Plea issued to Tipperary people to become foster carers

Ireland is among world leaders in foster care, and across Ireland 3,866 foster carers currently open their homes to 5,067 children. In 2022, 228 new foster carers joined Tusla, and 556 children entered foster care for the first time.

The work of foster carers is of great importance and value not only to the state but to over 5,000 children who are cared for by foster carers. Approximately 90% of children in care are placed with foster carers, which compares extremely favourably with other countries.

Foster carers play a vital role in the care of our most vulnerable children. The placement of a child in foster care is the preferred option for children who cannot live with their family of origin, offering them a safe, secure, and stable home environment.

APPLICANTS
Somewhere in Ireland today, there is a child in need of a nurturing foster care placement. Tusla is looking for people from all walks of life to consider if fostering is something they could do. Tusla welcomes applicants from Ireland’s new communities and applicants from different cultural and religious backgrounds across Ireland. Tusla also invites applicants from the LGBTQ+ community to consider fostering.
Do you know that you can apply to foster if:
You do not own your own home. The most important thing is that you have a stable tenure and that your home can accommodate a child/ children.
FAMILY
You and your family enjoy the company of children and young people.
You or your partner work. Fostering is about meeting the needs of the child / children and therefore your personal circumstances are considered before placing a child with a foster carer. if you or/and your partner work it is still worth having a conversation with the fostering team as not every child requires a parent to be at home in order to meet their needs
Regardless of your marital status, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.

If you do or do not have children of your own.
You are able to meet with and work with all the people involved in the child’s young person’s life.
You are willing to participate in a fostering assessment / training which can take place over number of months .
Regardless of your age and once you are relatively fit and healthy to care for a child or young person.

CARE
If you have faced challenges or adversity in your own childhood or adulthood , once you have effectively dealt with them and have the ability to provide care for a child / young person .
There are many different types of foster care that you might not be aware of such as respite, day fostering, emergency and pre-adoptive fostering, short term, long term fostering and supported lodgings.

CONTACT
For further information please contact our National Fostering Line Freephone: 1800 226 771 and you will receive a call back from a member of your local fostering team who will respond to any queries you may have regarding your own personal circumstances and support you in making the right decision for you and your family .
It only takes one person to change a child’s life. Could that be you?