In Quebec, any person can foster a child, regardless of their marital status, religion, sexual orientation or nationality. As the name implies, a foster parent welcomes one or more children or teenagers who are experiencing difficulties or who have an intellectual disability into their home. The aim is to provide living conditions for these young people that promote a parental relationship in a secure, stable, warm and encouraging family environment.
If you would like to open your heart and home to a child in need, or if you are currently doing so, we would like to thank you for this wonderful act. And to make sure your home insurance is right for your situation, we wanted to share our best advice!
In this article, you will find information about home insurance for foster parents. Happy reading!
The importance of having home insurance that suits your needs
It is essential to properly insure your most important asset: your home. By protecting it, you are also protecting yourself and everyone under your roof.
When you become a foster parent, the first step is to notify your insurance company of your new situation, as many refuse to insure foster homes. Don’t worry if your current insurer turns you down. Instead, call an independent insurance brokerage firm: they deal with a large number of insurers, including many that are only available through them. They will find for you the home insurance that best suits your situation, at the best possible price.
If you decide to find your own insurer, make sure you choose an indemnity value that is high enough to adequately cover any damage to your home and personal property (or leasehold improvements). Your home insurance policy should also include liability coverage for your activities outside of being a foster parent.
Property and liability insurance program for resources covered by the LRR
The LRR is the Act Respecting the Representation of Family-type Resources and Certain Intermediate Resources and the Negotiation Process for Their Group Agreements. What is the LRR insurance program?
More specifically, these are collective agreements between the following associations and the Ministry of Health and Social Services.
- L’Alliance des associations démocratiques des ressources à l’enfance du Québec (ADREQ-CSD)
- L’Alliance des associations démocratiques des ressources à l’adulte du Québec (ADRAQ-CSD)
- La Fédération des familles d’accueil et des ressources intermédiaires du Québec (FFARIQ)
- Le Regroupement des ressources résidentielles adultes du Québec (RESSAQ)
- La Fédération de la santé et des services sociaux (FSSS-CSN)
- The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE)
The program provides additional insurance protection for individuals who care for troubled children or teens in their home.
Among other things, it includes “civil and professional liability” insurance that will cover you in case of claims or lawsuits resulting from bodily injury or property damage caused by the child in your care, and for which you could be held responsible. The program also insures the spouse of the child’s foster parent and employees, including competent replacements (paid or unpaid), when they are acting in the performance of their duties on behalf of the resource.
This coverage has certain exclusions, such as punitive damages related to a criminal conviction.
What about your personal property?
The program will also protect you against damage to your property caused by a young person, using the same basis of valuation as your home insurance policy (replacement cost* or value at the time of loss), and in line with the amounts of insurance and limitations of that policy.
You may be thinking that this is a real headache!
But don’t worry! There are independent insurance brokers who specialize in situations like this. They can walk you through the insurance process and advise you on the best decisions for you.
They will also take the time to answer all your questions and assist you in the event of a claim. So, before you foster a child or teenager, make sure you are well insured. This is important for you and your estate, as well as for the well-being and safety of these children who have often al