Foster families provide a vital community service
Across Chesterfield there are hundreds of council and private agency registered foster carers, and recently I have been talking to one of them.
Karen has been fostering and offering often vulnerable youngsters a stable home environment for more than 15 years. Unfortunately it isn't always an easy road to travel, and it can make conventional family ups and downs seem minor by comparison. What carers like Karen want is to be fully informed about the backgrounds and medical needs of fostered children.
Government advice states that every opportunity to inform foster families must be taken, and that carers need to know any relevant information that might be vital to their being able to take care of the children properly.
Chief Executive of The Fostering Network. Robert Tapsfield, told me: "It is essential that foster carers are given all the information they need about a child coming to live with them, to ensure they can care for that child and all others in the household safely."
It is vitally important that we do all we can to support those who care for these children. That is why I am so pleased with the announcement yesterday (Wednesday) that young people will now be allowed to remain with families until they are 21 if they choose to under a new legal duty for councils.
Derbyshire campaigners have long argued for a change in the law, which forces many young people to live on their own at 18. The government has set aside £40 million over the next three years to put support arrangements in place.
As Robert Tapsfield explained: "The average age for leaving home is 24, yet young people in care - arguably among the most vulnerable in society - usually have to live by themselves by the age of 18. We know that staying with foster carers for longer makes a real difference to young people, helping them to become net contributors to society."
This is a fantastic move which will strengthen the futures of young people and help the amazing people who provide love and support for them.
This article also appeared in the Derbyshire Times on Thursday 5 December 2013.