What is a Local Association?

Local Associations are groups of foster parents from a common area or who have common interests or challenges. Local Associations serve as a grassroots support system for foster families and as a collective voice to support improving the Child Welfare system.

Local Associations provide foster parents with an opportunity to get to know fellow foster parents and create a grassroots support system. It enables the development of arrangements such as; clothing exchange programs, respite, car pools, and social outings for the entire family. As a group under the umbrella of the Manitoba Foster Family Network (the Network) Local Associations are provided with up-to-date training opportunities and information sessions as determined by specific associations.

In additon, the Network seeks opinions from Local Associations on various systemic concerns in Child Welfare to better equip us to represent the opinions of foster families.When forming the Network's stance on Child Welfare issues, opinions from Local Associations are most welcome and extremely helpful to ensuring we are representing foster parent viewpoints the most accurate way possible.

Through involvement in Local Associations foster parents have grassroots support and a collective voice. If you of five or more foster parents who would be interested in joining together as a Local Association, please contact the Network for information on how to begin and to qualify for start-up funding.

Local Associations Brochure