STOCKTON-ON-TEES Borough Council is asking local residents to consider whether they have the commitment, skills and experience to offer a child a positive experience of family life and become foster carers or adoptive parents.
The Council is holding an information session for prospective foster carers and adopters on Wednesday 17 May 2017, between 5.30pm and 7.30pm at North Shore Academy on Talbot Street in Stockton.
The event marks Foster Care Fortnight, the Fostering Network’s annual campaign to raise the profile of fostering and to show how foster care transforms lives. Foster Care Fortnight 2017 takes place from Monday 8 May 2017 to Sunday 21 May 2017.
Residents unable to attend the event, but who are interested in finding out more, can get in touch with the Council’s Child Placement Team for an information pack.
Councillor Ann McCoy, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, explains: “Fostering provides children with safe, stable and loving families for a period of time when they are unable to live with their own parents. Children in the Borough may need foster carers because of family crisis, because parents are finding it difficult to cope, or because children are suffering abuse or neglect.
“Foster placements can be short-term or long-term, and some may even lead to adoption; it depends on the needs of the child. If you have the skills and experience to give a local child a loving home, do get in touch.”
Foster carers and adopters come from all walks of life, and all kinds of children in the Borough need all kinds of carers. Across the UK, 9,070 new foster families are needed in the next 12 months alone to care for a range of children, with the greatest need being for foster carers of older children and sibling groups.
Some people rule themselves out before making an enquiry about fostering and adoption because they think they may not be eligible. However, they urge interested people, whatever their circumstances, to come to the information session or have an informal chat with a member of the Council’s Child Placement Team.
Those who go forward with the process of fostering or adopting get professional support and guidance, and comprehensive training, as well as access to local support groups.
For an information pack or to register for the event contact 01642 526218 or email child.placement@stockton.gov.uk