subject: The Benefits of Foster Care for Children [print this page] Foster care for children has myriad benefits. By taking a child or young person into your care, you are giving them the chance to grow up in a stable, loving environment that they may otherwise be unable to experience. You are also giving them a chance to come to terms with their experiences so far, to deal with any instances of neglect in their past and to learn what it is like to grow up with a caring family.
Being able to come to terms with the past is particularly important for looked after children or young people. While it is certain that not all of them have experienced neglect or abuse, whether it's physical, emotional or sexual, it's still true that they have had to go through the separation from or loss of their birth family. This can lead to psychological problems that follow the child into their adult life if not addressed properly. As a fostering family, you and your loved ones can take an active part in helping the looked after child or young person cope with their problems and overcome them in order to live a healthy, happy life.
Fostering is not the same as adoption: in particular, short term pacements are considered a temporary solution that will help in the journey towards a permanent solution. It is also an activity where, even though the looked after child or young person is placed with a fostering family, the legal responsibility remains with the local authority and/or the child's birth parents. Fostering can last as long as months or years - or as short as just a few days. There are many reasons children are brought into care, including illness, a family breakdown, instances where the child's welfare is in jeopardy and relationship problems. Sometimes the child will end up returning to their birth families; sometimes they will get adopted into a new family.
While the benefits to the looked after child or young person are numerous, it's hard to ignore the fact that there are benefits to the fostering family too. Fostering families are given the chance to bring a child or young person into the safety and warmth of their home and provide them with care and understanding while they are living with them. For many fostering families, the chance to do is so extremely rewarding and something they are happy to do, even though it isn't always an easy task to undertake.
If you are interested in fostering, please contact your local office, whether you live in London, Manchester or are interested in fostering in Leeds.
The Benefits of Foster Care for Children
By: Paul Buchanan
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