New research shows need for foster carers continues to grow.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), last week (21/1/2010), released results of a new research report Child Protection Australia, 2008-2009. It shows the need for out of home care services for children has grown by 44% in the past five years and by 9.3% in the past 12 months.
“It puts into numbers what we know from experience — the need for Foster Carers continues to grow as the numbers of children coming into care increases,” said CareSouth’s Regional Manager, Brighter Futures, Toni Bolte.
“CareSouth remains committed to recruiting and training Foster Carers to provide a stable and nurturing placement environment,” said Ms Bolte. “We value our carers because we know the important role they play in the future for these children. We emphasise training and ongoing support so the carers are equipped and enabled to provide the highest quality of care.”
CareSouth is the Lead Agency in the Illawarra for one of the Government’s early intervention program, Brighter Futures – part of the new Keep Them Safe initiative.
“What we hope to see over the next three to five years is a tipping of the scales with a plateau and eventual decrease in the need for Out of Home Care services. It would be our hope that a concerted effort in the areas of early intervention such as Brighter Futures, Family Support Services and other preventative services such as Aunties & Uncles will reduce family crises and chronic child protection situations that often lead to children coming into care.”
Toni Bolte is available for further comment on CareSouth’s services including OOHC, Brighter Futures and Aunties & Uncles. Please phone 4225 7588.
AIHW Full report is available http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/cws/35/10859-sum.html
A media release from the Minister of Community Services, Linda Burney http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/docswr/_assets/main/lib100039/increase_oohc.pdf
