Manitoba Foster Parent Association

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Services for Foster Parents

We are a group of passionate foster parents dedicated to providing support to all foster parents in Manitoba.

Advocacy

MFPA is committed to advocacy. Our main objective is to ensure foster parents in Manitoba are adequately supported because this will help promote positive outcomes for children and youth in care.

Peer Support

MFPA is passionate about peer support. Another objective is to promote an inclusive, safe, and respectful environment for foster parents to feel heard, validated, and supported by each other.

Information Sharing

MFPA is dedicated to promoting the sharing of knowledge and information sharing. Foster parents must have access to critical information to best respond to the children they care for.

Why is Support Necessary?

Here are just a few excerpts from foster parents:

Respondent 1

“After the 6-year old in my care disclosed sexual abuse against her birth mom’s partner, they investigate, and mom admits this happened but says “he was just messing around.” They continued to allow him to be present during visits, and said they couldn’t do anything because, ‘he’s simple, he probably didn’t know that wasn’t okay.’ They did not get her into therapy after witnessing an attempted murder/suicide, for two years. They refused to allow us to find a therapist.”

Respondent 2

“I have raised many children in care. When they age out, they are given $1000 by their social workers at 18 years old, and left to fend for themselves. Some are still homeless, living on the streets of Winnipeg. Some are part of the LGBTQ+ community, and left with nowhere to turn or feel safe. Agreements with Young Adults is useless.”

Respondent 3

“Our foster daughter has been through so much trauma. Her bio Dad died of an overdose, her bio Mom is mentally ill. She’s witnessed physical abuse in her mother’s home and clearly needs therapy. As foster parents, we had advocated for her to be able to go to regular therapy since the beginning of the placement. It took 9 months and she received one therapy session. The workers promised they were “looking into it” or “trying to get approval” every time I asked for regular sessions. This little girl has been so affected (obviously) by everything she’s gone through and it comes out in her behaviour which obviously affects her emotionally but also socially. Therapy should be set up as soon as any apprehension takes place. There should be no wait. So frustrating.”