Supporting Carers Of Other People's Children - Australian Foster ...

Caring forIndigenous kidsMore foster carers is perhaps the biggest challenge facinga dynamic Aborignal leader of a not-for-profit agency whichrecruits, manages and supports Aboriginal foster carers. With aprofessional background in South Australian Government jobs,mainly in policy and strategy, Sharron Williams has been the CEOof Aboriginal Family Support Services (AFSS) for eight years.‘We have about 100 active foster carers at any one time. Weneed double that,’ Sharron said.Her organisation’s services include youth accommodation, parenteducation, support for disenfranchised men and foster care.The South Australian Department for Families and Communitiesattempts to place Aboriginal children with relatives first. If that is not possible, they are referred to AFSS.‘Generally, Aboriginal kids are six or seven times more likely to come into foster care than other kids.But our capacity to recruit carers is far less, because we’re a small community and fragmented in manyways.’The agency has helped develop a new culturally specific assessment tool for prospective carers, called a‘Yarning Journey’. Instead of a ‘severe questionnaire’ where the interviewer writes down the answers, theinterviewer now sits and listens, then comes back a couple of days later and says ‘This is what I believeyou were saying to me about your experiences growing up as a child’. It is a more personal approach, shesays, and less threatening.Once appointed, a carer will receive cultural orientation training through the agency, and will later beguided through any reunification of children with their birth parents – and they, too, are supported. ‘Quiteoften there’s shared care between the birth family and foster carer. Then the pendulum shifts, so thebirth parent takes more of a role, but the foster carer stays on as a respite carer.’Sharron Williams says a key challenge is reconciling cultural differences. ‘In recruitment of foster carers,you have to meet Department standards. In the Aboriginal community it’s about the capacity to nurture,and sharing and caring. With white society it’s more material – are there enough bedrooms, enoughspace in the wardrobe for this child’s clothes.’‘Quite often we, or the foster parents, know the children coming into care. There are often relationships,through skin or kin. When the placement is ordered by the state, as opposed to a voluntary order, thehostility can be quite horrific.’‘I always advise foster parents not to get themselves into awkward situations. I say “remember your firstresponsibility is to the children”. When there’s a community function, and the birth family is likely to bethere and there’s hostility, we say to the carer: “Be there early in the day, not late, when there may besome drinking going on.”’It is also important to bring some joy and frivolity to the lives of both the carers and the children. Thereare Family Fun Days and other events which help siblings stay in contact and lift everybody’s spirits. ‘Ifchildren are more content, it’s easier for the carers.’Getting together through the agency’s networks gives a sense of belonging and identity to children, whichSharron believes too many are missing out on. Her family comes from a small coastal community on theYorke Peninsular, and on childhood visits there her connections and ancestry were explained to her. ‘Iknow where I fit in back there, how I’m related to people. You feel proud of that.’Her goal, and motivation, is clear.‘Aboriginal children deserve the bestparenting.’Sharron Williams has been ChiefExecutive Officer of Aboriginal FamilySupport Services, South Australia for8 yearsThere is a growing number ofAboriginal family care services aroundAustralia.Aboriginal Family Support Services(AFSS), is a not-for-profit agency inAdelaide.For other contact details see page 39.23