to make the foster programs successful.
"We believe that we need to give them the support they need to do the job right, and encourage more foster families."
People who are interested in getting involved can call 1-800-667-7002 or visit the Saskatchewan Foster Families website at www.sffa.sk.ca.
