Foster Care Application in Saskatchewan: Regina and Saskatoon Step-by-Step

Most people start the foster care process by googling the Ministry of Social Services website, finding a list of requirements, and then wondering what they're actually supposed to do first. The MSS site lists the what — it doesn't explain the how or how long each step takes in practice.

Here's the actual sequence, written for people applying through the Saskatoon or Regina offices.

Before You Contact MSS: Start with the SFFA

The first call to make is not to the Ministry. It's to the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association (SFFA) at 1-800-667-7002.

The SFFA provides an initial information package and will help you understand whether fostering is the right fit before your name is in any government system. This matters because some people want to research anonymously before committing to a formal application. Once you contact MSS and they open a file, the process has officially started. The SFFA lets you ask every question first.

In Saskatoon, the primary MSS intake office is the Saskatoon Service Centre at 306-933-5961. In Regina, it's the Regina Service Centre at 306-787-3700.

The Application Package: What You Submit

Once you're ready to proceed, your regional office will give you an application package. Here's what you'll need to gather:

Background checks (for every adult in your home):

• Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search (VSS) — obtained from Saskatoon Police Service, Regina Police Service, or the RCMP if you're in a rural area outside city limits
• Saskatchewan Child Abuse Registry check — the Ministry conducts the search internally after adult household members provide consent

Personal and household documents:

• Medical clearance form from your family physician
• Income verification — recent pay stubs or T4s showing your household can support itself without foster care payments
• Current home or renters insurance
• Current vehicle insurance
• Immunization records for any pets (particularly dogs)
• Birth certificates for all household members

References:

• Three to five references — family members and unrelated people may be included if they can speak to your character and potential as a foster parent

The background checks take time. VSS processing varies by issuing service. Start the VSS request early so it does not become a bottleneck.

The PRIDE Training Requirement

Before or alongside your application, you'll need to complete approximately 30 hours of PRIDE pre-service training (Parent Resources for Information, Development and Education).

PRIDE training is primarily offered in Saskatoon, Regina, and Prince Albert. Online or blended options may be available for residents in northern or remote communities. The training covers trauma-informed parenting, child development, supporting birth family relationships, and cultural continuity for Indigenous children in care. Sessions are typically co-facilitated by an MSS social worker and an experienced foster parent.

PRIDE must be complete before licensing. Ask your caseworker how to schedule the training alongside document collection and the home study so you don't end up with everything ready except the training.

The Home Study (Family Assessment)

Once documents are in and background checks are clear, an MSS social worker will schedule your home study — a series of home visits and interviews that typically takes several weeks to complete.

The home study is not just a home inspection. The social worker is assessing your family's dynamics, your history, your parenting values, and your "range of acceptance" — the age range, number, and any special needs of children you feel equipped to care for.

Physical inspection items your home must meet before approval:

• Working smoke detectors on every floor and near sleeping areas
• Carbon monoxide detectors in rooms with fuel-burning appliances
• Fire extinguisher (minimum 2.5 lbs) on every floor
• All medications, household chemicals, and alcohol stored in locked cabinets
• Firearms stored unloaded and locked in a secure non-glass cabinet, with ammunition in a separate locked location
• Each child's bedroom must have at least 70 square feet of floor space (60 sq ft in shared rooms)
• Every bedroom needs an operable window for ventilation and emergency exit
• Maximum hot water temperature of 120°F (49°C) at taps

The written Family Assessment Report the worker produces becomes the basis for the approval decision.

Timeline: How Long Does It Actually Take?

Approval typically takes 6 to 12 months from first contact to licensed home. Here's where the time goes:

• Background check processing: Timing varies by issuing service; submit the VSS request early
• PRIDE training completion: Timing varies with session availability
• Document collection: Timing varies with the application and household
• Home study visits and interviews: Multiple home visits take place over several weeks; timing varies
• Supervisory review and licensing decision: Timing varies

Processing times can vary by office, household, and scheduling availability.

After Approval: What Happens Next

Once approved, you receive a Foster Home License under the Child and Family Services Act. Your license specifies your range of acceptance — how many children, what ages.

Placement calls will come from MSS placement workers who match children's needs with available homes. You have the right to accept or decline a specific placement. When you do accept a placement, you'll receive a Care Plan outlining the goals for the child — whether that's reunification with birth parents, kinship placement, or long-term foster care.

Your license is renewed annually through a Family Development Plan review, which includes a home safety check and updated background declarations.

For a complete step-by-step walkthrough of what to expect — including the home study room-by-room checklist and a breakdown of PRIDE training by module — see the Saskatchewan Foster Care Guide.

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