Unsung heroes of foster caring provide an invaluable service

Published on Friday 23 May 2008 09:15

FIFTY years ago, the UK Government reported to the UN that there were 42 drug addicts in Britain. While this may have been an underestimate, by contrast there are now around 6000 drug addicts known to drug treatment agencies in Edinburgh alone. This figure represents a growth of 20 per cent from two years before.

An increasing proportion of adults misusing drugs are parents of dependent children, leading, in many cases, to child protection concerns.

On top of this, the increase in young people misusing alcohol leads both to potential damage to babies in the womb and to greater risks of abuse and neglect after birth. These children pay a dreadful price for their parents' addictions. Edinburgh is a wonderful city and most of its citizens thrive and enjoy a great quality of life. It is part of the council's role to ensure that this quality of life continues, or even improves.

However, we have equal or even greater responsibilities towards the most vulnerable and deprived children and families in our city.

The council and other agencies provide a range of services to try to support parents who misuse drugs or alcohol, to be good enough parents. Sadly, these people are often unable to prioritise their children's needs.

In these circumstances, it can be necessary to take the children into care, and it is probably not surprising that the number of children accommodated by the council has gone up by more than 50 this year.

This is where foster carers offer a fantastic service. Some foster carers look after sickly and distressed newborn babies, going through the process of "cold turkey" as they come off the drugs they have become accustomed to while growing in the womb.

Others look after pre-school brothers and sisters who have lacked very basic nurturing, care and stimulation.

Others care for ten-year-old "tearaways" who have never had consistent attention or affection. We rely on dedicated foster carers to heal, or at least reduce this damage through the patience, commitment and love they provide. Consequently, I warmly welcome Fostering Fortnight – both as an opportunity to recruit more badly needed foster carers and as a way of recognising and celebrating the outstanding work done by them.

Foster carers are ordinary people undertaking an extra-ordinary job – often unsung heroes and heroines.

I urge anyone who has wondered in the past if this is something they could do to contact us to find out more. You will not only provide an invaluable service to children but also a service to your city.

To find out more, take the next step and call freephone 0800 174 833 or go to www.edinburgh.gov.uk/fostering

&#149 Councillor Marilyne MacLaren is convener for education, children and families