Saskatchewan foster parents raise concerns over support delays

A Sask. foster family says respite care is hard to arrange, and reimbursement claims are months behind, raising concerns about supports. Wayne Mantyka reports.

Foster parents in Saskatchewan are raising concerns about what they describe as inadequate support from the Ministry of Social Services, including difficulties accessing respite care and lengthy delays in reimbursement payments.

Kate Greyeyes, a foster parent from Saskatoon, spoke at the legislative building this week about the challenges foster families face while caring for children in the province’s system.

“We do get paid respite days but there are not people willing to provide the respite and when we do find people willing, it is significantly underpaid,” she said.

Greyeyes said foster families can also wait months — and sometimes more than a year — to be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses related to caring for children.

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“When children come into care, there are often costs that are needed such as clothing, bicycles, a recent one for me was glasses. Not everything was covered when the glasses were paid. Because the system takes so long to reimburse, we had to pay the glasses ourselves,” she said.

The Ministry of Social Services says there are roughly 450 foster families in Saskatchewan and that officials continue working to improve supports available to caregivers.

Social Services Minister Terry Jenson said during question period that the government is aware of the concerns being raised and plans to meet directly with the family.

“To not only make sure that what is being provided those foster families is adequate but improving on those services Mr. Speaker. I have officials nearby. We will be arranging a meeting with Kate and Bill,” he said.

The Saskatchewan NDP criticized the government’s response, arguing foster families need more immediate support.

“They refuse to give foster families a break both by allowing the affordability crisis to spiral out of control but also by refusing to ensure that there is appropriate respite care,” said NDP MLA Erika Ritchie.

The Ministry of Social Services says it is continuing to look for ways to improve the foster care system, including making reimbursement processes faster and easier for families.