http://mayofostercare.ie/ News feed for the mayofostercare.ie website Mon, 21 May 2012 03:27:20 +0100 en-ie http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20110616_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20110616_001_Webmaster.html Thu, 16 Jun 2011 09:49:39 Eire Taken from the IFCA website: Urgent Need to Prioritise Foster Care IFCA Response to HIQA's Follow-up Inspection on the Implementation of National Recommendations on HSE Foster Care Services June 10, 2011 Today's publication by HIQA of the Follow-up Inspection on the Implementation of National Recommendations on HSE Foster Care Services clearly illustrates the need to prioritise the reform of foster care services. Over 90 percent of children in State care are placed with foster carers. As such, foster care represents the backbone of the Irish child care system. It is imperative that the failure to provide every child in care with a social worker and every foster family with a link worker must be immediately addressed. The continued failure on the part of the HSE to implement Children First on a uniform basis across all regions is a cause of great concern. Progress, particularly in respect of the recruitment of 200 additional social workers and the appointment of a National Director for Family Services, is welcome and should be recognised. Because of the failure to deliver the necessary statutory supports to children and foster families, the HSE is jeopardising foster care placements. Where a social worker or a link worker is not assigned to a child or a foster family, a huge burden is placed on the foster parents to support and care for the child. According to the HIQA report, only half of all foster carers have an assigned link worker. This is a wholly unacceptable practice. Recruitment of foster families is an on-going challenge. In the absence of the minimum levels of support deemed necessary to support a child's placement in care, potential foster parents will be unlikely to come forward and offer themselves as carers. Foster parents must be continuously trained and supported. Without such supports, the demands of caring for children, who, in some cases, have very complex needs, become too much and placements break down. As a consequence some children experience multiple placements, which in turn lead to poor outcomes for children. There is an urgent need to ensure that all non-relative foster carers who are currently caring for children are assessed and approved. Retrospective assessments should be carried out in a sensitive manner given that children may have been happily living with the foster family and may have been well cared for by the foster family for a number of years. The recommendation to establish a National Register of foster carers is supported by IFCA and we welcome the fact that the HSE is formulating proposals in this regard. Previous HIQA reports into foster care in Local Health Areas in Dublin and Cork have shown that even where the HSE has failed in the provision of statutory services, in the main, the quality of care being provided to children was of a high quality. It is vitally important to differentiate between the failure or incapacities of Statutory agencies to provide services and the huge commitment and care shown by foster families to children placed in their care. Liam Cullen, Head of Services, Irish Foster Care Association http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20110202_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20110202_001_Webmaster.html Wed, 02 Feb 2011 22:07:51 Eire It's been brought to our attention that young people in care can get about 10% extra points by making sure that they fill out the HEAR section of their CAO application. If they do not apply as part of the CAO they cannot do it later. They then get supporting documentation a letter showing they have a medical card and a letter from their social worker/ aftercare working stating the length of time they have been in care. The supporting documentation can be sent up to April 1st 2010. The website to get more info on is accesscollege.ie http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20101127_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20101127_001_Webmaster.html Sat, 27 Nov 2010 22:57:02 Eire The registration form for the Christmas Party is now available for non-members to download here. Forms must be received by December 2nd. http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20101109_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20101109_001_Webmaster.html Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:59:30 Eire The branch Christmas party will be on Sunday December 12th at 3pm. This year's party will be held in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris. More details on this website nearer the time. http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20101017_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20101017_001_Webmaster.html Sun, 17 Oct 2010 09:54:55 Eire The Conference package in The Castlecourt and the kids club is now full. There are some places available as Day Attenders - you can book using the normal booking form (mark it day-attender). Send it to: Deirdre Diskin, Killinaugher, Ballyhaunis, Co.Mayo. Please enclose Cheque or PO for €60.00 payable to Mayo Foster Care. If you wish to attend the Gala Banquet the tickets cost €55.00. http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100914_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100914_001_Webmaster.html Tue, 14 Sep 2010 09:48:56 Eire We are delighted that Rio Hogarty, Mum of the Year Award winner at the People of the Year awards on Saturday, 11th Sept, and Justice Catherine McGuinness, People of the Year award winner for her contribution to Irish life will be attending the National Conference. Rio is a long time member of IFCA and a good friend of the Association and was honoured with the Inspiring Mum of the Year Award - a special Award for 2010 - for her energy, generosity and tremendous sacrifice in providing love, encouragement and support, not only to her own two children, but to 140 foster children over the past 40 years. Now 73 years old, she has ensured that many children have been able to benefit from a safe and loving home environment and are in a position to fulfil their own dreams and ambitions. The Award was presented by Donal Clancy, Director/General Manager QUINN-healthcare and personality Lorraine Keane. Foster Carers provide a stable family environment for 89% of children in care and Rio and her family represent all that is positive about fostering, we commend her as we do all foster carers. Justice Catherine McGuinness is Patron of the Irish Foster Care Association and she was honoured at the awards for her pioneering and vast contribution to Irish life in many roles over a lengthy career. These included her appointment as a High Court and Supreme Court Judge, as President of the Law Reform Commission and as a Senator, as well as for her unique contribution as an advocate for children's rights reform. The Award was presented by broadcaster Gay Byrne. http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100818_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100818_001_Webmaster.html Wed, 18 Aug 2010 23:19:23 Eire The booking form for the 2010 National Conference is now available to download and print on our National Conference page . http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100813_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100813_001_Webmaster.html Fri, 13 Aug 2010 09:03:16 Eire Robert Mizzell and his band, The Country Kings, will be playing at the Gala Banquet and Dinner Dance on the Saturday night of the Conference, November 6th. Find out more about Robert at his website RobertMizzell.com http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100726_002_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100726_002_Webmaster.html Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:44:49 Eire The National Conference of The Irish Foster Care Association was launched by Robert Mizzell Country and Western Singer in the Castlecourt Hotel Westport on Tuesday night 20th July. More details about the launch and the official brochure for the conference are available on our National Conference page . http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100726_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100726_001_Webmaster.html Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:05:14 Eire Our 2010 Summer Outing to Turoe Pet Farm was a great success and attended by 43 children and 34 adults. Please see our Summer Outing Photo Album for pictures of the day. http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100620_002_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100620_002_Webmaster.html Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:46:50 Eire Our Summer Outing for 2010 is to Turoe Pet Farm in Loughrea on Saturday 17th July. For further details, please download the application form. http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100620_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100620_001_Webmaster.html Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:59:02 Eire The National Conference will be Launched in The Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, on July 20th by Robert Mizzell, Country Singer. Robert was raised in Foster Care and has a record out about his Foster mother, titled "Mama Courtney". More info and photos on his website. http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100517_002_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100517_002_Webmaster.html Mon, 17 May 2010 21:48:53 Eire Jane Asquith is to be the Plenary Speaker at this year's National Conference. For further details, please see our National Conference page. http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100517_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100517_001_Webmaster.html Mon, 17 May 2010 21:48:53 Eire This year's branch Summer Outing is scheduled to take place on Saturday July 17th. Keep an eye on the website for details as soon as they're finalised. http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100503_001_Webmaster.html http://mayofostercare.ie/displaynewsarticle.php?file=20100503_001_Webmaster.html Mon, 03 May 2010 16:49:11 Eire Twelve ladies (including some members of the Mayo branch) took part in the West of Ireland Women's Mini-Marathon on Sunday 2nd May 2010 to raise funds for The National Conference which will be held on Westport in November 5th-7th. Those who took part were: Mary Flynn, Michelle, Denise McNulty, Carla McNulty, Dympna Carolan, Anne Flynn, Nicola Flynn, Patricia Mcloughlin, Sonia McAndrew, Helen Maloney, Josie Corr and Deirdre Diskin.