Family & Children's Services of St. Thomas and Elgin, Facebook
Every child deserves a place to call home.
Someone to cheer them on, help them through difficult days, and make them feel they belong.
That’s the message behind Family & Children’s Services of St. Thomas and Elgin’s new “One Home Can Change Everything” campaign, which launched on Thursday to recruit more foster families across the region.
Speaking at the media launch, Manager of Resources and Community Partnerships Myles Proulx said the campaign is built around a message the agency sees play out every day.
The video series includes four short, unscripted videos, intended to reach people who may have never considered fostering before.
Family & Children’s Services is urgently seeking both foster and permanency families in St. Thomas and Elgin County. When local homes aren’t available, children and youth can be placed outside their community, away from their schools, friends, and support networks during an already difficult time.
The agency is encouraging people from all backgrounds to explore fostering, including single individuals, couples, retirees, empty nesters, renters, same-sex families, and families with children already at home.
“We’re not looking for perfection,” the agency noted. “We’re looking for commitment.”
During the launch, Proulx also shared the story of a nine-year-old Elgin County boy currently living in a group home setting while waiting for a family.
The energetic youngster enjoys biking, soccer, video games, arts and crafts, and spending time outdoors. While he is well-liked by teachers and peers, Proulx said what he needs most is a stable home and someone who can provide patience, guidance, and a sense of belonging.
The agency hopes to find a caregiver in Elgin County who can help him maintain important community connections while providing the consistency and support every child deserves.
Family & Children’s Services holds regular information sessions for anyone interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent. Four sessions are planned this summer, including virtual sessions on July 7, July 21, and August 4, along with an in-person session on August 25 at the agency’s office on Edward Street in St. Thomas.
Proulx said the campaign’s success ultimately depends on reaching the right person at the right time.
“This child and others like him need someone in the community to say yes,” he told attendees. “One home can change everything. Maybe that home is yours.”
You can hear from the local families who took part in the Recruitment Series below.
Written by: Kennedy Freeman
