The GNWT has just announced that there will be an increase to the daily rates to foster care and adoption subsidies.
The change is in effect retroactively on March 1st. These subsidies were last boosted in 2018, and in the following years, the cost of supporting children in these care services has continued to rise. These increases are intended to help caregivers provide better support for the children they are looking after.
In a statement, Lesa Semmler, the Minister of Health and Social Services, said that “Foster and adoptive parents play an important role in shaping the lives of children and youth entering out-of-home care whether temporarily or permanently. By providing a safe, stable, and loving environment, they ensure that children remain connected to their home community and culture. Our aim in increasing the daily foster care rates and adoption subsidies, is not only to bridge the gap in rising cost of living, but to also remove barriers preventing extended family caregivers from supporting children outside their family home, allowing children to thrive within their community and culture.”
This adjustment was made as part of the Child, Youth, and Family Services Strategic Direction and Action Plan {2023-2028).
