CFS Mentoring Program

The Caring Families Society has a Mentor Program for Foster Caregivers.

If you are a new or experienced foster caregiver and wish to enhance the quality of your fostering practice,
then this program is for you.

About the CFS Mentoring Program

The CFS Mentoring Program has been developed for foster caregivers by foster caregivers. This is a confidential and no-cost resource for caregivers (including Restricted caregivers) living on Vancouver Island and who hold a Family Care Home Agreement with the Ministry of Children and Family Development or an Indigenous Child and Family Services Agency. A Mentor Coordinator is also available for support.

What is a Mentor?

CFS Mentors are volunteer foster caregivers who have received specialized peer-mentorship training. Mentors have a wealth of knowledge, training and experience earned while working in the foster care system. Mentors provide practical, experiential knowledge and information to foster caregivers. Perhaps most importantly, a Mentor is available to listen to another foster caregiver anytime they feel overwhelmed by their caregiving responsibilities.

Qualities of a CFS Mentor

Has a positive attitude towards the Ministry and the caregiving community
Represent a cross-section of the foster caregiving community and levels of care
Is a good communicator (listener)
Non-judgmental and open-minded
Patient and empathetic
Open-minded
Skilled and generous with their experiences and time

Some examples of experience that CFS Mentors are

Working with biological families
Knowing where to find support in the community
Championing for children and youth in care to get what they need (at school and with the Ministry)
Working with children and youth who have experienced trauma
Connecting with CFS Society

Click the video to listen!

“I felt incredibly supported by Caring Families Society and my mentors, Karyn and Leo Cooper. They are very busy people and yet always made themselves available to me. They instilled a lot of confidence in me and are the very best! Both my mentors and Janet, the mentor coordinator, and Dianne the South Island Coordinator, were available, empathetic, knowledgeable, and supportive. I couldn’t have asked for anything more! Thank you!!” -CFS Mentee
– CFS Mentee

Meet the Mentors

Sandy Case

Sandy Case and her husband Rob have over 30 years of experience fostering children and youth of all ages. Sandy is well versed with the Standards and Policies due to her role on the Caring Families Board of Directors and has a wealth of experience transitioning children to their “forever families.”

An example of questions you can
ask Sandy include:
What do the levels of care mean?
How do you deal with family visits?
What does a permanency transition plan look like?

Sam Taylor

Sam Taylor and her husband, Matt, have over 10 years of experience working with children and youth of all ages. They have 4 biological children and currently foster an Indigenous sibling group. Before fostering, Sam was a registered nurse and taught nursing before changing careers and becoming a foster caregiver.

An example of questions you can
ask Sam include:
How do you practice self-care in
a house full of kids?
How do you introduce culture to your
Indigenous foster children?
How do you navigate biological family visits?

Jay Schwartz

Jay has been fostering children and youth for a long time. He has experience as a single caregiver providing care to adolescent and school age children. He has cared for sibling groups, males, and females. Jay is very involved with connecting his children and youth to their cultural roots. He is currently fostering six children, ranging in ages 9-17.

An example of questions you can
ask Jay include:
How do you connect children and youth to
their cultural roots?
What is an example of advocacy you have provided for children in your care?
How do you connect Indigenous children to
their community and families?

James Dorsey

James has been a foster caregiver for approximately 13 years. He has a unique perspective as he was once a youth in care himself. He fosters male youth, typically from 14 to 19 years of age.

An example of questions you can
ask James include:
What made you decide to
become a foster caregiver?
What do you find most challenging
dealing with youth?
What was it like for you to be a youth in care?

Darlene Younger

Darlene and her husband have been fostering for over 30 years. Darlene has fostered and raised biological and adopted children and presently has five foster children in her home. Darlene has also fostered and raised extended family members. Darlene is very passionate about her work and is a strong advocate for the children
and youth in her care.

An example of questions you can
ask Darlene include:
How do you navigate complex
family relationships?
How do you help your child receive a diagnosis?
Please share an example of advocacy.

Heather Haynes

Heather has been a foster caregiver for seven years. She enjoys advocating for children and learning about their individual needs. Her philosophy about fostering is always reunification when it is safe and appropriate.

