So do we think that there are more foster parents needed after the pandemic? Depending on where you take your source of information from, the percentages change, but we all know that once lockdown releases further and schools fully reopen there will sadly be a massive increase in the number of young people in crisis and being referred to social services which in turn means a growth in the number of foster parents needed to accommodate this rise. Due to the pressures on families during the lockdown, a rise in abuse and neglect has soared. Where school is often a safe place for those affected (where they feel they can speak freely and ask for help) they have not had this access to this resource.
It is estimated that the number of children being referred has risen by as much as 50% during the pandemic.
The problem has been exacerbated by a shortage of foster parents, as many struggle to take on new duties during the lockdown.
These figures are sad but true and as a therapeutic fostering agency we specialise in caring for those young people who have suffered some of the worst trauma. Lockdown has been traumatic for many people for many reasons and we need to be there for those who need us. But we can't do this without the dedication of our amazing foster parents! So to answer the question 'are more foster parents needed?' the answer is a resounding yes!
At Mosaic, we are building our team of foster carers to meet this need, so we have been looking at new ways to reach out to potential applicants and with many people at home more than usual we have found that Facebook has been a great platform to use. We are on the lookout for more amazing foster parents to join our team of fabulous foster households and help change children's lives for the better. So why not give us a follow and see all of the great things you could achieve as a foster parent!
You can also make an enquiry here.
