Fostering is a process whereby you offer a safe and secure home to a child or young person who cannot live with their birth family. It involves caring for the child on a temporary or long-term basis, providing a stable and nurturing environment to help them thrive.

Anyone over the age of 25 can become a foster parent, regardless of their marital status, gender, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. However, you will need to undergo an assessment process to ensure that you are suitable to become a foster parent.

The fostering process can take several months to complete, depending on the assessment process and your individual circumstances. This can vary depending on factors such as your availability, the age of the child you wish to foster, and your level of experience.

Foster carers receive a range of support, including ongoing training, financial support, and access to support networks. You will also have a social worker assigned to you who will provide guidance and support throughout the fostering process.

Children in foster care come from a wide range of backgrounds and circumstances. Some may have experienced neglect or abuse, while others may have been placed in care due to family breakdown, illness, or other reasons.

The length of time a child stays in foster care can vary depending on their individual circumstances. Some children may only need a temporary placement, while others may require a long-term home. In some cases, children may return to their birth families or move on to permanent adoption.

Foster carers can work full-time or have other commitments, but they must be able to provide a safe and stable home for the child. You will need to discuss your availability with the fostering agency during the assessment process.

Foster carers receive a financial allowance to cover the cost of caring for the child, including food, clothing, and other expenses. The amount of support you receive will depend on a variety of factors, including the age and needs of the child. This is up to 352 euros per week.

Foster carers can express a preference for the age and gender of the child they wish to foster, but this will depend on the needs of the child and the availability of suitable placements.

If you decide to stop fostering, you will need to give notice to FCI. They will provide you with support and guidance throughout the process, and ensure that the child is placed in a safe and suitable home.

Fostering involves caring for a child on a temporary or long-term basis, while adoption is a legal process that permanently transfers parental rights and responsibilities from the birth family to the adoptive family. Foster care is often a temporary arrangement, while adoption is permanent.

Fostering can be a rewarding experience, but it can also be challenging and demanding. It is important to consider how fostering will affect your family and personal life, and to be prepared for the emotional, physical, and practical demands of caring for a child.

Fostering agencies will assess your suitability to become a foster parent based on a range of factors, including your personal qualities, experience, and ability to provide a safe and stable home for a child. You will undergo a thorough assessment process to ensure that you are prepared to take on the responsibilities of fostering.

Foster parents receive a range of training and support to help them provide the best possible care for the child. This may include training in child development, behavior management, communication, and other skills that are important for fostering.

Foster parents receive ongoing support from FCI, including regular contact with a social worker, access to support networks, and financial support to cover the costs of caring for the child.

Foster parents can care for children with a range of needs and disabilities, but they will need to have the appropriate skills, experience, and resources to provide the required level of care. The fostering agency will assess your suitability to care for a child with specific needs or disabilities.

Maintaining contact with the birth family of the child is often encouraged, as it can help to provide continuity and support for the child. However, the level and type of contact will depend on the individual circumstances of the case.

You will need to ensure that your home is safe, secure, and suitable for a child. This may involve making some adjustments, such as installing safety equipment, providing suitable sleeping arrangements, and ensuring that the child has access to suitable facilities.

Fostering can be a difficult and traumatic experience for a child, and it is important to provide a safe and nurturing environment to help them adjust. This may involve providing reassurance, support, and guidance, and helping them to establish a sense of routine and stability.

In order to adhere to national policies and regulations, it is necessary to conduct several checks, which include: -Garda vetting checks -Overseas police clearance, mandatory for individuals residing outside the country for more than six months -Tusla child protection checks -Medical examination by a General Practitioner -Employment references -School references -Overseas child protection checks, mandatory for individuals residing outside the country for more than six months -Financial stability checks -A standard safety check on your residence We kindly request your cooperation in fulfilling these requirements, and we appreciate your understanding and support as we strive to maintain compliance with the regulations in place.

The duration between approval and the initial placement may differ depending on individual circumstances. Upon being approved by the Tusla Foster Care Committee, you will initiate discussions with your assigned Link Social Worker regarding potential placements. While some individuals may receive placement within a few days, others may need to wait a few weeks for a well-suited placement. We will explore appropriate child referrals based on your skillset, experience, and the specific needs of the child.

There are different types of fostering Long-term fostering, also known as permanent fostering, involves providing care for a child or young person over an extended period of time. Short-term fostering, also referred to as temporary fostering, can range from a few months to just a few days or even hours. Emergency fostering provides immediate, short-term care for children who have been exposed to unsafe environments, sudden family illnesses, or other unexpected situations. Respite fostering allows foster carers to take a break from their current fostering placements. Remand fostering provides an alternative care solution for young people who have been remanded by the courts instead of being placed in custody. Therapeutic fostering requires specialized training and education to care for children with complex needs, and foster carers become part of a therapy team. Parent and child fostering, also known as mother and baby fostering, involves providing extra support for a parent and their own child in a foster carer's home. Parent and child assessment / Pre-Adoptive fostering is a three-month assessment period that evaluates the parent's ability to care for their child in a fostering placement.