EVERY CHILD DESERVES A SAFE, LOVING HOME.

IS IT GOOD FOR CHILDREN?

This simple question is at the heart of everything we do because it guides our practice and ensures that every decision is made with the safety and well-being of children in mind. Asking ourselves this question helps us focus on what truly matters: creating environments where children feel safe, valued, and connected. When Métis children are unable to stay with their families, they need caregivers who embrace this philosophy, providing homes that honor their cultural identity, support their emotional needs, and promote their sense of belonging.

We are committed to supporting our caregivers, ensuring they feel a strong sense of connection and purpose as part of a team working to nurture the child’s growth and well-being. To help caregivers in this vital role, we offer training, in-home guidance from Métis Elders, and opportunities for cultural learning through Métis ceremonies. We are dedicated to creating safe, secure, and culturally enriching environments where both children and caregivers can learn, grow and thrive together.

OUR VISION

Our vision is that all Métis children, youth and families live with love, honour, dignity and respect knowing they belong to a strong, proud People with a unique heritage and cultural identity. We strive to keep families together, but when that’s not possible, we look for ways to bring safety and love to our children through two different ways:

Kinship Caregivers

Kinship caregivers are family caring for family. When parents are unable to care for their children, we believe that extended family is the next best option. We are committed to supporting families in providing a nurturing, culturally grounded environment for children, ensuring they thrive within their family and community. This practice aligns with Métis traditions, where families have long cared for their own in an informal, supportive way. With guidance from our families and Elders, we work together to ensure these arrangements are successful. Financial support is provided to help meet the needs of children and youth in care.

Community Caregivers

When our children can’t be with family, we look to our community for help. Community caregivers open their hearts and homes to Métis children and youth who are unable to remain with their families. They provide a safe, supportive, and nurturing environment, meeting the child’s day-to-day needs. Community caregivers connect children to their culture and community, while actively supporting reunification with their family whenever possible.

Community Caregivers:

  • Foster a sense of belonging and connection to Métis culture, family, community, and peers.

  • Build trusting relationships by providing compassionate care tailored to each child’s needs.

  • Integrate Métis traditions with trauma-informed practices for overall well-being.

  • Support children in reconnecting with their Métis heritage through cultural learning and community involvement.

  • Facilitate meaningful interactions with Elders and community members.

  • Assist in reunifying children with their families when possible.

  • Work as part of a professional team to provide the best care.

  • Receive ongoing training to ensure effective caregiving.

Financial compensation is provided to help meet the needs of children and youth and is based on the skill, experience and education of the caregiver.

The Steps to Becoming a Caregiver

Step One:

Contact us by phone or email. We will gather some information from you about why you’re interested and your experience, then send you a link to complete an intake form.

Step Two:

Complete the online Intake form for us to process.

Step Three:

Attend an Information and Connection Session. After we’ve processed your intake form, we will invite you to attend an information and connection session with our resource team. Information sessions are an opportunity for prospective caregivers to find out more about caregiving, learn how to become a caregiver, understand what is involved and decide about becoming a caregiver.

Step Four:

Complete and sign our initial forms. We have three initial consent forms for our prospective caregivers to complete before we can move forward in the process. We need your consent to run a criminal record check, do a prior contact check through the Ministry of Children and Family Development and refer you to the free pre-service training which must be completed prior to doing a Homestudy. 

Step Five:

Complete the application form. Once you’ve completed the consent forms and referral to start the free pre-service training, we will invite you to formally apply to become a caregiver by completing the LMO caregiver application form. You can then complete the form and return it to our office.

Step Six:

Screening and completion of the free pre-service training. Before we move onto the next step in the process, the preservice training must be completed in full. The PRIDE Pre-Service training is required for all new caregivers. PRIDE Pre-Service is 35 hours of online training that you can complete in your own time, usually over a 12-week period.

During this time, we are also going to be completing reference, criminal record and prior contact checks. Anyone over the age of 18 years old who will be living in the home must have a criminal record check done.

Step Seven:

The SAFE Home Study will be completed. One of our resource social workers will conduct a series of in-home interviews with prospective caregivers and their families. This process can feel very personal as we explore the caregiver’s home environment, strengths and parenting skills to meet the needs of children in their care, family history, health and willingness and ability to work within the internal care circle. We want to ensure our caregivers are willing to work with the LMO team, the child’s extended family and the Metis community.

Step Eight:

Placement & Additional Caregiver Training. Once the approval process is successfully completed, a child may now be placed in your home. The length of time that you may wait for your first placement depends on the needs of children in our community. A contract outlining your responsibilities and those of LMO will be signed when a child has been matched to your family.


frequently asked questions about

caregiving (foster parenting)

Q: Do I have to be Metis to become a caregiver at LMO?

A: No. It is not a requirement that our caregivers be of Metis ancestry.

Q: Do I have to be involved in cultural activities?

A: Yes. All caregivers at LMO are required to attend cultural events held at LMO or within the community. Caregivers are also responsible for introducing, or continuing, Michif language study, learning about traditional Michif foods and incorporating Michif practices into their daily lives to ensure Metis children stay connected to their culture.

Q: Can I work outside of my home?

