Media Release
30 October 2003

New Funds For Foster Carers Well Overdue

NZ First’s family affairs spokesperson, Barbara Stewart, has welcomed CYF’s Minister Ruth Dyson’s announcement of additional funding for the training of new foster carers.

“However this should be regarded as the beginning of an upgrading process for the provision of foster care, rather than a complete answer,” said Mrs Stewart.

“Not only is action needed to improve the numbers and training of carers but closer scrutiny of their suitability is also called for. There have been instances of children being placed in the care of people, including family members, who have turned out to be totally unsatisfactory.

“While it is obviously difficult to be one hundred percent certain about the motivations and suitability of every foster carer the results of some placements made in recent years have been so disastrous for the children concerned that additional resources must be provided for more intensive checks.

“CYF has the responsibility when placing children in care to ensure that they are not going from a bad situation to one that is worse. This has happened in the past and must not be allowed to happen again.

“Training is only part of the answer” said Mrs Stewart.

ENDS

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