Long-term fostering is a type of foster care that provides a child or young person with a stable, secure and permanent home with a foster family until they reach adulthood, if they are unable to return to their birth family and adoption is not a possibility.
Key aspects of long-term fostering include:
1. Long-term commitment: The focus is on providing the child with a supportive and nurturing family environment for as long as they need it, often until they are 18 years of age. This can help give the child or young person a sense of security and a feeling that they are a part of the foster carer’s family.
2. Security and consistency: Long-term foster care provides a child or young person with a sense of stability and certainty about their future knowing they are safe, and their needs are consistently met. This sense of security can create the foundation that allows a child or young person to develop healthy attachments and relationships.
In summary, long-term fostering is about offering a child a sense of permanency and security in a safe and nurturing family environment.
