“FCA just seem like a big family who I always knew I wanted to work alongside.”

Choosing FCA

Karen believes that the sense of community in FCA Western makes it unique. “I’ve always said that I can be myself with FCA. The children get on well with the agency, and they feel at home when they go on outings. It’s like a big family, and that’s something I’ve always wanted to be a part of.”

Karen goes on to explains the holistic wrap-around support she receives from FCA: “We get a social worker who visits once a month, and we have out-of-hours support. We also receive educational support, which helps us build our fostering skills and provide better care for the children.”

Fostering Highlight

Karen shared that her best moments are those where she sees the children thrive. She recalled, “One of my favourite moments was when a young boy I was fostering became fussy over his food. It showed me that he was in a place where he had enough food and security to be picky about it. That felt like a real breakthrough.”

Karen feels proud of the positive impact she’s had on the children she’s cared for. “I think they’ll say, ‘What an amazing impact you had on my life, thank you for being there.’ One of the young men I fostered still quotes something I told him: ‘To do good is to feel good.’ He says it over the phone sometimes.”

Qualities of a Good Foster Parent

Karen believes the most important qualities a foster parent needs are: “Caring, a good sense of humour, being non-judgmental, and knowing you’re not alone. You have support from the agency and the professionals around you.”

Preparing For Your First Foster Child

Preparing for a new foster child can be challenging, as Karen explained: “To be honest, you can’t fully prepare because they can come at any time. But if you provide a warm, safe environment and let them know you’re nervous too, it can make them feel more at ease.”

She always has a “welcome pack” ready for a new child. She explained, “It includes photos of us, our phone numbers, the house layout, and some essential items like toiletries, toothbrushes, and pyjamas in neutral colours. It helps the child feel more at home.”

Karen’s Advice

For those thinking about fostering, Karen’s advice is simple: “Do it! People often think they aren’t qualified or ready, but you’ll learn along the way with the support of the agency. Give it a go!”

Could you foster?

If you’d like more information about becoming a foster parent with FCA or the support we offer, we’d love to hear from you. Enquire with us today to learn more, or read more stories from real-life foster parents about their experiences.