Fostering a child

# 37

Posted: 18/08/2012 17:26

Hi, need some advice quick!!

I have become aware of a 16yr old in the UK who has been kicked out of home. I know this child and would like to help. Can I take this child into my home here in Ireland until she completes her schooling ? I have 3 bed house and two children myself. All girls.I work part-time and my partner works full time. Would the child get some financial assistance for herself for school books, clothing etc ?? I could manage feeding her and providing a nice comfortable home but financially it would be a strain if I had to school her etc. 

What are our options??

Please advise of u can, thanks.

# 36

Posted: 25/01/2012 14:20

Hi All Again,

Still waiting for a child to be placed with me.  Have been asked to take a number but didnt work out for different reasons.  Room is still ready and I change the bed every week in the hope of starting.

Keep your fingers crossed for me.  Keep you all informed.

# 35

Posted: 01/12/2011 20:44

Dasan congratualtions, I get most of my foster carer training now online

# 34

Posted: 30/09/2011 11:06

Hi All,

Just to let you all know I have been approved to foster. Got the go ahead from the panel just last nite in Dublin.  I'm thrilled.  Its taken a year but its been worth it.

# 33

Posted: 19/04/2011 10:52

Hi All,

Half way through our home visits with our appointed social worker that is helping us prepare for fostering. Its eye opening but great. We are up to two visits a week with him and really enjoying it. Every week we get "homework" and we set aside two evenings to do this. We think we are doing well and dont find it at all stressful. Its very relaxed when you are in your own surroundings and with a social worker that is as down to earth as we are. 

I'll keep you up to date. 

# 32

Posted: 18/10/2010 11:39

Hi All,

Just been accepted to go ahead and train as a foster carer. Im over the moon, cant wait. 

Let you know how it goes.

Regards.

# 31

Posted: 13/10/2010 00:04

We fostered a girl in UK from a care home for 6 years, she was 12 at the time. Older than my 3 children. She is now 36 married with 3 children and remains my daughter to this day. There was never a question of money although at times it was scarce but love was in abundance, with a little dicipline and guidance she knew she was safe and loved.  Today she is a wonderful loving mother to her own children. She didn't need money she needed love.

# 30

Posted: 30/09/2010 12:27

Hi All,

Myself and partner have decided to start fostering and have a social worker calling in two weeks to start the ball rolling.  Im really looking forward to it, my kids are 12 and 10.

Anybody any suggestions?

# 29

Posted: 14/07/2010 10:41

hi,does anyone have any experience in having a police record and still being allowed to foster? no jail term and no violence or abuse.

# 28

Posted: 12/11/2008 12:57

Hi J, congrats on the happy arrival. I too am in a same sex relationship and we have discussed having children at some point however I know that there is still huge stigma attached to being gay, and the idea that people will not accept us as a family unit puts us both off. What was your experience like? Friends, family? Were they supportive? Lou

# 27

Posted: 12/11/2008 11:13

Just wanted to let people know about http://www.timewisefostering.ie which is dedicated to finding short term fostering of adolescent children... it is run by the Daughters of Charity.

# 26

Posted: 05/08/2008 18:37

I had a visit today from someone from fostering first Ireland and they were so professional and helpful and very honest about their expectations of foster carers. I can recommend them to anyone thinking of becoming a foster carer.

# 25

Posted: 08/05/2008 00:05

Check out Fostering First Ireland www.ffi.ie I made an enquiry to them recently, they seem very professional and answered all my questions. I am expecting a social worker to visit me next week.

# 24

Posted: 20/02/2008 13:10

Hi i'm recieving loan parents and foster allowence, should i declare it to the social welfare, could i loose my rent allowence and loan parents if they find out

# 23

Posted: 23/11/2007 22:18

hi I am in a same sex relationship. myself and my partner are very interested in fostering a child. i was adopted myself, and have always felt i would like to foster or adopt. my partner and i were blessed in aug when my partner gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, we went to a fertility clinic in nov lst year. we are truly so blessed and are so happy to be parents. we feel we are in a position to give our love time and our home to a child. and really hope that being a same sex couple doesnt prevent this.

# 22

Posted: 12/11/2007 16:25

I have just made my initial enquiry about foster care and will be attending an information evening on thursday. Is there any advice anyone can give me regarding the process. I have been thinking about it for years and now that i have decided i am keen to get started

# 21

Posted: 09/10/2007 10:04

It also involves having the financial stability to be able to care for a child.

