Fostering February – Dispelling myths about fostering

After a wet and miserable start to the year, Fostering February is a campaign aimed at a very positive message and designed to raise awareness about foster caring and what this actually involves.

During the month, the emphasis will be on dispelling some of the myths and misconceptions which surround fostering, myths that might be preventing people from putting themselves forward as prospective foster carers. We want everyone to understand fostering and the joys and the challenges it brings, and to rule themselves in, instead of counting themselves out. We hope that more people will think about becoming a foster parent if they are more informed of the facts.

Somewhere near you in Wales, there is someone who is making a difference to children and young people’s lives by offering them the love and the everyday support they deserve - the kind of love and support which most of us take for granted.

If you are thinking about life as a foster carer, the Fostering February campaign takes time to answer your questions, and might push you to find out whether you could make an amazing difference on a young person’s journey to adulthood and independent living.

There are a lot of questions surrounding fostering, partly because so many people are unaware of the basic facts, and yet, the demand for foster placements for vulnerable children is certainty not reducing. We need more families to be prepared to take up the wonderful challenge of foster caring, and this is why Family Fostering Partners is supporting Fostering February

Here are a few quick facts about who can become a foster carer:

• Young people – provided you are over the age of 21
• Older people – provided you are fit and healthy there is no upper age limit.
• Single people - straight or gay - provided you have a good network of friends and family.
• Divorced or separated people – provided you have a good network of family and friends
• Couples – married or unmarried, heterosexual or same sex – just as long as you are in a stable relationship and both partners are committed to fostering
• People of any race, gender or background
• Home owners and people who do not own their own home
• People with their own birth children and people who don’t have birth children, but have some experience of looking after children
• People with pets, provided the pets are friendly and safe with children

As you can see, fostering is open to a wide range of people who can provide a happy home, a stable lifestyle, and have the necessary qualities.

The qualities we look for in a foster carer are patience, resilience, open mindedness, empathy and perhaps most of all, a great sense of humour. Fostering children requires a lot of hard work and dedication, which makes these qualities essential, as well of course as having a spare bedroom in your home to offer a looked after child.

If you think you could make a difference, pick up the phone, drop us an e mail or send us a Facebook message.  We are local, knowledgeable and friendly, and look forward to speaking to you (in English or in Welsh!).