Any foster parents out there?
Hi everyone,
My husband and I are in our mid-30s and are currently about halfway through the foster parent application process in BC. We don’t have children of our own and don’t plan to—we’ve always felt that fostering is the path we’d like to take.
To start, we’ve applied to provide respite care only so we can gain some experience and build confidence before considering longer-term placements. We’re also planning to get bunk beds so we can accommodate two siblings if needed.
We both work from home full time, which gives us some flexibility. In the longer term, we’d likely be open to fostering kids roughly aged 5–18, but ideally they would be in school during the day so it doesn’t interfere with our work schedule.
One thing we’re not clear on yet is how schooling works in BC foster placements—whether children typically stay in their current school (with transport arranged) or if they are usually moved to a school closer to the foster home.
I’ve been trying to learn as much as possible, but I’m surprised by how little BC-specific content I’ve been able to find. There aren’t many YouTube videos, Reddit posts, or Facebook groups where foster parents in BC share their day-to-day experiences.
If you’re a foster parent (or have been one) in BC, I’d really appreciate hearing about your experience:
What age range(s) have you fostered?
How long have you been fostering?
Did you start with respite or go straight into full-time placements?
How does schooling typically work with placements in your experience?
What has surprised you most—both good and challenging?
Anything you wish you knew before starting?
Thanks so much in advance for sharing your experiences.