This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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National fostering strategy
22/03/2006
Ministers have asked Executive officials to develop a national fostering strategy, Education and Young People Minister Peter Peacock said today.
The Minister urged more families to consider fostering as he met carers and young people who have benefited from foster care in Edinburgh and paid tribute to people who give support to children struggling to cope with difficult family situations.
Mr Peacock said:
"We want more youngsters to have the chance to flourish in safe, secure families. Foster care makes that possible for children struggling with challenging circumstances in their lives. I am pleased that many youngsters already benefit from the support, stability and respite that foster carers so selflessly provide, but there is scope for many more to become involved in a hugely important and rewarding part of our national life.
"The ideal situation would always be for children to be loved and properly cared for by their own families but, sadly, that's not always possible.
"Recently we have seen a catalogue of cases where children have been seriously neglected, and we are still dealing with the aftermath of children subjected to sexual abuse in residential care. It is absolutely vital that we have suitable placements available, and immediately on-hand, for more young people.
"Edinburgh is taking a lead in seeking to recruit more foster carers and I applaud what they are doing as part of our national determination to do better for our vulnerable youngsters.
"That is why we will soon seek more powers from Parliament to give Ministers the ability to support fostering more effectively and so that more children grow up in secure settings, and why I am adding my voice to the call for more potential foster carers to think about coming forward."
Edinburgh City Council was awarded £1,208,400 from the Executive to improve the support it provides to foster carers. Councils across Scotland will receive £12 million for additional support for fostering covering the period October 2005 to September 2007.