Northern Tasmania’s newest foster care recruits are halfway through their training program.
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Launceston-and North-West-based foster care service Glenhaven has begun its latest recruitment drive in a bid to increase numbers.
Foster care numbers are down, particularly in the North, with services crying out for volunteers to assist with respite and long-term foster care solutions.
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Glenhaven’s Northern out-of-home team leader Rose Norgrove said about eight families had elected to participate in this round of training.
“That’s a pretty good number, we always run the training with a minimum of six families,” she said.
The training program has been running for the past two weekends and participants will conclude their training on June 3.
The program covers topics such as:
- foster care in context
- bonding and attachment
- grief and loss
- abuse and trauma
- identity
- responding to challenging behaviour
- cultural connection
- and life story
Mrs Norgrove said once the program ended, accreditation would take place and then placements would be finalised.
“Everyone is at different stages of their accreditation,” she said.
However, once accreditation has been approved it is possible for new foster carers to welcome their new additions within three months.
“The only thing that really holds us up is background checks, depending on how long it takes for them to get back,” she said.
All new foster carers start off with respite care and can ease into full time care if they would like.
“We always start off with respite, to ease them into it,” Mrs Norgrove said.