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We have decided to make ours a truley 'rainbow' family, so foster care is our next step.
Are there any foster carers on here, and could you reply or PM me so I can PM you some questions :)
We haven't started our journey yet, but think we will before the year is out!
I can't answer your questions but just wanted to say that I think it's FANTASTIC that you're looking into this. I used to work for child protection and it just made me so sad how many kids were desperately in need of a loving stable home, whether it be for a little or a long while... and how few good foster homes were out there. From what I've read on here, you and Shell are wonderful parents and I think a foster kid would be really lucky to land on your doorstep. All the best for this journey.
Thanks Kat :)
Actually, you may be able to help. I know your answer will probably be to contact the QLD team and have a chat (I have contacted, am waiting for someone to get back to us :)) but I'll ask anyway.
I think our biggest concern is having big changes often, because of course having a new child come into your home is huge, and then having to say goodbye and then welcome another child. We're not sure that short-term care is somethig we are ready for with Jazz being not-quite 2. Is long-term care available, or do they prefer you to start out with short-term and then later on decide to do long-term? I know short term can be up to 2 years but can be quite short also. I'm sure this is a common concern though? We would love to open our home to another child soon - late this year or early next year depending on the approval and training etc. Will they tell us to wait until we feel Jazz is able to understand short-term care arrangements, or will they be ok with us wanting to have a long-term care arrangement?
Anyone else able to help?
Have you checked out their qld website yet?
Becoming a foster or kinship carer, Child Safety Services
Some States have requirements on the age of any kids that you may have, and age differences between kids in your care and kids coming into your care.
When considering long v short term foster care- How do you think Jas will feel if a sibling she has grown up with for 2 years has to return to their home or to another home?
I definately don't want to put you off, but long term also has its difficulties.
Yep have scoured their website :)
As far as I'm aware, they prefer to place a child not older than your oldest, but I'm not exactly 100% sure that is correct, thats just what I've heard.
And yes, thats why we are considering long term over short term, I don't think Jazz is old enough to understand why children are coming and going.
Kids placed long term still leave eventually. I grew up with foster kids, and loved it. BUT it is hard. One of my foster brothers was just 6 months younger than me and lived with us from when we were 2 ish to when we were 7 years. And then he was moved on. For me, as a 7 year old kid he was my brother, i couldn't remember before he was there and then he was going somewhere else and we couldn;t see him again. that was hard to understand.
Thanks Kate.
We got contact back and we'll be arranging an interview and
We're really excited, as some may remember, we've both been involved in one way or another with foster care, this has always been a matter of when rather than if. :D
when i spoke with them here recently they said the same thing about not putting an older child in the family.. but it may be different cos jazzy isnt yet 2..
Sorry it took aaaages to get back in here. You know how it is... working, sleeping, playing, working, cleaning.... BB time!!
I'm afraid my experience with child protection didn't provide much knowledge about foster care arrangements as a different dept. handled that stuff. I just picked the kids up from care, took them to visit their parents and then took back to care etc. Had some great chats with some amazing carers but hardly an expert I'm afraid.
As far as long vs. short-term care... I think there are pros and cons on both sides. As you said, short term may mean frequent disruptions / changes for Jazz, but it will also teach her to be adaptive and accommodating. To know that people can come and go and that her parents are still there, the relationship is consistent... Dunno, I guess I'm saying that I believe kids can adjust pretty quickly to new faces, changes to routine etc as long as the most important things are stable. On the flip side, while I agree that long-term care may provide more consistency, I guess like Kate said, chances are the child will still leave eventually. Won't it be harder in some ways if Jazz has had time to develop a stronger bond with the child and come to expect them to be there as part of her normal life? When they leave it will be a bigger 'loss' for her.
I'm not sure really. Just putting my thoughts out there.
All the best finding out all you need to know and on finding the right path for you, Shell and Jazz.
DH and I are foster carers with docs and from what we've experienced they prefer placing a child younger than your oldest. We have Tyson with us til he turns 18 (final court orders) and just found out that Kiara will be with us til she turns 18, final court orders. In the process of adopting Tyson who's been with us since he was 3 weeks old. We did respite care and found it challenging as both times the boys were older than Tyson and younger than Ard, causing a bit of conflict.. I'm so glad we have a girl to even things out. We are taking time out from respite care for a couple of years til kids get older, than may go back too it as its alot for Arden and Tyson to handle. However the good thing about respite care is you know when its going to finish, usually, gets complicated sometimes..I've found the carers support groups handy!