Permanent care and adoption

Barnardos permanent fostering and adoption values

ethnic family group

The underlying principles of Barnardos' Find-a-Family program are that a secure family environment provides best for the needs of the child. In addition, children require stability in a placement with the same carers to develop to their full potential and to establish relationships based on trust. The first priority of Barnardos is always to provide for the needs of the child.

Find-a-Family deal only with children between 0-12 years who have been permanently removed from their birth families. The program specialises in finding successful placements for "hard-to-place" children, large sibling groups and children with specific cultural requirements.

Canberra FAF includes a wider range of children some of whom will be restored to their natural families.

Barnardos’ success

Barnardos attributes our success with long-term care placements to the careful matching of individual children with a particular carer. Matched placements, along with Barnardos’ monitoring and carer support and training programs, ensure that the placement has the best chance of success. Respite Care programs provide regular relief to carers and Bridging Placements ensure that a child receives good temporary care whilst they wait for a long-term carer or family to be found.

Barnardos’ innovative LAC program ensures continuity and stability for a child during bridging and temporary foster placements.

Carers

Carers receive a formal introductory training program, and ongoing professional training and support. Carers can be single, families or couples, but strong preference is give to those who have had previous experience in child-rearing. All carers are assessed and matched by Barnardos welfare workers, and undergo extensive interview, background and police checks and training

Carer Application Form

Adoption

Adoption is the legal process where the new parent or parents take on all the rights and responsibilities of the birth parents. This is a successful outcome for many children who have been permanently removed from their birth family. Adoption provides a crucial sense of reassurance, permanency and belonging to a child which enables them to begin the slow healing process from the trauma of abuse and neglect within a safe and nurturing family environment.

Barnardos provides an adoption service for children whose parents have given signed consent and who are over the age of 2 years. Children in Barnardos' care may also be adopted where this is seen to be in their best interest.