Foster Care is provided by very ordinary families and/or single adults who may or may not have children of their own. Their own children may still be in school, teenagers or young adults. The children who require placements with Foster Carers are ordinary children like your own, but the distinctive difference is that children in care have experienced significant harm which has warranted them being placed out of the care of their families. Most children/young people require a family-type environment to grow and develop as appropriate to their age and experience. Foster Carers provide such a service to the children/young people in their care within the normal confines and challenges of their own families. Foster Children go to school, play sports, achieve well academically even if they have not done so before they come into care.
Fresh Start Foster Carers are assessed, trained and supported after they have completed their training and approval by the local TUSLA, Child & Family Agency Foster Care Committee. We provide our Foster Carers with 24 hour round the clock support; careful planning of their placements; 20 days paid respite care each year; regular support meetings and on-going training to assist with their responsibilities as registered Foster Carers. We have specialist staff who provide the ‘24 Hour Support Service’, should issues occur for Foster Carers or children/young people at any time or to cater for any needs which may arise.
Being a Foster Carer with Fresh Start Fostering Services brings you into a team where you will be valued for your own contribution and encouraged to give from your own experience.