HOLLYWOOD film Instant Family has many people talking about foster care and the emotional issues involved in the care of children.
But many Limestone Coast viewers may not realise away from the screen drama there is a desperate need for more foster carers in our region to help ensure all children have a safe home and opportunities to thrive.
ac.care regional foster care service manager Dani Atkinson hopes the film encourages viewers to consider becoming foster carers.
“After seeing this film about a couple in America becoming foster carers, our hope is people within the community become aware of the reality there are many at-risk local children in need of a safe and stable home,” she said.
“Although a family comedy, the film pulls at the heart strings and here in the Limestone Coast we see real-life heartbreaking situations all the time, but it is rewarding to be able to intervene and give children from traumatic backgrounds a chance at finding stability in a safe home.”
The key Limestone Coast foster care agency is currently responsible for more than 100 children placed with foster families, but there is always a need for a bigger pool of carers to meet the growing need.
“In the Limestone Coast, ac.care has around 70 foster care families who provide varying types of care for children from up to a week through to long term care into adulthood, depending on the situation, as well as respite care for children in short and long term care placements,” Ms Atkinson said.
“Children can come into care from birth through to 17 years of age and the benefits of finding a stable and safe home and support can be enormous for these at-risk children.”
She said caring was also rewarding for those who made the commitment to fostering children and extensive support was provided throughout the foster care journey by ac.care’s team based in Mount Gambier.
“More children are joining those already in care in the Limestone Coast every month – some of the children will be reunified to their families and some will need a long-term placement – a forever home,” Ms Atkinson said.
ac.care foster care assessor Cindy Climas said people aged 25-70 could become foster carers.
“It does not have to be a traditional family or couple, but can be single men or women and same sex couples and we would love to hear from anyone who feels they could help,” she said.
Fellow assessor Lisa Fry said people could commit to various levels of care and while some relationships developed long-term from childhood through to adulthood, short-term emergency care was also vital.
“Some people do not consider it possible for them to be foster carers as they think it is only for long-term care, but there are various options available and it all helps,” she said.
The need for foster carers is a statewide issue, with Child Protection Department chief executive Cathy Taylor setting a target to recruit an extra 50 foster carers this year to provide homes for at-risk children.
Statewide, around 500 children and teenagers seeking foster families are living in emergency housing or homes staffed by rotational support workers.
Instant Family stars Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne and is based on a true story of an American couple caring for three siblings as “rookie” foster parents.
A charity screening will be held at the Oatmill Cinema on February 13 at 6.15pm to raise awareness of the valuable role of foster carers in the Limestone Coast, share information for those interested in foster caring and raise funds for ac.care.
Tickets are only available via presale from Chapmans Newsagency and the Mount Gambier Hospital Kiosk, as well as ac.care’s White Avenue office and the ac.care Family Relationship Centre at the corner of Helen Street and Bay Road.
The event will be followed by a question and answer session with ac.care staff and a local foster carer.
An ac.care information evening will also be held at the Mount Gambier Library this Thursday, February 7, from 6pm to 7pm.
For information about foster caring email care@accare.org.au, visit the office at 70-72 White Avenue or contact 8724 5400.
