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Becoming a foster family in Quebec

A foster family is a single person, a couple or a family who takes in one or more young people in difficulty, entrusted by a public institution, often at the request of the DPJ. To become a foster family in Quebec, you contact the Santé Québec institution of your region, which assesses the application and the home. According to Québec.ca, a foster family may take in one to nine young people and receives a monthly payment for each.

Checked November 2, 2026.

Who to contact in your region

Each region has an institution in charge of recruitment. Choose your region or type your municipality: the tool gives the link to the official recruitment page.

The tool requires JavaScript. The list is on the Québec.ca page « Coordonnées des établissements ».

Criteria

Québec.ca states that anyone may become a foster family, regardless of marital status, religion, sexual orientation or nationality. No health or social services training is required and you may work outside the home. The main minimum criteria:

The process

  1. Contact your region's institution. It explains the steps and sends the forms.
  2. Gather the documents. References, medical certificate, proof of solvency, proof of no criminal record, among others.
  3. The assessment. The institution assesses your personal qualities, your relationship skills, your ability to support a young person, your organization and your home.
  4. The agreement. If your file meets the requirements, you sign an agreement with the institution. It then matches a young person with your family.

Payment

According to Québec.ca, the foster family receives a monthly payment for each young person entrusted to it. Part of the payment depends on the intensity of the services to provide. Some expenses are reimbursed when the institution authorizes them and receipts are provided. The payment terms are set out in the agreement signed with the institution. Foster families are represented by an association that negotiates collective agreements with the government.

The amounts are set by the 2023-2028 collective agreement between the Quebec government and the FFARIQ, signed December 23, 2025. The daily rate per child depends on the service level required, from 1 to 6, set by the institution. The child's age does not change the rate.

Service levelApril 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027
Level 1$49.34$50.58
Level 2$61.68$63.23
Level 3$74.01$75.86
Level 4$86.35$88.52
Level 5$98.67$101.15
Level 6$111.02$113.81
First 60 days of a placement$67.74$69.44

During the first 60 days of a placement, a single rate applies (clause 3-3.08). Operating expenses of $33.05 per child per day as of January 1, 2025 are added, indexed every January 1 (clause 3-7.02). The agreement also provides a tax adjustment, since the foster family is not subject to income tax (clause 3-3.10), a 10.1% compensation in lieu of leave and a 6.85% amount for social plans.

Calculate the basic payment

The calculator requires JavaScript. The rates are in the table above.

Kinship foster family

When a child must leave home, the DPJ or the court first considers entrusting the child to a significant person, such as a grandparent or another family member. According to Québec.ca, these people generally become kinship foster families (« familles d'accueil de proximité »).

Frequently asked questions

How do you become a foster family in Quebec?

You contact the Santé Québec institution in charge of recruitment in your region. It assesses the application, the family and the home. If the file meets the requirements, an agreement is signed and a young person is matched with the family.

How many children can a foster family take in?

One to nine young people, according to Québec.ca. They are children and teenagers aged 0 to 17, all followed by a worker from a public institution.

Are foster families paid in Quebec?

Yes. They receive a monthly payment for each young person, part of which depends on the intensity of the services to provide. Some authorized expenses are also reimbursed with receipts.

Can I work and be a foster family?

Yes. Québec.ca states that the person may work outside the home. No health or social services training is required.

Sources