A SERIES of events designed to encourage more people in the Island to become foster carers will take place next month.
Fostering First, an organisation responsible for the provision of foster care across the Island, will hold sessions for potential foster carers to learn more about the service.
Fiona Lassen, head of fostering services at Fostering First, said: "Right now there are children in the Isle of Man who need the support of foster carers to help bring some stability into their lives.
"We are urging anyone who has an interest in becoming a carer to come along to the drop-in sessions.
"We can explain the different types of foster care we provide and give information on other issues such as training, support and eligibility requirements.
"Foster carers can make a real difference to a child's development and our staff can explain to would be carers how they can help vulnerable children within our community."
There are several types of fostering including short term – which may be for a few weeks to several months, emergency fostering – when a child comes into care suddenly, and long term – when a child is unable to return home.
There is also respite care - regular care for children for short periods of time as a support to their family or other foster carers.
Foster carers must be over 21 but there is no upper age limit. Carers can be married, divorced, single or co-habiting. It does not matter if a foster carer has their own children or whether they own their own home.
The organisation will provide on-going training packages and financial remuneration to cover the expenses of caring for a child.
Three drop in sessions will be held in Douglas and Ramsey in November:
• November 4 - The Children’s Centre, Woodbourne Road, Douglas - 2pm to 6pm.
• November 9 - Ramsey Town Hall, Parliament Square, Ramsey - 2pm to 7.30pm.
• November 11 - Pulrose Church Hall, Pulrose Road, Douglas - 2pm to 6pm.
Fostering First was created earlier this year following the signing of a new contract between the Department of Social Care and The Children’s Centre.
For more information about Fostering First click here or e-mail fosteringfirst@thechildrenscentre.org.im alternatively call 01624 631947.
