For Immediate Release
June 10, 2024
NEOFACS Urgently Seeks Foster Caregivers at Annual Community Food Drive and BBQ Fundraiser on June 14
Help families in need by being part of a community that cares
Timmins — On Friday, June 14, 2024, North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) and the Foster Families Association Ontario North-East (FFAONE) are once again teaming up with the Timmins Fire Department and Timmins Food Bank to host their annual Community Food Drive and BBQ Fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Johnson's Your Independent Grocer in Timmins.
The event aims to support families in need by ensuring access to essentials over the summer months. Community members are encouraged to donate non-perishable foods, cleaning supplies, and personal hygiene items to help fill the shelves at the Timmins Food Bank. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and beverages will also be available for purchase by donation.
“We understand that many families are facing challenges, and we believe that worrying about where their next meal will come from should not be one of them. That's why we’re proud to work with our community partners to support families in need,” said Mike Emond, President of the FFAONE. “We believe that it takes a community to care for children, and we want families to know that they are not alone and help is available.”
Amidst a steady decline in foster care placement availability, NEOFACS will also promote the ‘There to Care’ Campaign. With the need for foster caregivers now greater than ever, this provincial initiative with the Ontario Association of Children's Aid Societies (OACAS) aims to underscore the vital role of foster caregivers, emphasizing their profound impact on children, youth, families, and communities. By dispelling misconceptions and rallying community support, the campaign seeks to address the critical shortage of foster homes across Ontario.
As an integrated agency providing child welfare services, NEOFACS is responsible for finding temporary homes for children and youth when they cannot stay with their primary caregivers or kin. With a staggering 33.6% decrease provincially in available foster homes since 2020, the safety and well-being of children, youth, and families is at risk. The demand for these compassionate individuals and families has never been higher.
During the event, NEOFACS employees and FFAONE members will be on hand to answer questions about fostering. Materials promoting the need for foster caregivers in Timmins and the surrounding communities will also be distributed.
“Fostering is about more than the children and youth you provide a temporary home to. It’s also about facilitating connections and reunification with families and communities, and ensuring children and youth stay connected to their culture and identity. It’s about providing real, tangible support to your community,” said Cléo Charlebois, Executive Director of NEOFACS.
Foster caregivers go beyond providing temporary homes; they also provide essential support in maintaining connections with extended family and community members for children and youth while they are in care. Finding suitable placements that match the unique identities and needs of children and youth is paramount. NEOFACS strives to match foster caregivers based on their experience and the needs and identities, including the cultural background, of the children and youth. There is an urgent need for placements supporting sibling groups, older children and youth, infants, and those with complex needs.
Join us in this critical effort to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for vulnerable children and youth. Your community needs you now more than ever. To learn more about how you can be there to care, please visit http://www.theretocare.ca or contact NEOFACS by calling 705-360-7100 ext. 5222 or emailing fostering@neofacs.org.
About NEOFACS:
North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services (NEOFACS) has a legal mandate to keep children and youth safe from abuse and neglect as a child welfare agency. Our goal is to keep children and youth at home and in their communities by connecting families with culturally relevant resources, supports, and networks that strengthen their family unit. We are governed by the Child, Youth, and Family Services Act, 2017 and are regulated by the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services. As an integrated agency, we also offer Child and Youth Mental Health, Youth Justice, Community-Based, and Prevention programs to children, youth, and their families in the Districts of Cochrane and Timiskaming. For more information, please visit https://www.neofacs.org.
About OACAS:
The Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) is a provincial membership organization representing 47 of Ontario’s 50 mandated children’s aid societies and Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agencies, as well as 2 pre-mandated Indigenous Child and Family Well-Being Agencies. We support our members by providing practice tools, educational opportunities, and training, as well as communication and advocacy support to help achieve improved, equitable outcomes for children, youth, and families. Learn more at http://www.oacas.org.
Media Contact:
Mélanie Watson
Communications Coordinator
North Eastern Ontario Family and Children’s Services
705-360-2121
melanie.watson@neofacs.org