Foster Care
Most families go through crisis or trauma at some time.
If a family does not have support systems to help them through difficult times, foster care may be an option.
Foster care offers an alternative place for a child to stay when they cannot live at home. It allows time for the child and their family to work through their issues.
Some reasons that children may need to stay in foster care include:
• Conflict in the home
• A parent needing respite while sick or injured or in hospital
• Risk of sexual, physical or emotional abuse and neglect
The length of time a child stays in foster care can vary from one night to four weeks and sometimes months or years.
Children entering foster care come from a variety of situations and backgrounds.
Leaving their home and going into foster care can be very difficult for a child to deal with and they may display a range of emotions and behaviours.
When Your Child is Referred: information for parents
Specialist Foster Care: fee-for-service for high needs children
My Place: for young people leaving care
Reunification: helping children who are in care to stay in touch with their families.
Children in Care - How to make a complaint
Foster Carers - How to make a complaint
Crossroads - Newsletter for Foster Carers
Other Services and Information
Fostering Together: Supporting Children and Young People of Foster Carers
In September 2011, researchers from the School of Psychology & Social Science, Dr Anna Targowska and Susan Teather, were contracted by Wanslea Family Services to conduct a research study to address the lack of voice of biological children of foster carers in the fostering task. Click Here to read the full report