The Alberta government announced it’s strengthening support for foster, kinship and permanency caregivers across the province through a $3.1-million investment. As of April 1, caregivers received a rate increase of two per cent to help cover day-to-day necessities like food, clothing and personal care. The province says referral incentives will now be tripled to $1,500, starting Tuesday. “These improvements are based on conversations with caregivers from right across the province and we will continue listening to support the incredible work that they do each and every day,” said Minister of Children and Family Services Searle Turton Monday afternoon. “This builds on a 4.2-per-cent increase provided in June of 2024 and a two-per-cent increase just last year, making sure that compensation keeps pace with day-to-day expenses and supports the skills and training for our caregivers.” Eligibility for the Refer-A-Foster Caregiver program is also being expanded beyond current and form foster caregivers to include kinship and permanency caregivers. Eligibility will also be expanded to non-profit organizations like cultural associations, faith-based and community. On May 1, the province began tripling the referral benefit which means that current foster caregivers can receive an additional $1,000, bringing a total to $1,500 for each successful licensed foster caregiver that they refer. Applicants will receive the total amount in two instalments: $450 after completing pre-serve training and $1,050 once they’re fully licensed. “Deciding to become a foster caregiver takes time and commitment and so does the process to become fully licensed,” Turton added. " Sometimes all it takes is one conversation, a connection or a gentle nudge to inspire someone to step forward. We want to reach more people right across the province to offer the compassion and stability to make a difference in a child’s life." Caregivers will soon be able to find more information and access services like submitting claims through a new online portal that the Alberta government plans to launch. For now, details can be found on the province’s website. “Foster and kinship caregivers are the foundational infrastructure for the child intervention system. They provide nurturing, loving families and a life that allows children to heal, to feel safe, and to experience stability and predictability. Recruitment and retention are critical for this system,” said Cheryl Fix, the executive director of the Alberta Foster and Kinship Association. Alberta currently has 1,476 licensed foster caregiver homes, 2,126 approved kinship care providers and about 4,500 families providing permanent homes through adoption or private guardianship. “Foster and kinship caregivers do what systems, programs, policies can’t do,” Fix added. “We know every child deserves to grow up knowing that they matter.”
