Spotlight on fostering

I thank Dr Natasha Buontempo for her article (The Sunday Times, July 29) as at last I feel fostering is starting to have some much-needed attention. However I beg to differ on certain issues.

I am a foster carer myself and I cannot but be so frustrated and angry as it seems that most journalists insist on calling this particular child (that made headline news in our country some months ago), a name so uncalled for!

I quote Dr Buontempo: "cases where children require the intervention of the government to safeguard their interests and their physical and emotional care". I ask her: "Where is the emotional care this child needs when journalists use this nickname?

Do we need such sensationalism in such cases or is it wiser that the media start educating people about the importance of fostering such children and others in similar but different circumstances? Believe me, I know what I am saying about this angel who was given this nickname.

Therefore I will appreciate if we please move on and leave this child alone. Stop calling him names. He has to grow up and face the music. Isn't it enough now? How many more times do we have to read this particular name in the papers?

Another thing that is bothering me is this, "This Bill is more concerned with the administrative entities, their rights and obligations, and especially, the rights of foster carers." With all due respect - and correct me if I am wrong - but I get the feeling that 'rights of foster carers in Dr Buontempo's opinion is not so important!

We are these children's advocates and it is through us that they get to have their say. Unlike abroad, we do this voluntarily and with a big sacrifice. In no way do I want to insinuate that we don't do it willingly or lovingly as these children become a part of us and we do our outmost to see that they get equal opportunities in life.

Our rights are of utmost importance since we are vital in giving these children the family environment that is so needed in which he/she is loved and cared for. Who will come to our aid if a biological parent physically attacks us?

Who will come to our aid if a biological parent finds out where we live and damages our personal belongings? Are the Maltese aware of these happenings? Certainly these are issues that require to be kept away from the media and solutions for same to be found quietly, especially for the good of the fostered child.

The Appogg Fostering Team knows about these situations, and I thank them for their sterling work and the support that they offer, in spite of their limited resources.

As Dr Buontempo wrote, the agency involved already applies high standards on the rights of fostered children. The fostering team at Appogg is made up of dedicated social workers who really go out of their way to make this happen.

Foster carers work as a team with these social workers, plus other professionals, to see that the child involved comes first! The National Foster Care Association Malta has also been set up by a group of volunteers to try to improve standards in foster care as well as to try to create more awareness.

NFCAM has also given its input in this Bill and for this I thank the Government and the Opposition of engaging in fruitful discussions in Parliament during the readings of this Bill. Foster carers are really grateful for this.

"English law also imposes upon agencies the duty to follow the child's educational progress and to promote the child's interests and hobbies. In contrast, our Foster Care Bill seems to assume that such well-being is attained automatically."

I feel that the authorities know what is happening in foster families in Malta so they know that education is of utmost importance to us and we seek professional help, to help these children achieve the best results in school.

We also believe that this Bill can go further, but we also know that this is just the beginning. What I can say regarding when a child reaches age 18 is that in all cases till now the foster family continues to support this young person, especially if he starts having tertiary education.

I am really happy when I meet other foster carers and hear them talk of the support that they want to give to their fostered children, whatever it takes. My worry is for those children in residential care when they reach 18. Do they have the life skills they need to live independently, seeing they have not lived in a family environment?

I urge readers to go on the IFCO site, which is also very informative. If you log on to http://malta2007.ifco.info/ you will see that an international conference is being held on our island in November.

Hopefully, with this Bill and the conference coming up at the end of this year, fostering will get a much-needed boost in Malta and that is where extensive media coverage for the cause of fostering is important if Malta wants to reduce as much as possible the number of children in residential care. This is done either by adoption or fostering of the children in question.

That is our dream. Will you help us all along?