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Number of foster homes plummets in Windsor-Essex

Being a foster parent and saying goodbye is the hardest thing Ron Savard has ever done, especially when the 18-month-old said "bye bye daddy" on the very last day.

"That was hard. It was like having my heart ripped out of my chest," Ron said, as he fought back tears.

Ron and his wife Neely have seven children of their own, all of them homeschooled at their house in Wheatley. But they consider their family to be much larger, because the Savard's have fostered six children over the past three years. Two of them were newborns that stayed until they were 18 months old. Everyone quickly became attached and "fell in love" with the toddlers.

"We all bawled putting them in the car for the last time," Neely said. "They didn't understand that they were leaving for the last time, but we did."

Although it was heart-wrenching, they were able to cope knowing it was the best thing for the kids to be with their biological parents. Often times they're coming from situations of domestic violence or neglect.

Number of foster homes drop by 29%

The Savards are bucking a local trend, that's seen a steady decline in foster homes across the region. Back in 2013, the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society (CAS) had 241 foster homes. As of Monday, which marks the start of Foster Parent Appreciation Week, that's plummeted by 29 per cent, to 171 foster homes.

But Windsor is not alone in the decline of available foster homes. According to Christina Winter-Pavelich, Supervisor of Adoption and Resource Services at CAS, the drop is felt province-wide.

"The steady decline in our foster home numbers is similar to what other Children's Aids Societies are experiencing across Ontario," Winter-Pavelich said in an email.

"A lot of our foster families have reached the point where they want to retire," said Dawn Marie Rocheleau, foster parent recruiter and trainer. "It's just reached the point where they wanted that time to themselves or they may have family circumstances that may have come up."

Rocheleau believes it also takes a special kind of person to be a foster parent. She looks for a good sense of humour and people who are flexible in the type of child they can foster. There are also some myths out there that may deter potential foster families, such as single people can't foster. Rocheleau says that's not true.

Family never planned to foster

The Savards had never planned to foster. They wanted to adopt, thinking they were not strong enough to take in a young child and eventually let them go.

"I didn't think I could foster, but now I know we can. We can let go and we can love again, but it's very hard," Neely said.

After three years of opening their home to six children, the Savards are looking to adopt. Giving a child a permanent home and not having to let go are two main reasons why they're pursuing that option. About half of all foster parents at the Windsor-Essex Children's Aid Society end up adopting.

"We'll just keep fostering until that happens, until we get that amazing call," Neely said, who hopes to adopt two or three siblings and keep them together.

"Putting my children to bed and tucking them in, saying prayer, kissing and reading books — I thought every child should have a chance at this. Every child should have a stable home where they feel safe at home going to bed. I started thinking about all the children that don't have that."

Nearly 500 foster children in Windsor-Essex

Right now there are 496 children in foster care across Windsor-Essex. Although most reside in a foster home, others may be in group homes, treatment foster care or residential treatment homes. A small number are also placed outside of the Windsor area.

With hopes of getting more families interested in becoming foster parents, the Children's Aid Society offers monthly recruitment sessions. Flyers are placed at libraries or community centres, but the best tool is word of mouth from current foster families.

Despite Neely's feelings in the beginning, that she wouldn't be able to let go as a foster parent, she found she was able to overcome the heartache.

"You realize you can do it, you are given that strength. Those children need us, they need these healthy homes," Neely said.

A vigorous vetting process accompanies a nine-week training program for any potential foster family. The Children's Aid Society conducts interviews with everyone, requires police clearances and medical reports from the adults and references from family and friends.