Foster Carers are Always Needed

The unprecedented demand for foster carers is an issue that still needs solving. Though many people sign up all the time, not everyone is accepted or able to fulfil the initial interest and, while agencies around the country wait, more children are being taken into care. To find suitable carers, fostering agencies and local governments work hard and promote constantly, but there is still a gap. Unfortunately, this deficit may never be solved but let’s dig a little deeper into the reasons why.

Why is There Such a High Demand for Foster Carers?

The sad truth is that the demand for foster care will never be eliminated. There will always be children that are unable to be looked after in their birth families for a multitude of reasons. Parents who fall pregnant in domestic violence situations, those prone to drug and alcohol addictions, or people who are unable to provide safe dwellings for their children are the main reasons why children are taken into the system. It can’t always be avoided, and it is sometimes the only option to ensure their safety. So, with new cases pretty much daily, the need for suitable homes is ever-growing.

Who Can be a Foster Carer?

For a more concise list of advice and guidance, check in with a credible agency like Fosterplus, which has a detailed website with plenty of guidance to explore. There is a potential for anyone in a stable home to become a foster carer but there are some things that are not up for negotiation. You have to be at least 18 years old, though it is rare that someone so young would be accepted as a reliable carer. There has to be a suitable home for the child to go into, usually with their own bedroom in a safe environment. You don’t have to be married or even in a partnership, as single people can become successful carers too. It doesn’t matter if there are other children in the home, as long as they are safe people and there are no red flags such as substance abuse, for example.

Give it Some Careful Consideration

Before you start the journey, weigh up all the facts available. Fostering is a serious commitment that should be treated as such. Can you accommodate more than one child such as a sibling placement, for example? The option of looking after a child in need is a rewarding one with many benefits for both you and the child in question, but it does take its toll and that is important to recognise alongside all the good. Doing as much research and talking to a number of people with experience is one of the easiest ways to make up your mind as to whether or not this is a viable career choice.

There will always be a demand for homes for looked after children. While this is an emotive topic, it is one that requires constant monitoring, research, and a heavily solution-focused approach in order to drive things forward.