Foster families: first-aid and CPR standards
First Aid & CPR Ontario
Becoming a foster family in Ontario means opening your home to a child or youth who cannot safely live with their own family. Among the requirements to be approved: holding a current Standard First Aid certificate that includes infant and child CPR.
The first-aid requirement
In Ontario, licensees must ensure every approved foster parent holds a valid Standard First Aid certificate that includes infant and child CPR, issued by an agency approved by the province's workplace safety authority (WSIB). This requirement is set out in Ontario Regulation 156/18 under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act (CYFSA) and must be kept current throughout your time as a foster parent.
The certificate is verified by the licensed foster care agency as part of your approval, alongside pre-service training. It is one requirement in addition to the home study and the assessment of your parenting suitability, not a substitute for them.
Severe allergies and anaphylaxis
Standard First Aid training covers recognizing and responding to severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), including the use of an epinephrine auto-injector.
How to meet it
A recognized, up-to-date first-aid and CPR certificate meets this requirement. It is in addition to the required training or assessment, and is renewed periodically.
Training aligned with the latest emergency-care standards
Our CPR, AED and first-aid training is developed in line with the most recent international guidelines for emergency cardiovascular care and first aid.
We rigorously follow the recommendations of ILCOR (International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation), the international body responsible for the scientific evaluation and development of global resuscitation standards. These recommendations serve as a reference for health organizations, institutions and professional orders worldwide — and are updated as scientific and clinical evidence evolves.
Keep your skills current with confidence
Every intervention can make a difference. Keeping CPR and emergency-care skills current is both a professional requirement and a responsibility toward patients, colleagues and the public.
See the recognized first-aid courses in your regionReferences
- Policy directive Residential Licensing 001-23 — Training on the Provision of Foster Care
- Ontario Regulation 156/18 under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, 2017
- ILCOR — International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation
Content is being updated.