considering fostering

[alliwannado]

Hi, I was just wondering if theres anyone out there fostering at the moment and can give us some advice/information.
I have heard that the LA fostering services are awful and that private foster services are better, is that true and why?
I have a son nearly 9 and daughter nearly 5... both at school. My husband and I have discussed fostering for years now and now that our children are at school think that now may be the best time to take that step. I would want to care for children from birth to 3 maybe so theres less chance of problems with my own children too....
How have your children coped with you fostering?
thanks

We've just stopped fostering as we're in the process of adopting a family.

In terms of private vs LA - we fostered for our LA and found them very good, although it is a very small LA. I have heard mixed reports from both - private agencies do tend to pay more but then they also tend to have the more difficult kids.

As for the effect on birth kids - it was never an issue for us. We always said we were not sure we would foster if we'd had our own kids as there is just too high a risk of them being removed if a foster child made malicious allegations. Saying that if you were going for under 3s that is less of an issue. There would also be potential conflicts of interest with birth and foster kids, the bigger then age gap, the less of an issue this is, and realsistically it ouwld probably be a year before your forst child is placed.

Just one thing - lots of peple want to foster littlies, so there is less demand than for those who are wiling to foster older kids.

Hope you can make the right decision for you.

Bop

Hi, we've been fostering for over 20 years for our LA so I've no idea of LA v private, sorry.

I can't say we haven't had our share of problems with our LA but by and large they've been ok.

Our age range is birth to three and and this has worked well for us, the only times we've struggled is when we've taken an older child as part of a sibling group.

We now only take newborns, simply because I enjoy this age the best. The downside of this is the bond is extremely strong and it is incredibly difficult when they leave, saying that I think of this as a price I pay for doing something I really love.

Our children grew up with fostering being part of their lives, ie it was something we all did, we were a foster family, but they have on occasion struggled with sharing toys etc. They also found it difficult when a little one moved on, they get "attached" too.

Best of luck to you.