Circle of Care-- Fostering Fostering: Enhancing Supports to Foster and Kinship Care Families

All children deserve the best care possible. The care system is based on the understanding that a family and community is the most beneficial and desirable environment for raising a child. The goal of care programs is to return a child to his or her own family as soon as possible when it is in the best interests of the child. While many new resources have been added to the child welfare system to provide better care for children in care more can be done to assist foster and kinship care families throughout their fostering journey.

In recent reviews of the child welfare system, Manitoba’s Office of the Children’s Advocate called upon the Manitoba government to demonstrate its commitment to the system by improving communication between all stakeholders. The Circle of Care strategy is the foundation of this ongoing commitment.  The core components of the Circle of Care strategy are:

- enhanced communication
- increased basic maintenance
- improved placement stability
- enhanced capacity through training
- stronger families of origin
- improved foster home licensing
- increased recognition of foster and kinship care families