Foster carers' problems: the real issue

I feel I had to clarify some of Ms Heidi Farrugia's views on foster carers' problems (The Sunday Times, September 7).

First of all I ask: Were any residential social workers present in the workshop she was involved in during the seminar? Was there anyone present to rebut what Ms Farrugia is insinuating? It is very easy for her to sit down and vent her feelings on the subject, but what in fact is the real issue we are tackling?

Let me first of all state that the Children's Act is not being given the importance it merits because as Maltese law stands at present the natural parents are given nearly absolute right over their children but not enough responsibility and accountability.

Before I go further into the subject, the Children's Act has to be given attention by Parliament so that the number of children in care can be reduced as much as possible and thus give these children a chance to live in a normal family.

Ms Farrugia seems all out to criticise the child care system while stating that she is fostering a child who was brought up in a residential home. Was the child given to her from a residential home or from another unfortunate placement? Then yes, the child would have additional problems because there would have been a second rejection.

If Ms Farrugia was in contact with the child at a children's home she would not have written the way she did when she mentioned the "lack of co-operation from some Church homes". Which homes is she referring to, or is she perhaps not familiar with proceedings and care plans made for each and every child that enters a Church home?

She mentions the dedicated and hard-working social workers but does she mention the dedicated and selfless service given by the Sisters 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? These Sisters work hand in hand with the social workers both from children's homes and Agenzija Appogg.

When a child enters a home this is the last measure to be taken after all the other possibilities have been explored. A case conference is then called and a care plan for the particular child is discussed. If the child cannot frequent the natural family for serious reasons, social contacts are then sought so that the child feels they belong in a family.

These families usually take the children home for the weekend and according to the care plan, established and revised every few months, some of these families eventually foster the particular child.

Besides, does Ms Farrugia think the Sisters who take care of the children are robots who go about their daily duties without any feelings for the children in their care? Does she know the enormous responsibility these Sisters bear and the sleepless nights they spend with some of the children who are "special" - emotionally disturbed - because of all they have been through? Has she ever been present when these ex-residents of our children's homes come back to look for the particular Sister who used to look after them and bring with them wives/husbands and children to make them meet this "significant adult" who has offered them so much love and care throughout the years spent in the home?

Does Ms Farrugia realise what wonders these dedicated people work with the low funding they receive for the upkeep of these children? In my role as director of these Church homes I know what care is given to these children from the very start: medical, psychological, psychiatric and all that is necessary, many times taking the children privately to psychologists and psychiatrists and paying high fees to see them receive the help they need because they are broken after rejection and very often abuse from their natural families.

I ask Ms Farrugia to make an appointment with me and air her grievances about the lack of co-operation from Church homes. I can be contacted on 2122-1615 or 2122-0551.