Tusla launch new campaign for foster carers in Ballymun

A NEW foster carer recruitment campaign was launched in Ballymun last week to encourage Dubliners to consider opening their home to a child in need of loving care.

The launch brought together current foster parents and community leaders to help promote fostering and spread the message that foster carers are a diverse group of people who come from all walks of life.

Chief Executive of Tusla Рthe Child and Family Agency behind the new campaign ̱ Gordon Jeyes, explained how fostering works.

“Tusla places a great emphasis on minimising the distress which a child being taken into care naturally feels when leaving home,” he said.

“In the majority of cases, the best place for a child in care is in a foster placement in their own community, where they can maintain relationships with friends, schools, sports clubs and extended family.

“Due to a shortage of foster carers in the North Dublin area, we sometimes have to place children around the country where they do not have the support of their own friends and school as they adjust to living in a foster family.”

One of the difficulties experienced by Tusla is recent times is an increase in foster placement requests for local children from non-Irish backgrounds.

The problem is there currently isn’t enough foster families to reflect this diversity, and it’s hoped more non-Irish families will consider fostering.

“From our work with New Communities Partnership, we know that people with migrant backgrounds are often unaware that they could foster or presume that they would not meet the requirements for becoming a foster carer,” continued Jeyes.

“We want to make people aware that anyone can apply to be assessed as a foster carer regardless of nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, disability status or whether someone is already a parent.

“The only criteria for applying are that you are willing and able to care for a vulnerable child.”

The new campaign was launchd by Minister of State for New Communities, Culture & Equality, Aodhán Ã? Ríordáin, who said he was “delighted” to be in Ballymun for the launch.

“Foster carers are an integral part of our society and do a valuable job in helping vulnerable children,” he added.

“In our changing Ireland, with an increase in diverse backgrounds and multiculturalism, it is imperative that every effort is made to engage those from new communities in the care of our children.

“This campaign is an information based initiative highlighting a positive way that those who have found a new home in Ireland can make an additional and meaningful contribution to society.”