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Foster Families
Summer 2009 will see foster carers getting their own lifestyle magazine, Foster Families.
The first of its kind, each issue is packed with a variety of news, views and features on a range of issues affecting looked after children and their foster carers.
This quarterly, 48 page magazine crosses the two genres of parenting magazines and the more informative care magazines. As a parenting magazine it has features on family life, with 'how-to' and question sections, specifically aimed at parents who foster.
Editor, Ceressa Bateman, said: "I felt it was time for foster carers to get a magazine aimed directly at them. They have such different roles to play from other parents, and go through very different things - I felt they deserved a magazine that focused on the aspects of parenting they deal with. It seeks to reach foster carers where they are, offering advice, and being a friend they can turn to. As a friend, we have some fun, we share stories, we give advice.
"With over 50,000 children living in foster homes across the UK, we believe that foster carers should get all the support they can for the hard work that they do."
Unlike other parenting magazines, Foster Families is aimed directly at foster carers, with each section focusing on their needs and providing relevant fostering information. Sections such as home, food and health focus on fostering, while offering some light reading.
It encourages readers in their role and offers real-life stories of other foster carers in similar situations. The views of both children and foster parents are important, and the magazine reminds foster carers that they are not alone in their struggles - other people go through similar experiences and support groups are available.
Foster Families is a free magazine, distributed to foster carers across the UK through independent fostering agencies and local council fostering departments. Or you can sign up to our mailing list. For your free copy, email ceressa@fosterfamilies.co.uk.
For more information, check out the website: www.fosterfamilies.co.uk
Recent article
At any one time there are approximately 80,000 children in care in the UK. It is generally accepted that there is a shortfall of 5000 new foster carers every year which compounds the growing problem of foster children being separated from their brothers and sisters, having to live a long way from their family and friends and being denied placement stability which impacts on their education, self esteem and as a consequence causes further disruption in children’s lives.
Along with placement breakdowns, one of the potential outcomes of the lack of placement choice are the 50% of care-leavers who do not enter education, employment or training and end up drifting. Very significant proportions are leaving care on their 16 birthday through their own choice, with very few options available to them.
The more people approved as foster carers, the more likely it is that a good match can be found for a child in terms of location, culture, lifestyle, language and interests. More foster carer’s means reducing the damage that instability causes to the most vulnerable children in our society.
A recently published research document produced by Professor Bob Broad of London South Bank University analyses the views and experiences of children and foster carers as part of a ten year longitudinal study.
This research study evidences the high value children in foster care place on their current foster carer whilst also wanting further contact with their birth family. The study points to the positive yet often difficult journeys they make as they seek to sustain friendships, achieve a good education, and in some cases, improve their mental health and behaviour.
Simply Fostering help by providing easy to understand, impartial, comprehensive information about fostering and how to become a foster carer.
General enquiries are answered and if the enquirer completes the registration form, three suitable fostering agencies are identified who will then contact the enquirers. Simply Fostering is not an Agency therefore the free service is able to provide people with choices to find the right Agency for them and their family as recommended by government and Fostering Network.
Enquirers who register with Simply Fostering will have access to the free, ‘Simply Fostering Handbook’, a detailed A to Z about fostering and will receive a £50 ‘welcome to fostering bonus’ on approval as a foster carer.
Applications
Whilst almost anyone can apply to be a foster carer, people need to have or to be able to demonstrate potential parenting skills which are adaptable to the fostering role. Foster carers are optimistic, good listeners, flexible and with a good sense of humour, which also helps.
In our experience one of the most difficult issues for people has been discussing finance. Looking after children and receiving a fee is a difficult concept at first and many foster carers have told Simply Fostering that they found it embarrassing to talk about payments.
Times have changed and fostering is no longer seen as a voluntary service. In order to recruit and retain foster carers it is now accepted that foster carers need to be financially rewarded as are any other workers in social care. Local Authorities and Independent Fostering Agencies provide fees and allowances to enable foster carers to care for children and young people on a full-time basis. Information about fostering fees and allowances are on the web site.
Many people are choosing fostering as a career choice and committing to fostering on a full time basis. Generally, the more available you are the more placements you will be offered.
The Simply Fostering Team.
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