An example of questions you can
ask Heather include:

What can you tell us about transitioning children from foster care to adoption?
How do you advocate for support for special needs for your children?
What do you believe are the benefits of fostering?

Claudia McIntyre

Claudia has fostered in the Cowichan Valley for many years. She attends a lot of events and training in both the Cowichan Valley and Victoria area. She cares for children and youth of a varying age range, typically school aged and teens.

An example of questions you can ask Claudia include:
How do you navigate the challenges
of emergency placements?
How do you connect children and youth to their culture and communities?
How do you find and obtain funding for summer camps?

Janet and Gerry Leahy

Janet and Gerry have been fostering for 17 years and find it a meaningful way to give back. They currently have a 4-year-old high-needs boy in their care. Janet and Gerry believe having a mentor is important, to have someone to talk to and help guide the process when you start fostering.

An example of questions Janet and Gerry can answer include:
What is your philosophy on fostering?
How do you balance a relationship and fostering?
How do you work as an advocate for a neurodiverse child who is also intellectually delayed?

Karyn and Leo Cooper

Karyn and Leo have a wealth of experience working with children and youth with disabilities. They are well versed with the transition to CLBC and have a lot of knowledge around support and resources for children and youth with invisible and visible disabilities.

An example of questions Karyn and Leo can answer include:
How do you obtain educational support for children in care?
How do you transition a child or youth to CLBC?
What is a Life Book?

Melanie Morton

Melanie has been fostering for over 15 years. She has provided care to a wide range of ages and needs from infancy to teenagers transitioning out of care and typically has a very full, complex, busy household. Examples of questions you can ask Melanie include:
How do you meet the needs of each child while balancing a full household?
What questions do you ask prior to placement to ensure a fit for your household?
How do you advocate to enhance the lives of children and youth in your household?

“I love being a Mentor. I truly believe we can all provide better service to the children and families we serve by being connected and supported. This work is extremely difficult and hard on the heart. There is a lot to know and a lot to learn. It is vital that foster parents have someone to talk to and be heard.”
– CFS Mentor

10 Reasons Why a Mentor is an Invaluable Resource

Mentors know how to advance their fostering career.
Mentors know how to get the resources they need to care for the child(ren) in their home.
Having a Mentor is the best free service you can get.
A mentor can help you make an informed decision.
A mentor understands your struggles.
A mentor will help you feel less isolated and alone.
A mentor shares your values around community.
Mentors know how to be an integral part of the professional caregiving team.
Mentors understand foster caregiver standards and resource policies.
Mentors know how to be an effective advocate for the children in their care.

How can I apply to get a Mentor?

Applying is easy.

Prefer to phone? Call us at 778-430-5459 or toll free at 1-888-922-8437.
Download and complete the CFS Mentor Request (fillable) form.
Email it to our Mentor Coordinator at mentor@fpss.com.
The Mentor Coordinator will follow up to schedule a short program orientation and gather a few details so we can make a compatible match.
Need help with the form? No program email admin@fpsss.com and we can assist.

Why would a foster caregiver want to become a Mentor?

Not everyone will want to be mentor, but mentoring provides an opportunity to contribute to the quality of fostering practice by helping new foster caregivers improve their skills and knowledge and helping foster caregivers remain in fostering.

It is also an opportunity to help current foster caregivers in their own growth and development. Some of the other benefits might be developing their own caregiving skills and being recognized as a role model.

Ministry staff by providing support, clarifying issues, and ensuring that you get the information you need within the time frames.

Recognized as credible liaisons between foster caregivers and social workers.

Sworn to protect your privacy.

How does one become a Mentor?

Mentors will be experienced foster caregivers with at least 3 years of experience.

They hold a current MCFD contract, have good listening skills, and have either completed the BC Foster Caregiver Education Program Certification or are in the process of achieving certification.

In order to become a mentor the foster caregiver must make a commitment, attend an orientation session and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Mentor Application Form and Brochure

Please download these important mentorship documents for more information.

CFS Mentor Request Application Form

CFS Mentoring Program Brochure

Do you need a mentor?
or would you like to become a mentor?

Call us toll free at 1-888-922-8437 or
email admin@fpsss.com.
Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 4:00pm
Fridays, 8:30am to 1:00pm