Because Tikinagan cares for many children with many different needs, we have developed or are in the process of developing, different kinds of homes for children and youth in care. A full spectrum of alternative care services includes regular foster homes, specialized and treatment foster care, agency operated homes and group care. We have also developed emergency foster homes and safe homes in the communities.

Our Residential Services Program works with communities to identify healthy, well-functioning potential foster families in each First Nation. The primary goal is to keep children within their home community.

Some children and youth however, require alternative care services that are specialized or treatment based (developmental, medical, and/or emotional). Many of these children require a level of care that is not readily available in our communities. At the end of our 2008-09 fiscal year, we had 60 specialized foster homes and a small number of treatment homes. Our goal is to establish, train and licence more of these homes in our communities.

Tikinagan runs eight licensed Agency Operated Homes with a live-in foster parent. These are designed for children or youth with behavioural or emotional problems requiring extra support and structure. We also operate youth group homes and healing centres in Cat Lake and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug.

Tikinagan continues to develop its foster and residential care program. With a larger variety of alternative care options, we are better able to offer our children and youth the services they need.