By ALESHA CAPONE
MORE than 300 children from across the West have needed foster care across the past two years – but since 2008 only six new foster families have signed up.
Social worker Bruce Cameron, from the Salvation Army Westcare Adolescent Home Based Care (AHBC) Program, has issued an urgent call for residents to consider becoming foster parents.
Figures show more than 220 youngsters aged between 12 and18 years old were referred to Westcare between 1 January 2010 and 30 June this year, not including re-referrals.
However just over a third of these youngsters received a foster placement with a family or carer.
In addition – although Westcare is only funded to provide care for adolescents – they can be approached to place children aged zero to 12.
This happens when other programs, funded to assist younger children, are unable to find them foster placements within the north west metropolitan region.
Since 2010 the Westcare program has been asked to find foster families for 94 babies, toddlers and primary-school age children in this situation.
“Since December 2008 Westcare’s AHBC program has successfully recruited and accredited six carer families – three for respite care and three for long term care,” Mr Cameron said.
“Six new caregiver families in four years is nowhere near enough to keep up with the demand for placements for young people.
“If there are no foster families available, young people will end up in a residential care placement. Westcare has a substantial residential care program.
“From time to time children and young people are placed in caravan parks and motels – generally only overnight or for very short periods of time – when there are emergency foster placements available,” he said.
“Certainly a young person spending a couple of nights in a motel would be devastated to be told that there were no families able to care for them.”
Anyone over 21 is eligible to become a foster carer. All prospective carers must complete 20 hours of training and undergo an assessment and accreditation process.
See www.westcarewecare.org.au or contact Gail, Bruce or Robyn at The Salvation Army on 9312 3544 for more information on becoming a foster carer.
