If you have to be placed in out-of-home care, here are some options that may be available for you and your family, and may have to be approved by the agency:

• Early Intervention: Your parents and the agency can work together to identify programs and services that help and support your family. Sometimes, you may need to live away from home while your parents receive help and support, but that may not always be the case; each family has their own plan for success. If you need to live away from home, your friends or other family members may be able to help by allowing you to live with them while your parents receive help and support, as long as the agency agrees to it.
• Customary Care: Customary Care allows for your family or community to care for you if your parents are unable to as they receive help and support. Customary Care supports you to remain connected to your heritage, language, community, and culture while you are in care, and according to the custom of your Band.
• Kinship Care: Kinship Care is care by someone who is known to you and your family while your parents receive help and support. This may include your relatives, neighbours, or close friends to you and your family.
• Foster Care: Foster Care is care provided by a foster parent who opens their home to a child or youth to provide a stable, nurturing, and safe environment during a difficult period. This may or may not be someone known to you or your family.
• Customary Adoption: Customary Adoption is the Mi’kmaw practice of adopting a child according to the traditions, practices and customs of the Band. Unlike provincial adoption, Customary Adoption doesn’t mean that your relationship with your biological parents or caregivers necessarily ends; you may still have contact and connection with them if you are customarily adopted by another family, if there is agreement, and if it is in your best interest.