FAQ

Among the most important goals for a young person approaching independence are gaining practical life skills, having their financial affairs in order, and feeling confident about the future. Work through the key areas with the youth and their social worker before they leave care. Ask whether you have been invited to a Youth Transition Conference, and whether the youth has completed the Youth Planner (their social worker can print it). Make sure the youth has a Life Book of significant events and photos to take with them, along with a record of the doctors and dentists they have seen.

Cover banking (a savings and a chequing account, and the value of saving), employment (a résumé, a cover letter template, and knowing how to look for work), and health care (a regular doctor and dentist, recent check-ups, and how MSP and Fair PharmaCare will work once they are an adult). For youth planning post-secondary or vocational training, make sure they know about the SAJE programme and the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program. For Aboriginal youth, check whether there is a cultural plan and whether the youth takes part in cultural activities.

Source: Foster Family Handbook

Before a youth leaves care, help them understand how the Medical Services Plan (MSP) works once they become an adult. If the youth is 18, encourage them to complete an income tax return so they can receive the GST/HST credit and become eligible for premium assistance when they take out their own MSP. They will also need to register for Fair PharmaCare once they have their own MSP.

If the youth takes prescribed medication, make sure they know how it will be paid for once they turn 19 and leave care. These are practical steps that are easy to overlook but make a real difference to a young person managing their own health coverage for the first time.

Source: Foster Family Handbook

The monthly family care rate includes a spending allowance for the child, and how much you provide directly is up to you. It is worth discussing with the child how the money can be spent appropriately. Even a small allowance helps a younger child understand how money works, and for a youth approaching independence, practising real money management is an important life skill.

If a youth in your care has a part-time or full-time job, discuss with them and their social worker how much of their earnings should be saved and toward what goal. If a youth is not in school and not actively saving for a specific purpose, work out a plan together with the youth and their social worker for them to contribute to their own self-care costs, such as clothing and transportation.

Source: Foster Family Handbook

Some children in care have inherited money or funds set aside in a trust. The Public Guardian and Trustee manages the estates and trusts of children permanently in care and is the child’s “property guardian” in law. After discussion with the child and you, the child’s social worker may ask the Public Guardian and Trustee to release trust funds for specific purposes, such as education or tuition, while the child is still under 19. Most trusts let young people take control of their own funds at 19 by writing to the Public Guardian and Trustee. Because trusts often give young adults more money than they are used to managing, help the youth plan ahead, well before the funds become available.

For identity documents, a social worker can request a birth certificate on the child’s behalf from the Vital Statistics division of the Ministry of Health, and these requests are prioritised when a child needs the certificate to register in a programme or obtain a proof of Indian status card. If a youth in your care does not have a copy of their birth certificate, raise it with the child’s social worker.

Source: Foster Family Handbook

For a driver’s licence, start with a discussion between you, the youth, and their social worker, aiming to agree that the youth is mature and stable enough to drive safely through the Graduated Licensing Program and is willing to take an approved driver’s education course. The parent or guardian must complete the Parent/Guardian Consent form; for youth in continuing custody, the director holds guardianship and consent flows through the social worker. Employed youth may be expected to help with the cost of the course.

For marriage, youth under 16 need a judge’s consent, and youth aged 16 to 18 need written consent from their parents or guardian. For youth in care by agreement or temporary custody, consent comes from their parents; for those under a continuing custody order, a director must consent. Marriage automatically ends CFCSA jurisdiction for a young person in care. For the armed forces, youth aged 18 may enlist without guardian consent, while those under 18 need guardian consent, which for youth in continuing custody means director authorisation. In each case, involve the youth’s social worker so any necessary authorisation can be arranged.

Source: Foster Family Handbook