Foster Care, which is also known as “Out of Home Care” is a service provided by CatholicCare for Children and Young People, who are unable to live at home with their parents, for a period of time. This may be because of a family crisis, risk of harm or parents experiencing difficulties in caring for their children. Foster Carers take these children into their own homes and look after them whilst the child’s parents receive appropriate support. In the majority of cases this is a temporary arrangement. There is also the need for some Children and Young People to be placed on a long term basis when the Court has decided that it is not in their best interest to return home. No matter how long they spend together, Foster Carers need to be able to create an environment in which Children and Young People can feel safe, valued and supported.
Foster Carers need the skills, patience and understanding to work with Children and Young people, who have had difficult lives through no fault of their own and whose behaviour may reflect this. They also need to appreciate how it feels for children to be separated from their own families. This is important because the work of a Carer includes contact with parents and other relatives of the children they look after. Foster Carers champion the needs of children and strive to keep families together where possible. CatholicCare looks to people who can bring such qualities as flexibility, openness and humour to children’s lives.
Foster Carers make different levels of commitment to fostering. In partnership with CatholicCare, Carers would consider which type of care they would be best suited to, whether it is caring for a child one weekend a month, temporary care up to twelve months or permanent care. Foster Carers make choices about the age and gender of the children they wish to look after. Some opt to provide specialist care for children with disabilities, groups of brothers and sisters, or young people moving toward independence.
CatholicCare provides Carers with training, support and an opportunity to become part of a professional caring team. Foster Carers are provided with an ongoing fortnightly allowance of $350 to help meet the needs of the Children & Young People in their care.
Foster Carers have the reward of knowing that they have made a positive and lasting difference to a child’s life. Whether the Children and Young People they look after return to their own family, find a new family or move on to live independently.
For further information, contact:
| Phone |
(02) 8709 9333 |
| Fax |
(02) 8700 3390 |
| Postal Address |
PO Box 3127 Bankstown 2200 |