Foster Care Program
About This Program
Foster Care is the placement of a child or young person with a carefully selected family for a planned period of time. Financial support and high quality caseworker support is provided to both the child or young person, and the foster carers.
Children in care are supported to keep in contact with their own families wherever possible, even over long periods of time. This is very important because the strong connection that children have with their birth families must be acknowledged and respected. The time spent in foster care can vary from just one day to a number of years depending on each child’s circumstances.
When children and young people cannot live with their family, a caring foster family offers a safe and nurturing home. At Marymead, we support committed foster carers who offer respite, and short or long term care. Carers make a real difference in the life of a vulnerable child or young person.
How We Work / Who Can Use The Program
Marymead Foster Care Program manages over 80 carers and 90 children under contract to the Office for Children, Youth and Family Services (OCYFS). The situation of each child needing foster care will vary. Most have experienced a breakdown of parental care due to illness or crisis, or have suffered abuse and/or neglect. To help them overcome those experiences, the children need a to be provided with a safe, consistent and nurturing family environment in which they can develop new skills and have their physical, emotional, social, cultural and educational needs met.
Marymead Foster Care Program offers: Respite Care, Short-term/Emergency Care, and Medium to Long-term care.
Respite Care
Respite care provides regular time out for struggling families. Carers will look after the same child, or a sibling group, on a planned regular basis every four to six weeks. The children often come from families who are experiencing difficulties, are isolated, or have no family or friends living locally available to help. A meeting is arranged between the carers and the family before setting up the first respite weekend. Information is exchanged about the children’s health, routines, and likes and dislikes so that these can be maintained and respected. Respite placement goals are discussed as well.
Short Term/Emergency Care
This service provides both emergency care and planned short-term care for children who range from babies to adolescents. The child’s stay can be from one night to a few weeks, and sometimes up to six months. Such placements usually arise from a family experiencing a crisis; for example, a child may need to be placed in care for a few days while a parent is in hospital.
Referrals to the program are made by the Office for Children, Youth and Family Support (OCYFS) and may be urgent, often giving little notice to carers. Some of the children who are referred have experienced social or emotional problems and may display behavioural difficulties due to the trauma of the crisis or from past abuse and neglect.
Medium to Long-Term Care
Medium to long-term foster care can range from several months to many years until the child or young person reaches 18 years of age.
Careful planning is involved in matching children and young people with suitable foster families who will best meet their individual needs. All children require a stable family environment and a home that is of a good standard. Carers must have the ability to relate to children, and to nurture and encourage them to develop their potential. This means supporting them through school and helping them to participate in the usual extra curricular and social activities that children and young people should enjoy.
Information Sessions
Marymead Foster Care invites you to attend one of our information sessions on becoming a foster carer.
Tuesday 30th March 2010
12:30pm - 1:30pm or 6:30pm - 7.30pm
Thursday 17th June 2010
12:30pm - 1:30pm or 6:30pm - 7.30pm
Thursday 16th September 2010
12:30pm - 1:30pm or 6:30pm - 7.30pm
The sessions will be held at:
Marymead
255 Goyder Street
Narrabundah ACT
Children are always welcome and refreshments are provided.
For more information, or to register your attendance at any of these information sessions, please call Marymead on 6162 5800 or email fcinfo@marymead.org.au
Funding Bodies
The Foster Care Program is funded by the ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services.
Helpful Links
Our Kids' Companions Program is also always looking for new volunteers.
