Appeal for foster carers in Cavan and Monaghan

Foster carers are being urgently sought to help children in need in counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, made the appeal today (Friday) as it launched National Fostering Week 2020, a public awareness campaign running from October 12-18. It is aimed at recruiting new foster carers across Ireland.

With a theme of ‘Raising Amazing’, the campaign celebrates how Tusla foster carers have positively transformed the lives of vulnerable children and young people, and appeals to others to join with Tusla in helping to provide a child with a safe and loving home environment.

In Ireland, there are 5,957 children in care. Of these, 5,450 children are cared for by 4,124 foster families. There were 159 children in foster care and 123 foster carers in counties Cavan and Monaghan at the end of June 2020.

Covid-19 has impacted on Tusla fostering services by significantly slowing down the assessment, training and communication processes’ involved in the recruitment of new foster carers.

Speaking at the launch of Tusla National Fostering Week 2020 Lisa Anderson, Tusla area manager for Cavan and Monaghan, said: “Tusla foster carers are invisible heroes in towns and villages across Ireland. They make daily sacrifices to enable the children in their care to grow, flourish, and reach the best of their potential.

“Our foster carers have provided exceptional care to children, especially when schools were closed this year during the Covid-19 pandemic. We sincerely appreciate the work they do, and the legacy they are creating for a new generation of young people in this country.

"To continue this work, we need additional foster carers. We experience particular challenges in Dublin/urban areas. However we are looking for foster carers right across Ireland.”

Commenting on Tusla National Fostering Week 2020, Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Roderic O'Gorman, said: “Covid-19 has had a significant impact on children and young people, and the role played by foster carers in Ireland has never been more important. Fostering offers children and young people a safe, supportive family environment in which they can grow and reach their full potential. We would like to extend our appreciation to the 4,124 foster families who currently open their homes to children, and encourage any other people who would like to make a difference in a child’s life to get in touch with Tusla.”

Members of the public in Cavan who would like to find out more about fostering can call freephone 1800-226-771 or email tusla.fostering@tusla.ie

Tusla National Fostering Week 2020 is supported by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the Irish Foster Care Association(IFCA) and EPIC, a national organisation that works with children in care.