Caring for our children

Fostering in Ireland goes right back to the Brehon Laws. In those days, it was a 'posh' thing to have your child/children fostered with a religious organisation or with a politically connected family.

To-day, there are 5,000 children in state care - 4,600 of them in foster care. Foster care means volunteering your family to a health board as a foster family on a long or short-term basis. Foster families do not 'work' for the health boards but rather receive an allowance to cover the costs involved in caring for each child. Foster carers are rigorously assessed, receive training, and must have a medical, Garda clearance and references. The health board provide support to both the foster family and the child.

The Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA) was formed in 1981 by a group of social workers and foster carers to voice issues concerning foster care outside of the health board system. We work closely with the health boards in trying to effect changes to benefit the child in care. The IFCA has 29 branches nationally and provides information, support, training, seminars, a quarterly newsletter and access to other publications relating to foster care.

IFCA also organise an annual Seminar in May and an annual conference along with our AGM each November. This year the conference was attended by 320 foster carers and 84 children and young people. The Minister, Brian Lenihan, attended along with Emily Logan, Ombudsman for children, and many other workshop presenters.

The IFCA make regular submissions to the Dept. of Health and Children on various issues concerning foster care. The IFCA have also been part of various Government committees drawing up standards and regulations for foster care. The IFCA is not part of the health board system, although we do work alongside the health boards and our service is absolutely confidential.

There are never enough foster carers to meet the needs of the children in care. If readers are interested in knowing more about foster care, they can contact the association at (01) 2961083 for an information pack. For anyone who is interested in finding out about fostering in their own area, contact the fostering department in their local health board.
Pat Whelan,
Acting Manager
Irish Foster Care Association