Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Single applicants are always welcome. What we assess is your ability to meet a child’s needs, including your time, your commitment, and the support around you.

Absolutely. We are committed to a safe and inclusive environment for everyone, and we are proud of the LGBTQ2S caregivers in our community.

No. Foster parents rent or own. You can use the home you already have. You would only need more space if you chose to care for more children, and never at the cost of financial hardship.

No particular career is required, and we provide the training. For our special needs program, experience in nursing, personal support work, or caring for a family member is a real asset.

Both are licensed by the Province of Ontario under the same criteria. A Children’s Aid Society carries broader child-protection duties; as a smaller private agency, we focus on careful matching and close, specialized support for our homes.

Yes. Foster parents have the final say on any placement. We share what we know about a child, often through a pre-placement assessment of their strengths and needs, so you can make an informed decision. Emergency placements may come with less information.

We do our best to. It can be difficult given how few foster homes are available, but wherever we can, we match according to a child’s racial and ethnic background.

Ontario limits a foster home to four children. Physical space, or other children already living in the home, may lower that number.

Not in the usual sense. A daily per diem covers the costs of caring for a child: clothing, food, hygiene, and a contribution to household costs. Annie’s Havens caregivers receive roughly $80 to $85 per child per day, depending on experience and the support a child needs. It is not a replacement for steady income.

Day-to-day costs are covered by the per diem. Exceptional costs, such as dental work, therapy, medication, or medical devices, are funded separately, often through Children’s Aid.

Yes. Respite gives foster parents planned breaks, either by placing the child with another foster home for a short time, or by bringing a youth worker into your home.

It depends on any court-ordered family visits and the approval of the child’s guardian. Where a child cannot travel with you, we typically arrange respite so you can still take your break.

It begins with a phone conversation, then a home visit, some paperwork, and interviews that form your Home Study. After training, your home is ready for placements.

A Vulnerable Sector police check, a child-welfare check, and references from your community and family.

With prompt paperwork and a flexible schedule, it can take as little as two months; our goal is no more than three. PRIDE training is required before you can foster.

If a placement isn’t the right fit, we find an alternative home, usually within 30 days, and ask that you see the placement through while we do. We support you throughout.