Oxfordshire will host Foster Care Fortnight from May 13–26, 2024.

In a campaign to commemorate Foster Care Fortnight, which takes place from May 13–26, 2024, Oxfordshire County Council is asking residents to think about applying to be foster parents.With 14 years of experience as a foster carer, Oxfordshire native Samantha Allen is assisting in the education of others about the ins and outs of this fulfilling experience."There are a ton of options for fostering," says Samantha. "For the past seven years, I have supported both the parent and their child as a parent/child foster carer. In between, I have done some emergency fostering. I adore happy endings, which may take many different forms. One such example is witnessing the children I've cared for mature and gain confidence as they become ready for the real world."There are many other aspects of the job that I enjoy, such as seeing the babies I have taken care of grow and thrive and giving them a sense of security and love.

" It's also wonderful to see kids reunited with their adoptive parent or parents and mothers returning home with their infants after a 12-week evaluation with you.New mothers can occasionally be blind to their own success. I believe it is my responsibility to empower people in these situations and to increase their self-belief. Since praise is never enough, I just keep doing it, which allows me to progressively instill confidence.Seeing them grow and knowing that a mother has conquered her anxieties and can handle being a mother is great. It's really encouraging to me, and it's obviously fantastic for the mother and child as they grow closer.Foster parents like Samantha receive a lot of assistance from Oxfordshire County Council, including social worker access and a variety of additional support services.

The council wants to establish a network known as the "fostering community," where foster parents may go for support and direction to help them improve the lives of the children in their community.According to Samantha, there are numerous options that may be tailored to an individual's schedule and needs. These include emergency care, short- or long-term respite care, and programs that assist both parents and their children. You can present yourself as your family, be single, or be of the same sex. Furthermore, since you can potentially foster if you are 21 years of age or older, age is not a barrier."The kids I've had the honor of fostering have given my life so much enjoyment and direction. I would urge anyone considering foster care to take their time, do their homework, and ask plenty of questions. Like me, there are many foster parents who would be happy to talk to you about our experiences and give you a realistic understanding of what's involved. People need to know that Oxfordshire County Council offers a ton of support and will put them in touch with other foster carers so they may form support networks.