Are you interested in becoming a foster carer ?
The decision to become a foster or kinship carer is a big one - but you're not doing it alone!
Entering the world of foster and kinship care is exciting, messy and daunting. Our faith and response to the need may be the basis of our motivation, but there is much to navigate and understand to best love and support a child into our home, and vitally important to have the support of our community and the right people around us.
Even if you make the decision to become a carer today, the reality is that there are a number of steps that still need to tak place well before a child is ready to come into your home. This is a perfect time to connect with us so that we can make sure that you are fully prepared for the journey and have the right supports around you.
Fostering Hope can help guide you through the initial stages of the process, connect you with the broader fostering community and help you establish an effective support base right from the get go.
Like all of us, you will likely have many questions, many doubts and fears, and want to feel as much assurity about what you're stepping into as you can. We are here for you right from the start, and have ongoing support available to you and your foster chil/ren as you step into caring.
Make sure you check out our Frequently Asked Questions as there are many common questions we all have. We're continually trying to add to these and keep them up to date.
Types of foster care
There are a number of different types of foster care,
-
Respite care – where you provide respite for a fostering family on a regular basis, such as one weekend a month. You usually have the same children and can form a real and long-lasting relationship with the children and their primary caregivers that is positive for everyone.
-
Emergency foster care – where you are the carer as soon as children are removed from their home and until a longer term placement is found. This could be for a night, weekend or two weeks.
-
Long-term foster care – where you open your home to a child/ren for 12 months to 18 years.
-
Kinship care – kinship carers are relatives of the child or people already in a child’s life who are asked to open their home to a child after a child is removed. Fostering Hope supports kinship carers as well as foster carers.
-
Sibling group care – where you are approved to look after larger sibling groups, either in your own home or a house you move into with the children.
Foster care agencies
If you are interested in becoming a foster carer, you will need to work with an agency. Although Fostering Hope is not directly a foster care service provider, we can still be your first point of contact.
There are a multitude of agencies across Australia, as well as direct departmental care arrangements in some instances. We are more than happy to help you navigate all the options in your region and get you on your way.
Foster carer myths
There are many myths about what it is like to be a foster carer - read some below!
“Foster children are bad and damaged beyond repair.”
“I can’t be a foster carer: I have a full-time job.”
“I can’t be a foster carer: it’s far too expensive.”
“I couldn’t be a foster carer: I would get too attached.”
“My kids wouldn’t like it if I became a foster carer.”
“I am too old/young to foster.”
“I am single: I can’t be a foster carer.”
“I’ve never had kids: how can I possibly be a foster carer?”
“Foster carers can’t choose who they care for.”
“Foster carers are only in it for the money.”
“All kids in care return home; they can’t live with me permanently.”
“Foster carers are superhuman; I could never be like that.”
“Babies are easy, they come with no issues. But fostering teenagers will be too hard: they are so damaged.”
“Children in care’s birth parents are bad people and the kids don’t want to live with them.”
Whether you're interested in testing the waters or feel like you're ready to jump right in, we'd love to talk with you and support you in anyway we can. Please contact us