HUDSON BAY FAMILY HONOURED

Released on October 17, 2000

In honour of Foster Families Week, October 15th-21st, Social Services Minister

Harry Van Mulligen paid tribute to Saskatchewan's foster families today.



"Children who are in the care of foster parents are often dealing with many

difficult issues," Social Services Minister Harry Van Mulligen said. "Foster

families are to be commended for providing a warm and safe family environment

to children in need."



Currently, more than 800 foster families provide care to approximately 2,000

children across the province.



Van Mulligen pointed to the contributions of Connie and Albert Espenant of

Hudson Bay, "Families such as the Espenants have provided consistent care for

many of our youth and the province thanks them for their efforts through the

years." The Espenants have been foster parents for 21 years and were honoured

for their service at the Saskatchewan Foster Families Association (SFFA)

conference earlier this year.



Foster families are needed and anyone interested in finding out more about

becoming a foster parent can contact the SFFA toll-free at 1-888-276-2880 or

access their web site at www.sffa.sk.ca. Information on fostering is also

available from Social Service's web site at www.gov.sk.ca/socserv/.



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For more information, contact:



Doug Wakabayashi

Saskatchewan Social Services

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-8689

Email: doug.wakabayashi.ss@govmail.gov.sk.ca



Note: Photographs of the Espenant family available on request