Tusla launches National Fostering Week 2020 seeking new foster carers
Tusla-Child and Family Agency has launched its National Fostering Week 2020, a public awareness campaign running from 12-18 October aimed at recruiting new foster carers across Ireland.
The campaign, with a theme of ‘Raising Amazing’, celebrates how Tusla foster carers have positively transformed the lives of vulnerable children and young people, and appeals to others to join with Tusla in helping to provide a child with a safe and loving home environment.
In Ireland, there are 5,957 children in care. Of these, 5,450 children are cared for by 4,124 foster families. Covid-19 has impacted on Tusla fostering services by significantly slowing down the assessment, training and communication processes’ involved in the recruitment of new foster carers.
Speaking at the launch of Tusla National Fostering Week 2020 Kate Duggan, Director of Services and Integration, Tusla said: “Tusla foster carers are invisible heroes in towns and villages across Ireland. They make daily sacrifices to enable the children in their care to grow, flourish, and reach the best of their potential.”
Commenting on Tusla National Fostering Week 2020, Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Roderic O'Gorman TD said: “Covid-19 has had a significant impact on children and young people, and the role played by foster carers in Ireland has never been more important.”
Catherine Bond, CEO, Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA) said: “The Irish Foster Care Association is delighted to support Tusla’s National Fostering Week. Fostering allows children and young people to grow up in families that offer love and safety if they are unable at a point in time to live with their own family.”
Terry Dignan, CEO, Empowering People In Care (EPIC) added: “Every child deserves a loving home in which to grow up and reach their full potential. Research from around the world has shown that the family setting remains the most important provider for children’s care, and are those most concerned about particular children’s well-being, education and preparation for adult life.
Fostering a child is an opportunity to make a positive difference, not just in that child’s life, but in the family’s life.”
Members of the public who would like to find out more about fostering can call freephone 1800 226 771 or email tusla.fostering@tusla.ie
Tusla National Fostering Week is supported by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Irish Foster Care Association(IFCA) and EPIC, a national organisation that works with children in care.