Supporting Foster Families and Growing Bright Futures Since 2009
This year, the Developmental Disabilities Association proudly celebrates 15 years of the Fostering Early Development (FED) program. This milestone reflects our deep commitment to the well-being of young children with developmental disabilities in foster care.
Founded in 2009, FED ensures that all children, from birth to six years old, in foster care settings have access to opportunities and environments that support their optimal physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and spiritual development. For 15 years, we have been walking alongside foster families, offering guidance, support, and expert knowledge during some of the most formative years in a child’s life.
At the heart of FED is partnership. Our skilled and compassionate staff work hand-in-hand with foster caregivers to screen children’s development at regular intervals, using tools like the Ages and Stages Questionnaires. These screenings help us make thoughtful, evidence-based recommendations. When needed, we connect families with other professionals, ensuring every child gets the specialized support they deserve.
“It has been my pleasure to be a part of the groundbreaking Fostering Early Development program for the last 11 years – seeing it grow and develop like the children we support,” says Amy Ris, Assistant Director, Early Years Program at DDA. “I am proud of the additions we have made to the program along the way as we have identified evolving needs for children in care and those that support them – including routine screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder for all children in care, a week-long summer day camp, and a robust training component for caregivers and social workers. This program is the first of its kind in BC and I look forward to what’s to come!”
But FED is more than a screening program—it’s a community of learning and empowerment.
Training That Makes a Difference
Foster caregivers and social workers receive training and resources that make a tangible difference in the lives of the children they support. These sessions explore a range of crucial topics, including:
- Brain development in the early years
- The impact of trauma on young minds
- Healthy attachment and how to support the development of this, particularly in the face of breaks in attachment with biological family
- Practical, home-based techniques to support developmental milestones
Over the past 15 years, hundreds of foster families have benefited from the Fostering Early Development Program. We’ve seen children who once struggled begin to thrive, thanks to timely intervention, personalized support, and the unwavering commitment of their caregivers.
As we mark this important anniversary, we extend our deepest gratitude to every foster caregiver, social worker, and FED staff member who has contributed to this journey. Here’s to 15 years of progress, partnership, and possibility—and to many more ahead.
