Write a comment
Justin McNulty, MLA has once again highlighted the pressing need being felt by the HSC Adoption & Foster Care Service and recognised that when there is a family break up for whatever reason, foster carers step forward and literally change the world for children who’ve been sadly caught in the middle.
The Newry & Armagh MLA commented, ‘this week in the Assembly, I spoke in the on the crisis in foster caring. Whilst there have always been challenges in finding enough foster parents to care for children, the recent pressures which have been brought to bear on our Health & Social Care sector by the pandemic have really exacerbated that need. The sad reality is that the presence of COVID has added pressures in many homes resulting in familial breakup, often leaving children in care.
‘There are currently over 3,000 children and young people across the North who are reliant on foster care and each individual child’s circumstances are very different. This is reflected in the fact that there are a whole number of fostering streams available to potential foster parents, for both short and long term fostering opportunities.
‘I want to recognise the incredible kindness and compassion of foster parents everywhere – it only takes one caring adult to give a child a chance at leading a happy, successful and independent life. Very often, our airwaves and television screens are dominated by gloomy reports and bracing scenes, but it is important to remember that there is so much goodness in our people and in our communities.
‘As a new father, I want to place on record by heartfelt thanks to foster parents all across the North who work in such a quiet and dignified manner behind the scenes, often without praise or recognition. These people have given of themselves to ensure that every child gets the start in life that he or she needs and deserves.’
