Fostering

Almost all our features are relevant to permanent fostering as well as adoption. Why not explore the topics in the left-hand menu?

A different route to a similar place
All children in Be My Parent need the same thing: a loving and secure family who can commit to caring for them on a permanent basis, up until or into adulthood...

A success story
Ben, 23, was permanently fostered from a young age, and believes that the experience helped him to become the young man he is today. He explains to Sophie Offord how…

How far we’ve come
Kim and Karl’s sons were almost adults when the couple first thought about permanent fostering – and four years ago, they were matched with Zoe. Now their sons are grown up and Zoe is a teenager, they are about to foster two boys, aged 10 and 6!

The biggest job satisfaction going
Foster carers are now looking after the vast majority of children in our care system, and they play a key role in these children’s lives and futures. Yet, outside of the social care world, there is still a lack of understanding about what foster care is, and what foster carers do.

Supporting you to support the child
The relationship that a permanent foster family has with their agency is incredibly important, and involves regular contact between the child's and family's social workers. The level of such support depends on the agency you join, and the needs of the child that joins you.

I love my children for who they are
As a birth and adoptive mother who has been fostering for 20 years, Avril sees her role as championing the children in her care.

Ten years on
In 1996, Avril Jackson-Miller and her husband, Simon, appeared on the front cover of Be My Parent with their long-term foster son, Mark, who was 14 at the time and had a short life expectancy. A decade later, Mark is very much still around and the Jackson-Millers are now a family of five.

The good news, the bad news...
From her wide-ranging experience as birth parent, foster carer, social worker and writer, Kate explores why learning can be so hard for some children.

Sharing pride in who you are
As a black parent, Debbie wants to share her sense of confidence and pride with her birth daughter and with her future foster daughter.

Support, guidance and wisdom
Ken and Polly talk to Leonie Sturge-Moore about adding a child to their existing family.

There’s no need to feel guilty
Debbie wanted to permanently foster but didn't think she would be considered as she was single, living in a council house and having to work...

Last updated: 10 January 08

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