HEALTH MATTERS 45 Foster care
Vast majority of children in care with FOSTER FAMILIES
Foster care in Ireland has gone through many changes over the last 20 years. Deirdre McTeigue, Director of Services, Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA), outlines the organisation’s current role and the improvements it is seeking in foster care today.
U
nder the Child Care Act 1991, the HSE is responsible for the care of children
in State care in Ireland. Generally speaking, the Child Protection social work teams are responsible for taking children into care following a thorough assessment of the child’s and family’s needs. The fostering teams, through their link workers, are responsible for the recruitment, assessment, training and follow-up support to the foster family. The child and family social worker continues to work with the child and family throughout the placement.
Currently there are over 5,500 children in the care of the HSE in Ireland; 92 per cent of these children being cared for by 3,100 foster families. Twenty years ago, this situation was reversed with the majority of children in care placed in residential children’s centres. There are a number of private foster care agencies operating in Ireland, but the families are approved at the HSE panels and the children are all in the care of the HSE. There are many kinds of foster care, but all foster care is designed to meet the assessed needs of the child coming into
“there are many kinds of foster care but all foster care is designed to meet the assessed needs of the child coming into care. this is why it is so crucial for each child to have a care plan”
care. This is why it is so crucial for each child to have a Care Plan in order to identify the best possible family placement for him or her.
+ minister for Children and youth Affairs Barry Andrews Td with Aidan waterstone, national Specialist Alternative Care, HSE, Alice Parkinson, IFCA Chairperson, and Deirdre McTeigue, IFCA Director of Services, at the IFCA Seminar in november 2009.
The Irish Foster Care Association is 76 per cent funded by the HSE. We work very closely with the Children and Families Social Services in the HSE. Our training packages are part of the core training for prospective foster parents around the country and we also train foster carers and social workers in our packages. We get many referrals from social workers and foster parents to our independent mediation and support services. We also provide additional insurance cover for legal expenses incurred in the event of an allegation being made against foster parents and their family.
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