THE remarkable contribution of foster carers providing safe homes to vulnerable children has been celebrated by ac.care with Easter barbecues.
The country specialist agency hosted a Limestone Coast Easter barbecue for foster care families, with the Mount Gambier Rapid Relief Team supporting the event by providing catering.
A similar event was held in Murray Bridge, supported by the Mobilong Rotary Club, while the Riverland barbecue unfortunately had to be cancelled due to weather.
“Foster carers contribute every day by providing hope and safety for vulnerable young people unable to live with their biological families, opening their hearts and homes to provide a stable environment to grow, learn and feel loved and supported,” ac.care foster care manager Dani Atkinson said.
“We were unable to hold a 2021 Christmas party with our carer community due to the risk posed by COVID-19 and welcomed this overdue opportunity to celebrate with the wonderful support of the Rapid Relief Team and Mobilong Rotary Club volunteer caterers joining us to thank foster carers for everything they do.”
The events brought together foster carers and their families, including children in their care, together with ac.care staff, for a day focused on building connections and social support in the carer community.
Meanwhile, ac.care continues to call for more people to join its network of foster carers across the Limestone Coast, Riverland, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula.
“Sadly, the number of foster carers supported through our network across eastern country South Australia to care for local children unable to live with their birth families is not enough to meet the demand,” Ms Atkinson said.
“We simply need more people to become foster carers with our support so that when children face a situation where they need a safe home and positive relationships there is somewhere available for them, even if it is for a short time until a longer term option is available.”
The local agency is seeking caring adults to join its network of carers to provide short-term, emergency or long-term care for children, or occasional respite care, such as at weekends, to support other foster carers.
“We have staff based locally to support people with training to become foster carers and are available to provide 24/7 support as part of a care team for young people,” Ms Atkinson said.
Anyone interested in finding out more about foster care is urged to visit accare.org.au, email care@accare.org.au or call 1300 ACCARE (1300 222 273).
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