Are you interested in becoming a foster carer?
The decision to become a foster or kinship carer is a big one!
Entering the world of foster and kinship care is exciting, messy and daunting. As Christians we enter it relying on God for our motivation and trusting Him to put the right child into our home, and the right people around us.
We want to make sure that you are fully prepared for the journey and have the right supports around you.
To do this, Fostering Hope can provide:
Training for you
we run a spiritual preparation for foster care course
Support with application process
we can link you up with one of the foster care agencies, and support you through the training
Mentoring
link all new foster and kinship carers with a mentor carer
Events
we host monthly morning teas for carers to support each other and other events
Supports
implement a wrap around community support model if you would like it
Information
provide up to date information about other services available to carers
Training for your community
offer training to others in your community about trauma and the general foster care process
Questions
answer any other questions you may have about types of fostering, the process, or any other supports
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.”
Types of foster care
There are a number of different types of foster care,
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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.
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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.
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Long-term foster care – where you open your home to a child/ren for 12 months to 18 years.
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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.
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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.
The organisations that run foster care programs in Tasmania are
The peak organisation that supports and advocates for foster carers is the Foster and Kinship Carers Association of Tasmania.
You may also just want to start the process of becoming and foster carer and your role will become clearer as you progress. If you're interested - please contact us