Why your care matters
Caregivers are the heart and home of Child, Youth and Family. They are ordinary people who do an extraordinary job in providing love, care and support to the children who need it most.
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Caregivers
Sometimes when families have problems, children may be unsafe or not well cared for at home. Caregivers, also known as foster carers, open up their homes to the children and young people who can't live with their own family or whānau.
The one thing all our caregivers have in common is that they are passionate about making a difference to children who need to be safe and well cared for.
We all believe that all children belong in families who will nurture them. Together we can help our children be:
- safe from harm and well cared for
- strong as part of a loving family and whānau
- thrive by helping our children be the best they can be.
Foster Carers
We have all sorts of foster carers. A Child, Youth and Family caregiver could be:
- caring for a child or young person aged anywhere from birth up to 17 years old
- caring for a family member, who may be a niece, nephew or grandchild
- welcoming a child they don't know into their family
- looking after a child for a short time, until they return to their own family
- welcoming a child into their family for life.
"To be a good foster parent you have to be completely committed and onboard 100 percent. I can honestly say hand-on-heart that I don't feel any difference between my birth children and my foster children. I love them all equally."Andeana, permanent caregiver.