A: Yes. Caregivers can provide care for school-aged children if both parents work. In some families, one parent works days and the other works nights, some parents stay at home, some are retired and some work from home. There is no guarantee that caregivers will always have children in their home and could go weeks or months without a placement. Caregivers must be financially stable and live within their current means without counting on the basic caregiving payments as part of their regular income.

Q: Do I have to be married or in a relationship?

A: No. It is not required that caregivers be married or even in a relationship. Caregivers can be a couple, a single person or even a mother-daughter team. All individuals in the home that are over 18 years of age will need to have a criminal record and prior contact check done.

Q: Can I have children of my own?

A: Many caregivers are currently raising their own children. You can still be a caregiver at LMO if you have your own children, it will just be important to ensure that your family can accommodate the needs of a child, while also meeting the needs of other family members.

Q: What if I have never been a parent or caregiver before?

A: Regardless of being a parent or not, we provide our caregivers with extensive training. Our training is not just available to all caregivers, it is a requirement. We can support new caregivers to develop the skills necessary to support our Metis children in different ways from training, to respite or relief work.

Q: Do I have to work with the child’s parents or family?

A: Yes. Fostering relationships and connections with the natural family is an essential part of the caregiver’s role at LMO. Our team will support this process and provide guidance as needed.

Q: What are the requirements to become a caregiver?

A: Our caregivers come from a variety of backgrounds, each with different life experiences, skills, and qualities. They do, however, share a few things in common:

  • All are residents of BC who are (at least) 19 years of age

  • Their homes are stable, safe and nurturing and successfully complete a SAFE Home Study

  • Each is comfortable in providing guidance and supervision that meets the child’s needs and cultural heritage

  • They are active members of the child’s care team and are willing to work with the child’s professional care team and natural family

  • Have a willingness to parent according to the terms set out in the connection and belonging plan as set out by LMO

  • Hold satisfactory criminal and child welfare record checks

  • Provide positive references including work, long-time friends and close relatives.

Q: What if I get attached to a child in my care?

A: It is not uncommon for caregivers to develop a profound love for and connection with the children in their care. When the time comes that the children leave the caregiver for a variety of reasons, caregivers can still remain a part of the child’s life.

Q: What supports does LMO offer to their caregivers?

A: Our caregivers are part of an internal care team. Caregivers are never alone in the journey to provide love, connection and safety to Metis children. LMO provides each family with a case manager, support workers, cultural programing and extensive training. We hold regular visits and ongoing support for each family to ensure all of the members’ needs are met. There is also external support such as respite, counseling and after hours call support.

Q: What are the steps to becoming a caregiver?

A: Step One: Contact us by phone or email. We will gather some information from you about why you’re interested and your experience, then send you a link to complete an intake form.

Step Two: Complete the online Intake form for us to process.

Step Three: Attend an Information and Connection Session. After we’ve processed your intake form, we will invite you to attend an information and connection session with our resource team. Information sessions are an opportunity for prospective caregivers to find out more about caregiving, learn how to become a caregiver, understand what is involved and decide about becoming a caregiver.

Step Four: Complete and sign our initial forms. We have three initial consent forms for our prospective caregivers to complete before we can move forward in the process. We need your consent to run a criminal record check, do a prior contact check through the Ministry of Children and Family Development and refer you to the free pre-service training which must be completed prior to doing a Homestudy.  

Step Five: Complete the application form. Once you’ve completed the consent forms and referral to start the free pre-service training, we will invite you to formally apply to become a caregiver by completing the LMO caregiver application form. You can then complete the form and return it to our office.

Step Six: Screening and completion of the free pre-service training. Before we move onto the next step in the process, the preservice training must be completed in full. The PRIDE Pre-Service training is required for all new caregivers. PRIDE Pre-Service is 35 hours of online training that you can complete in your own time, usually over a 12-week period.

During this time, we are also going to be completing reference, criminal record and prior contact checks. Anyone over the age of 18 years old who will be living in the home must have a criminal record check done.

Step Seven: The SAFE Home Study will be completed. One of our resource social workers will conduct a series of in-home interviews with prospective caregivers and their families. This process can feel very personal as we explore the caregiver’s home environment, strengths and parenting skills to meet the needs of children in their care, family history, health and willingness and ability to work within the internal care circle. We want to ensure our caregivers are willing to work with the LMO team, the child’s extended family and the Metis community.

Step Eight: Placement & Additional Caregiver Training. Once the approval process is successfully completed, a child may now be placed in your home. The length of time that you may wait for your first placement depends on the needs of children in our community. A contract outlining your responsibilities and those of LMO will be signed when a child has been matched to your family.

Q: Do caregivers get paid?

A: Yes. Compensation for caregiving depends on the level of home and the base rate is determined by the Ministry of Child and Family Development. However, at LMO we work with our caregivers to ensure that the individual needs of the children are met, and our caregiving contracts will reflect the needs of the child.

IF YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE REACH OUT TO US

Niki Perry, Caregiver Recruitment & Support Coordinator

C: (250) 299-4975

E: nicole.d.perry@gov.bc.ca

Trisha Cruickshank, Community Caregiver/Kinship Social Worker

P: (250) 554-9486 EXT 503

C:(250) 318-4931

E: trisha.cruickshank@gov.bc.ca