NORTHERN IRELAND: Counselling given to children of carers
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Since January 2003, The Fostering Network has supported children of foster carers via four mentors, who are themselves all the daughters of carers.
The grant will fund a co-ordinator to supervise the mentors and oversee the scheme's expansion.
Alison Adamson, scheme co-ordinator, said that sons and daughters of carers play an important role in fostering, in providing "a listening ear" for the fostered children.
"This group of young people has been neglected within fostering and research shows that they often feel overburdened and unsupported, and are unable to share their concerns with their parents," she added.
There are around 1,300 full-time foster families caring for more than 1,500 young people in Northern Ireland.
www.fosteringni.org.
