To: The Honourable Searle Turton, Minister of Children’s Services, and the Government of Alberta
We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the decision to implement income testing for adoptive parents and guardians receiving Supports for Permanency (SFP). This decision was made without consultation with key stakeholders, including advocacy groups, foster and adoptive parents, and Indigenous communities.
SFP was established to ensure that children who leave foster care continue to receive the support they need to heal and thrive in their permanent homes. The children impacted by this policy are among the most vulnerable in our province—many have experienced significant trauma, require specialized care, and depend on stability to succeed.
By introducing income testing, the government is putting financial barriers in place that could discourage permanency, limit necessary support services, and ultimately harm the children this program was designed to protect. While $180,000 may seem like a high family income, many families rely on these funds for therapy, medical care, and other essential services. The Alberta Foster and Kinship Association (AFKA) has confirmed that the government has not conducted an impact analysis, does not know how many families this will affect, and has not determined how much money—if any—this policy will save.
We Demand That the Government:
1️⃣ Immediately halt the implementation of income testing for SFP until proper consultation with stakeholders has taken place.
2️⃣ Conduct a full impact assessment to understand how this decision will affect permanency, foster care, and vulnerable children.
3️⃣ Commit to supporting families who have adopted or obtained guardianship of children from government care, ensuring these children continue to receive the resources they need.
We call on Minister Turton and the Government of Alberta to prioritize the well-being of children over cost-cutting measures that have unknown consequences. These children deserve stability, support, and a government that upholds its commitment to their long-term success.
Sign this petition to stand up for the rights of children and families who have chosen to provide them with a forever home.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 11, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
March 9, 2025
91 Comments
We adopted our three children 10 years ago and the SFP funding was included in our family budget. $180k between 2 full time working parents really isn’t all that much nowadays.
Some of us have adopted and live on pensions! We want our kids to have the best lives they can! We love our kids by birth or not!even ones we foster and who leave our homes never leave our hearts!
As an adoptive parent, this move makes no sense to me… essentially leaving the extra support up to new parents who don’t have the tools, yet. Regardless of income - the parents need the tools to support these kids, and the kids need the supports.
I have PG of my daughter. Without these supports I would not have been able to offer her permanency. I have 2 other children in my care that I can’t offer permanency to because of inconsistency in the system.
I agree! Many families made life altering decisions to take on financial responsibility and legal permanency for these children- these decisions were made with the knowledge and promise that these funds would be in place until they’re 18 years old.
We call on Minister Turton and the Government of Alberta to prioritize the well-being of children over cost-cutting measures that have unknown consequences. These children deserve stability, support, and a government that upholds its commitment to their long-term success. My question is, why is the Provincial government targeting the vulnerable sector?
Makes zero sense and not going to be good for kids looking for permanent homes. We adopted 3 and likely would not have been able to afford it even with middle class income. My husband can’t work due to the high special needs and disruption and stress this causes the family. Just such a crazy decision and will have a lasting negative impact on the kids and families
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To: The Honourable Searle Turton, Minister of Children’s Services, and the Government of Alberta
We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the decision to implement income testing for adoptive parents and guardians receiving Supports for Permanency (SFP). This decision was made without consultation with key stakeholders, including advocacy groups, foster and adoptive parents, and Indigenous communities.
SFP was established to ensure that children who leave foster care continue to receive the support they need to heal and thrive in their permanent homes. The children impacted by this policy are among the most vulnerable in our province—many have experienced significant trauma, require specialized care, and depend on stability to succeed.
By introducing income testing, the government is putting financial barriers in place that could discourage permanency, limit necessary support services, and ultimately harm the children this program was designed to protect. While $180,000 may seem like a high family income, many families rely on these funds for therapy, medical care, and other essential services. The Alberta Foster and Kinship Association (AFKA) has confirmed that the government has not conducted an impact analysis, does not know how many families this will affect, and has not determined how much money—if any—this policy will save.
We Demand That the Government:
1️⃣ Immediately halt the implementation of income testing for SFP until proper consultation with stakeholders has taken place.
2️⃣ Conduct a full impact assessment to understand how this decision will affect permanency, foster care, and vulnerable children.
3️⃣ Commit to supporting families who have adopted or obtained guardianship of children from government care, ensuring these children continue to receive the resources they need.
We call on Minister Turton and the Government of Alberta to prioritize the well-being of children over cost-cutting measures that have unknown consequences. These children deserve stability, support, and a government that upholds its commitment to their long-term success.
Sign this petition to stand up for the rights of children and families who have chosen to provide them with a forever home.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
March 11, 2025
Reached 100 supporters
March 9, 2025
91 Comments
SFP needs to improve not get less. Our children adopted from foster care have so many hidden needs/disabilities due to trauma and attachment disorders. We shouldn’t need to fight this hard for the supports we were offered to us when we agreed to provide them with a forever home.
We adopted our three children 10 years ago and the SFP funding was included in our family budget. $180k between 2 full time working parents really isn’t all that much nowadays.
Some of us have adopted and live on pensions! We want our kids to have the best lives they can! We love our kids by birth or not!even ones we foster and who leave our homes never leave our hearts!
As an adoptive parent, this move makes no sense to me… essentially leaving the extra support up to new parents who don’t have the tools, yet. Regardless of income - the parents need the tools to support these kids, and the kids need the supports.
I have PG of my daughter. Without these supports I would not have been able to offer her permanency. I have 2 other children in my care that I can’t offer permanency to because of inconsistency in the system.
I agree! Many families made life altering decisions to take on financial responsibility and legal permanency for these children- these decisions were made with the knowledge and promise that these funds would be in place until they’re 18 years old.
We call on Minister Turton and the Government of Alberta to prioritize the well-being of children over cost-cutting measures that have unknown consequences. These children deserve stability, support, and a government that upholds its commitment to their long-term success. My question is, why is the Provincial government targeting the vulnerable sector?
Makes zero sense and not going to be good for kids looking for permanent homes. We adopted 3 and likely would not have been able to afford it even with middle class income. My husband can’t work due to the high special needs and disruption and stress this causes the family. Just such a crazy decision and will have a lasting negative impact on the kids and families
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SFP needs to improve not get less. Our children adopted from foster care have so many hidden needs/disabilities due to trauma and attachment disorders. We shouldn’t need to fight this hard for the supports we were offered to us when we agreed to provide them with a forever home.