The importance of parent and child fostering

When you think of fostering, you’ll likely think of taking in a child or teenager and looking after them until the time is right for them to move on to a permanent home. However, in some cases, parent and child fostering is needed. This means that not only will the child come to live with you, but so too will at least one of their parents.

Most parent and child fostering placements last from between 12 and 26 weeks, and it’s a chance for a new parent to understand more about how to take care of their baby and what it means to be a parent. These services are hugely important, but why is this? Read on to find out.

Be a Support System

Some parents have a hard time when their baby is born. They may have no idea what to do, and they are scared and vulnerable. If there is no support system for them, they could become overwhelmed, and the potential for harm, either to themselves or to their baby, increases.

When they are able to go to a parent and child foster placement arranged by a dedicated agency such as thefca.co.uk, they will have that support system, and it will allow them to feel much more confident and learn what they need to do before going out on their own.

Learn the Skills

No one automatically knows what to do when they have a baby, but in most cases, the parent or parents will have many months to get prepared. For some, however, this is not the case. They may not realise they are pregnant, or they might not know when they are due to give birth due to not seeing a doctor or attending midwife appointments. Perhaps they are in denial about the pregnancy and simply try to ignore it. Because of this, they don’t do the research required, and they don’t have anything prepared for when the baby comes.

In that case, a parent and child foster place can be vital. They will have all they need and a chance to get used to being a parent. It will be frightening, but having someone there to guide them means they will be able to stay calmer and become a better parent.

Get Away from Abusive Partners

Some people feel trapped in abusive relationships, and when there is a baby involved, it becomes even harder to leave this kind of relationship. Although it’s terrible, it’s also much easier to stay – doing anything else is scary, and when the person wanting to leave is on their own with a child, it can feel impossible.

However, if there is somewhere for them to go, then leaving the abusive relationship is something they may feel able to do. A parent and child foster placement is just such a place. It’s a safe place for them to go to take time out to determine exactly what they can do next, and they’ll get all the support they need to do just that.