70 children are being fostered outside Waterloo region, organizers say more local homes needed

Family and Children's Services of Waterloo Region says it' in need of more foster families locally as more children have had to livewith families outside the community.

Seventy children are currently living with families outside the region, executive director Sonia Dennis said.

"We are working very hard for those children to be able to come back to their home community," Dennis told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo'sThe Morning Edition.

Dennis said the majority of the children they work with are able to stay with their extended families, but for those being placed in another community, that can bringdisruption to their lives. They may have to go to a different school, miss out on sport leagues they were a part of or be away from close friends.

"Sometimes if those children are being placed one or two hours away from their home, that's just an added stress, added trauma. Locally is where we'd like kids to be," she said.

In 2020, there were more80 children living with families outside the region. Dennis said they haven't seen those numbers go down due to several factors, likemore families and caregivers having to work.

"We can always assist to work around that, but as well, we know that through the pandemic, many people said we're going to take care of our families and friends first and so the fostering pool went down as well," she said.

Chris Reitzel, service director with the organization, said they are in need of families to foster kids of all ages, from infants to 18 years old, as well assiblings.

"We always try to keep [siblings]together and want to place kids whenever possible in the same home," she told CBC News.

Dennis added the organizations also needs families who have a background and knowledge of taking care of children who have "very high complex needs."

The Morning Edition - K-W7:24More foster families needed in Waterloo region

Children Services of Waterloo Region say around 70 children are being fostered outside the community because there aren't enough foster families locally. Executive director Sonia Dennis said there are several contributing factors and the issue is not unique to Waterloo region.

Shortage of foster homes not unique toregion

She said a shortage of foster families locally is not an issue that is unique to Waterloo region. Children in Belleville, Ont.,have had to stay in hotels andAirbnbsfor months due to a shortage of foster homes there.

"Through our executive directors network, yes, we definitely hear from our colleagues across the province that they have to place children in hotels and Airbnbsand we've had to do that ourselves from time to time," Dennis said.

"We're very lucky that right now we have no children placed in those situations, but it could take one child that could put us in that position."

Dennis said the organization relies on outside paid resourcesto foster children outside the region and would like to see their internal resources grow to meet the need locally.

"How do we work with our ministry to move money to this local perspective so we can all care for kids."