Short term - a month, a year…
Short Term Foster Care can be very exciting for those families who enjoy a challenge. Children usually go initially to short term Foster Carers while decisions are made about their future.
Children may arrive during a crisis and may be tired, frightened and hungry and will need a lot of care and attention to help them settle down. They may end up staying for just a few days or several months or even years. Part of the task of a short term Foster Carer is likely to involve working closely with the child’s birth parents to maintain contact.
Once decisions have been made about the children’s future, short term Foster Carers have a vital role in preparing them for a move, whether it is back to their parents or on to a long term Foster Carer or adoptive home. Saying goodbye can be both sad and yet satisfying, knowing you have helped a child through a difficult time in their life.
When the needs and demands associated with a child/young person’s care are challenging, foster families might need some time-out to enable them to re-charge their batteries. Support carers provide these consistent breaks, whether it’s for a few hours, a day or a number of days.
Support care is also offered to children/young people from the community where the family are in crisis or where there are relationship difficulties. Support could be a day, or up to 14 days to enable a particular set of family circumstances or problems to be addressed and hopefully resolved.
Permanent - a lifetime...
If you become a permanent Foster Carer, a child will become part of your family until they grow up.
All children require stability and permanency in their lives as they grow towards adulthood and independence. Some children are unable to do this within their own family.
Not all children want to be adopted, especially older children or those who continue to have regular contact with relatives. Often children requiring a permanent home are aged between 8-14 years old. Some will need placements on their own; others may be with brothers or sisters.