# 20

Posted: 08/10/2007 23:17

When applying to become a foster carer, your finanical situation is not important. WHAT is important is that you are of good character and have a room in your home for a child or young person and be able to give love and security unconditionallly. A large amount of foster carers in Ireland today are on or have been on social welfare.
People who recieve s/welfare are as good as anyone else.

# 19

Posted: 08/10/2007 10:37

Anon 21:46 - the fact remains that a financi analysis will be done and those of low pay sclaes including those on social welfare will be unlikely to fare well on that analysis

# 18

Posted: 07/10/2007 00:34

I am a 56 yr old widow living in England although Irish born. I have been fostering in England for 18 months through a fostering agency. I would now like to return to Ireland to live and wonder what my chances are of becoming a foster carer in Ireland. Would I have to re-train?

# 17

Posted: 02/10/2007 21:46

Aine, you are so wrong on your ideas of what a good foster carer is, are you saying people on social welfare should not be foster carers?


foster carer/HSE West

# 16

Posted: 01/10/2007 20:09

I'm a 28 year old single parent with a 8year old daughter,work full time as a special needs assistant,and am interested in fostering...I live in rented accommodation and wonder would this prevent me from being able to foster?

# 15

Posted: 04/07/2007 01:38

James, In answer to your question, quite simply, no!
Fostering children is not done for the financial fulfillment of the foster parent but for the child.
If you cannot provide for yourself financially you would not be considered to be a good foster parent for a child.

# 14

Posted: 02/07/2007 17:14

IF YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED CAN YOU CLAIM FOR A FOSTER CHILD/ UNEMPLOYMENT ASST OR UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT AS YOU WOULD FOR YOUR OWN CHILD /www.irishhealth.com/validate.html?link=MTExMzM4&dovalidate=1

# 13

Posted: 02/11/2006 11:45

hello i dont know much about fostering a child but its long been a dream of mine. i was wondering can someone give me advice i have some concerns on my side and id like to discuss these with someone my email is gmac102@eircom.net for anyone who can advise me thanks very much

# 12

Posted: 09/08/2006 17:35

can anyone advise me i have done short term fostering a couple of years ago but had my own children then would like to do long term fostering do i have to do the course and assesment again or just ring health board and start fostering again .would love to hear some advice thanks lee

# 11

Posted: 07/08/2006 05:06

I was just wondering are you allowd to foster a child if you yourself were in care as a child

# 10

Posted: 28/07/2006 09:51

thanks agnes yes that goes without saying i have worked with children for last eleven years and would like to offer a child a loving home if needed

# 9

Posted: 27/07/2006 23:48

Kel, as far as I know they can so long as they can prove that they can provide a loving and caring home.
Most foster children need some tender loving care. You would have to be able to prove that you could provide the right environment to foster.

# 8

Posted: 26/07/2006 21:35

CAN A SINGLE PARENT OFTER TO FOSTER A CHILD IF THEY ARE ON LONE PARENT'S

# 7

Posted: 08/02/2006 13:53

I thought only the Health boards provided fostering but recently I got some information about fostering from a agency called fostering first ireland their booklet was very helpful and it came very quickly.

# 6

Posted: 08/11/2005 16:11

Lisa, you may be allowed to foster this child but you will of course have to go through all the training and assessments first.

# 5

Posted: 26/10/2005 18:32

My sister's partner has a neice/ nephew on the way. The first 3 children have been taken into care by his sister and she feels unable to cope with a new born too. I am thinking of fostering this new child but will i be allowed or do I have to go through all the training and assessments first.

# 4

Posted: 02/12/2004 18:13

yes gay couples can apply to be foster carers. But in order for them to have a child placed with them, the birth parent(s) would have to agree.

# 3

Posted: 16/08/2004 10:29

Single or widowed people can foster, for sure. I have met some at support group meetings. Don't know about gay couples.

# 2

Posted: 06/08/2004 08:50

As far as I know, individuals - single or widowed people can foster children. The majority of single foster carers are women. Don't know about gay couples tho'.

# 1

Posted: 05/08/2004 18:26

Does any one know what the position of the health boards is regarding gay couples or individuals fostering children? Is this at the discretion of the health board in question? Just wondering.