4 January 2008

The Rewards of Fostering

In any one day around 2,500 children and young people are living with foster carers in Northern Ireland.

Fostering is about caring for children who are unable to live at home. This could be for a number of reasons which prevent birth parents from looking after their children, for example, health or social issues, relationship problems or lack of support. Fostering provides security and stability for a child in such circumstances.

Lynn McClimmonds from Tandragee has been a foster carer for 10 years. A busy mother of three with two grandchildren and another on the way, Lynn loves family life.

She says: “I enjoyed bringing up our own children and realised that I had a lot more to give. I always wanted a big family and wanted to help children who were going through a rough patch in their lives.”

Lynn has cared for children on both a long-term and short-term basis and sometimes provides respite care, she adds: “I also foster children with a learning disability. All children are always welcome in my home, no matter what their background is.”

Over the years Lynn has fostered all ages of children from three days old to teenagers. Some of the children only need a placement for a few days while others may need to stay with her much longer. Lynn explains how the fostering process works.

“Whenever a child needs a foster home, the Family Placement Team contacts us to see if we have room. They will supply anything practical that we might need like a bed, cot or pram. The child’s Social Worker contacts us to tell us about the child before bringing him or her to our home to settle them in.”

Lynn’s family have adapted very well to being foster carers. “We have a 13 year old daughter who has a learning disability. She loves having new foster children come to stay and we love making new friends with the kids.

“We have a good support team in Family Placement and only have to phone them if we have any problems or queries. Our Link Worker is more like a family friend.”

On the challenges of fostering Lynns adds: “Sometimes children don’t want to come into care, they can have low self esteem and need reassurance. It is our role to make them feel at ease.

“However there are many rewards like watching a child with low self esteem change into a happy, confident young person and when they tell you that they love you, that is priceless. Just to watch them grow in strength is a huge reward.”

Lynn concludes: “Over the years I have made some very special friends through fostering. All the children who have lived with us have a very special place in my heart. Fostering is very rewarding. I have learned a lot from all of my foster children, how to be tolerant, understanding and the greatest skill I have learned is to listen. Anyone can make a difference and you can make some great friends along the way.”

Foster carers are ordinary people of all ages from all types of family situations who can offer a child or sibling group a loving family. People who can help a child recover from the reasons why they came in to care. If you think you might have what it takes, please pick up the phone today.

To find out more about fostering contact your local Family Placement Team:

Armagh and Dungannon Tel: 028 8775 2033

Craigavon and Banbridge Tel: 028 3833 7181

Newry and Mourne Tel: 028 3083 2692/3