No probs, DtG, but here is some more info on the shortage of carers:
(".. perhaps there are not enough "straight" foster homes. ..If you could convince me that was true then I may agree.")
The Borough of Telford & Wrekin held two information days in the town centre to raise awareness of the desperate shortage of foster carers both locally and nationally as part of the celebrations to mark Foster Care Fortnight 2005 (9th May to 22nd May). There is a national shortage of almost 10,000 foster carers, which means that the lives of looked after children are unnecessarily disrupted by moving from home to home. A wider pool of carers would increase the chance of finding the right foster family for the 50,000 children who need fostering on any one day. (from the Telford council website)
Foster Care Fortnight is taking place this year from 8-21 May 2006. It is organised by the National charity, the Fostering Network. The aim is to highlight the shortage of foster carers in the UK. The charity estimates that almost 50,000 children live with foster families on any given day in the UK and that a further 10,000 foster carers are needed. (from the Bristol City Council website)
A chronic shortage of foster parents means that some children in care are being forced to move up to three times a year, research has shown. An extra 10,000 foster carers are needed to plug gaps in the service, campaigners say. The Fostering Network is calling on the Government to invest an extra £750m in the service to recruit, train and retain more carers. (from the Child Rights Information Network)
The Fostering Network in Scotland is launching Foster Care Fortnight today with news of a shortfall of almost 1,700 foster families across Scotland. ..The survey of 32 local authorities shows that almost one in three (30%) of children and young people in foster care in Scotland are moved more than three times in their first year in foster care. In England the figure is almost one in eight (13%). The survey also shows that one in every four children going into foster care in Scotland will be in a foster family which already cares for four or more children. Six per cent of children will be going into a foster family caring for six or more. This extraordinary situation occurs in Scotland because legislation is not in place to regulate the number of foster placements.
Bryan Ritchie, Director of the Fostering Network in Scotland said: 'These are our most needy children and whilst the foster care service is working miracles everyday we desperately need more people to come forward.'
..Emma Davies, FCA placement officer for the Cymru region, comments; "There is a national shortage of 10,000 foster carers across the UK, with around 750 of these being needed throughout Wales. ..
THE FOSTERING NETWORK IS CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT TO INVEST AN EXTRA £750M IN THE SERVICE TO RECRUIT, TRAIN AND RETAIN MORE CARERS.
DtG, I think this info demonstrates there is a huge shortage of foster carers in the UK. Looking after kids is a difficult task even with your own children, let alone anyone else's. Social workers dealing with placements are the meat in the sandwich between the needs of the children and the lack of government funding for carers. It's a hard burden to bear.