Alberta has revealed more details about its plans to fund existing caregivers and increase the number of families offering foster care, as well as kinship and permanency care. The government laid out the measures on Monday, drawing on money that has been set aside in this year's provincial budget for the caregiver program.
According to the breakdown, the province has earmarked 3.1 million dollars for the caregiver program. That figure includes a 2% increase aimed at helping to cover the cost of essentials such as food and clothing for the children being looked after in these homes.
Part of the funding is directed at encouraging more caregivers to become licensed. As an incentive, the province is offering 1,500 dollars to those who complete the required training, in an effort to bring more qualified caregivers into the system.
The government is also tripling the amount of money set aside for referrals that bring in new foster, kinship and permanency caregivers. The move is intended to widen the pool of available families willing to take in children who need placements.
Alongside the financial measures, Alberta is launching a new website for caregivers. The platform is designed to handle practical tasks, including submitting reimbursement claims online, which would simplify some of the administrative work involved in caring for children.
Taken together, the measures are presented as a way both to retain the caregivers who are already providing homes and to draw in new ones. The province framed the funding as a response to the ongoing need for more foster, kinship and permanency caregivers across Alberta.