10/15/2025
🌙 From Foster Parent to Innovator: Why I Helped Build CaseManage.ca
Many moons ago, I was a Foster Parent.
When I started, I thought all these kiddos needed was a loving home — and I was sure I could give them that. 💛
But it didn’t take long to realize that many of these amazing little humans had been through more than most adults ever will. Their stories tugged at my heart, and while I wanted to help, my limited training left me feeling unprepared.
So, I went back to school and earned my degree in Child and Youth Counselling.
📋 The Paperwork Pile-Up
During my 10 years fostering, the paperwork grew — daily logs, Plans of Care, incident reports… you name it.
I didn’t mind it, but with four kids to feed, bathe, and get to appointments, there just weren’t enough hours in the day.
One thing I did love was creating life books. I’d gather with friends, scrapbook photos of soccer games, zoo trips, and swimming days, adding little notes and stickers filled with love. ❤️
I still have my own kids’ life books… but I’m not sure my foster sons do.
💬 Finding My Place
As my kids grew into teens, I worked in education and group care, while still fostering. Eventually, I found my place as a Supervisor at a foster care agency.
That role felt right. Foster parents trusted me because I was one of them. I understood the exhaustion, the small wins, and the heartbreak.
But when my dad passed, my marriage ended, and I cared for a child with very high needs, my tank finally ran empty.
That’s when I learned how to spot burnout in others — often before they saw it themselves.
🗂️ The Weight of Paperwork
I’m not saying less paperwork will fix burnout… but it sure helps.
Every year, new expectations and reporting requirements added up. My team worked tirelessly to support families, but paperwork days often got pushed aside when crises hit.
Then came COVID and QSF, and things got even tougher. Foster parents were burning out. Some retired. Others hesitated to start. And I was spending my time chasing signatures instead of supporting people.
💡 A Better Way
Thankfully, my boss noticed — and that’s when everything changed.
Enter We-Schedule.ca and CaseManage.ca.
The moment I saw the “seed” of this software, I knew I wanted to help it grow. 🌱
It was a solution for everyone:
The Bookkeeper buried in paper receipts,
The Foster Parent trying to upload IRs and share photos,
The Supervisor needing real-time insight,
The Administrator who could finally see the faces behind the paperwork.
Now, Case Managers can speak their notes right into their phones. Supervisors see reports instantly. And those digital life books? They’re connecting everyone — and putting people back in front of people — exactly as it was meant to be.
💬 Let’s Keep Doing Great Things
If any part of my story resonates with you — if you’ve felt that mix of love, exhaustion, and determination — I’d love to connect.
Let me show you how CaseManage.ca can make life easier for your team, your foster families, and ultimately, the youth we all care about. 💙
