Friends, Family, and Permanence 

We all need a place to belong and feel connected to. We need supportive people in our lives, no matter if they are family, friends, or other relationships. You define your family and your connections in life! It is important to establish who you can rely on in your life and what connections and support you have. Roles of people may change when you exit the system. You may find that many of the people who were available to you when you were in care will not be as available once you exit the system. Make sure to have connections to supportive people in your life who will continue to support you after you exit the system. 

Siblings 

If you were separated from siblings while in foster care, ask for assistance from your social worker or another supportive adult to help you reconnect before you leave care.

Community Connections 

Are you connected to programs or activities in your community? Do you volunteer at the local senior citizen’s home, take an art class at your local community centre, drop-in at the local youth centre for a recreational night, or maybe you are learning to cook traditional foods or learning a traditional language from an Elder in your community? It is important to have these connections in your community. Being active in your community has many benefits. It helps you feel connected, learn new things, expand your knowledge, and make new friends. Identify areas of interest and get connected. There are many low-cost or free programs available in almost all communities across Saskatchewan. Ask your social worker, adult allies, or look on the Internet to find out what community connections you may want to be a part of. 

Cultural Connections 

Identify, research, and discover your own culture or ethnicity. Seek out a trusted adult ally to help you connect to culturally-specific events and organizations in your community. Make your own choices for cultural connections and feel comfortable in creating this part of your identity. If you are interested, it is also a great experience to discover other cultural events and organizations in your community. Do you like sports, dance, music, arts and crafts, or do you have a spiritual practice? Odds are there is some group doing stuff you like ready to welcome new members. You can have a great time meeting new people, making new friends, discovering new customs, trying new food, and maybe even learning a new language. Expand your knowledge, expand your mind!

Create Healthy Relationships 

We all need a little reminder sometimes … 

To take time to learn about yourself and build your self-esteem. Develop a group of positive people in your life who share your values. Build your relationship skills and understanding of healthy and not healthy (abusive) relationships. Identify where to go or who to turn to if you need help getting out of an abusive relationship. If needed, discuss these issues further with a trusted adult ally, counsellor, or therapist. 

Identify Other Supports 

What other supports or connections may be important or helpful in your life as you move into adulthood? Take some time to brainstorm a short list that includes other supports you may need.