Hello, my name is Alex Pratt, and I am the Foster Care Coordinator for the Dakota Tiwahe Services Foster Care Program. I am a Sioux Valley band member, and I started with Dakota Tiwahe Services on January 20, 2025.

The main goal of the program is to ensure that in the event it becomes necessary to remove a child from a home, Dakota Tiwahe Services will provide a safe, nurturing, and loving environment for a child to thrive and grow in. The program’s priority is to place children with their biological families first, if possible, to lessen the trauma that occurs when a removal is necessary. Foster care providers are sought after all familial resources are exhausted.

The key principles that are guiding the Dakota Tiwahe Services Foster Care Program are to provide emergency placement services to children, provide support and to advocate for family/kinship placement, provide training opportunities for Foster Care Providers and ensure the children’s safety and well-being are the primary goal.

The Foster Care Program is also responsible for the recruitment and assessment of all new care providers which include licensing as per provincial standards and regulations. The need for skilled, culturally appropriate placements is an on-going priority for Dakota Tiwahe Services. The Foster Care Program is also responsible for guardianship assessments, provision of support and knowledge to the community and urban offices regarding child welfare standards, and DTS policies and procedures.

As of September 19, 2025, the Dakota Tiwahe Services Foster Care Program off-reserve office has 47 foster homes. 13 are licensed foster homes and 34 Places of Safety.

As of September 19, 2025, the Dakota Tiwahe Services Foster Care Program on-reserve office has 20 foster homes.  7 of the homes are licensed with the remaining 13 are Places of Safety.

As of September 19, 2025, 0 children in care of are utilizing Emergency Placement Resources in Winnipeg.

As of September 19, 2025, Dakota Tiwahe Services utilizes 14 borrowed homes from other CFS agencies.

In total, the Dakota Tiwahe Services Foster Care Program has 67 homes which provide care to children in care with Dakota Tiwahe Services. Of the 67 homes, 36 identify as indigenous and 31 as non-indigenous.

The future plans for the Dakota Tiwahe Services Foster Care Program include the development of Emergency Placement Resources (EPR) in the community as well as off-reserve, that are fully staffed and prepared for any emergency placement needs that may arise.

Alex Pratt

Foster Care Coordinator