CARING adults living in regional South Australia are helping ensure the state’s most vulnerable children are safe and secure by welcoming them into their homes and families as foster carers.
ac.care works with 81 carer households across the Limestone Coast, supporting more than 100 children.
This diverse network of carers is dedicated to supporting young people and children in their care, providing love, stability and safety.
“We are inspired every day by the contribution our foster carers make, opening their hearts and homes to vulnerable young people and providing an important safety net within the community,” ac.care foster care senior manager Dani Atkinson said.
“When a child is unable to live with their biological families, our foster carers have been integral in building strong relationships and giving children opportunities to learn, grow and develop while being supported in a stable environment.”
ac.care is highlighting the quiet contributions of foster care network across eastern regional South Australia as part of South Australian Foster and Kinship Carers Week (September 11-17).
“Our carers are diverse, including single adults, couples and families with children, from young professionals to full-time parents and retirees – people of any background really with one thing in common – a commitment and ability to care for a child,” Dani said.
“However, their contributions are also diverse, from caring for children from birth to adulthood in long-term care through to providing a safe space for babies and other children in need of emergency care or short-term placements while a longer-term future is determined for the child.”
She said some carers chose to commit to providing respite so carers could have some time away from their fostering responsibilities and the children could also extend their network of supporting, caring adults to connect with by developing relationships in addition to the bond with their primary carers.
“However, we always need more carers to help share the care so many children in the regions need and we know doing so can really transform the lives and future of young people in need of support,” Dani said.
Visit accare.org.au, email care@accare.org.au or call 1300 ACCARE to find out more.
