SCC aim to bust the myths on who can foster

Author: Jon Cook
Published: 13th September, 2014 @ 08:09
Updated: 13th September, 2014

‘You need to be a certain age’, ‘be in a relationship’, or ‘own your own home’–are just some of the myths that prevent people from considering fostering according to findings by Staffordshire County Council.

As part of its latest campaign to highlight the urgent need for foster families, the Council has set out to dispel commonly held misconceptions about who can foster in a bid to get more people to come forward.

Staffordshire needs 150 foster families over the next three years and has a particular need for carers for sibling groups and teenagers but wants to hear from anyone interested.

We need more foster families to come forward and there’s no such thing as a typical foster carer explained Cllr Mike Lawrence, Cabinet Member for Children at Staffordshire County Council.

Mike said:

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“Many people rule themselves out of fostering because they think they won’t be considered as they are too young or too old, they don’t own their own home, are not married or are in a same sex relationship. But this is not the case and our campaign is reminding people to think again as these reasons won’t rule them out.

“With more children in need of foster carers we can’t afford to let these myths stop potential families from coming forward.

“Fostering is not always easy, but it offers the opportunity to make a real difference to a child’s life and can be a hugely rewarding experience. People who want to foster simply need to care about children, have good communication skills, have a spare room and be ready for a challenge.”

Anyone who is interested in becoming a foster carer can find out more at an information evening or roadshow in their local area. Dates and times along with further details on fostering with Staffordshire County Council are available at www.staffordshire.gov.uk/youcanfoster, or text ‘FOSTER’ to 60003 for a chat with a social worker.

As part of the campaign, the following roadshows and information evenings are taking place:

Information events: