subject: Fostering In The Current Economic Climate by:James Bevis [print this page] Fostering and the economy Fostering and the economy
Poverty, homelessness and unemployment are some of the main contributing factors to children being placed in foster care.
Considering the current economic recession, it is possible that more children than ever will require foster placements in the coming months. The UK foster care system is already facing huge challenges due to a lack of foster carers.
It is difficult to recruit and hold on to trained social workers who might improve the experiences of children in foster homes. Fostering has always had it's critics and sometimes a reputation as being unsafe in recent years.
According to research, a high percentage of children in foster care exhibit emotional and or behavioural problems. To some degree, foster children suffer emotional difficulties from both their experiences before foster care and from the foster care experience itself.
These long standing problems make the job of current and prospective foster carers more difficult than ever.
Not only are they expected to deal with a range of difficult behaviours and developmental disorders exhibited by foster children, but the networks of support that should be in place to assist them are becoming increasingly tested by cases such as the tragic death of baby P.
Without the support and recognition of the professional role foster carers have in safeguarding our children, fewer people will consider fostering and those who do, will find it harder to meet the demands of a fostering career.
There is a growing need to find people who have the commitment, qualities and who are prepared to accept the risks involved of looking after other people's vulnerable children.
A high percentage of foster children do not achieve their potential in education, commit offences, abuse alcohol and drugs and go on to be homeless and unemployed. All problems that tend to escalate in times of economic crisis.
The indicators are that fostering will be put under even more pressure to provide the solution for children's placement services.
Lets hope more people can be persuaded to make room in their hearts and space in their lives for a place for a child who needs a foster carer.
About the author
Simply Fostering helps people looking to foster find foster children. They also offer free help and advice to those who are thinking of becoming involved in fostering.
