Foster children: Counted for the first time in the 2011 Census

Friday, August 17, 2012

Description of announcement

On September 19, 2012, as part of the 2011 Census release on families, households and marital status, data and analysis relating to foster children in Canada will be released. In addition to the overall number of foster children, information on the age group, sex, and provincial and territorial distribution of foster children will be made available.

Since 2006, foster children have been considered as other relatives in economic families. For the first time in the 2011 Census, respondents could identify foster children as members of the household using a specific response category of Question 6, Relationship to Person 1, on the census questionnaire.

The foster care system including the establishment of age and other eligibility criteria is provincial/territorial jurisdiction. The reporting of a foster child in the household is based on the interpretation of respondents.

Reasons leading to this announcement/decision

To inform users of new content on foster children in the 2011 Census release on families, households and marital status.

Impact

Increased awareness of new content for the 2011 Census.

Additional documentation

Definition of economic family status from the 2006 Census Dictionary.