Starting your fostering journey is a life-changing decision, and understanding how to choose the right fostering agency is essential to its success.
While fostering is often portrayed as heartwarming and rewarding, the reality involves complex emotional and practical challenges that can be overwhelming without the right support.
At Mosaic Foster Care, we know that fostering success depends on rapid access to expert support, specialised training and an ongoing partnership with a dedicated agency.
But how do you know if the agency you’re considering will be there when you really need them?
While many are drawn to fostering by a desire to make a difference, it’s crucial to acknowledge the emotional weight of the role when considering how to choose the right fostering agency to support you.
Fostering means stepping into a child’s life at one of their most vulnerable moments. By virtue of the fact they are in foster care, every child will have been affected by a traumatic experience of some description. That could range from separation from their family members, to suffering unthinkable abuse. The impact of that could manifest itself subtly, for example, as quiet withdrawal from activities. Alternatively, it could be expressed as behavioural challenges, emotional outbursts, aggression and other wildly unpredictable actions.
Without the right support, it’s easy for even the most well-intentioned foster parents to feel overwhelmed when this happens. That’s why it’s essential to have a fostering agency by your side that doesn’t just leave you to figure it all out on your own.
Fostering is a world surrounded by myths, perhaps the most prevalent of which is that care and compassion alone are enough to foster successfully.
While these are vital qualities for any foster parent to have, they are only part of the equation. Children in foster care often need specialised support, including therapeutic intervention, which goes far beyond the basic, statutory training that most foster parents typically receive.
A fostering agency that provides foster children with rapid, in-house therapeutic resources is not only beneficial but, in many cases, absolutely necessary for fostering success. The chances of keeping a foster family happy and stable are significantly improved when that therapeutic support is extended to both the foster parents and their birth children as well, so everyone receives the appropriate support as they work their way through any challenges. This is something Mosaic Foster Care has always been passionate about providing, as we have seen from experience just how impactful this approach can be.
Understanding how to choose the right fostering agency involves learning about their matching process. Our rigorous matching process ensures children are placed in homes where they are likely to thrive, not just survive. A child has a far better chance of settling into their foster home when they have first been given the opportunity to build trust with their foster family gradually, so that by the time they come to move in they already feel familiar and at ease with the family they are going to live with. Make sure to ask your fostering agency what their matching process looks like. How quickly will you be expected to make a decision? Will you be able to meet them in advance? For some foster parents the first time they meet their foster child is when they are dropped off on their doorstep. While necessary in cases of emergency, this can be unsettling for everyone involved so be sure to ask questions about their matching process so you have a clear picture of what to expect here.
At Mosaic, our matching process is extensive. We take the time to understand your family’s unique dynamics and provide a carefully phased introduction to ensure a smooth transition for your foster child. Introductions are gradual and may take place in different settings so you have the opportunity to observe and meet the child in a variety of environments to understand how they interact. Our process is often likened to what you might expect when considering a child for adoption. This is because our expectations are that foster parents will look after the child for the long term, so it is important they feel completely comfortable moving forward.
At Mosaic, we look for foster parents who are invested in fostering a child in the long-term and are prepared to support them through to adulthood. You may also see this referred to as permanence. We actively recruit foster parents who appreciate this long-term outlook on their role because we know children who are exposed to a stable home environment and who have consistent support around them have the very best chance of recovering from trauma and thriving away from the disruption of multiple placements. The journey our foster parents embark upon can, therefore, be as variable as it is extensive as children in their care move through different phases of their life.
As foster parents may be suited to care for children of all ages, having access to the appropriate expert support as soon as it is required is essential. Whether you’re facing behavioural challenges or emotional difficulties, this rapid access to therapy can prevent issues from escalating and help foster families create a more stable and nurturing environment for their foster children.
Sadly, it’s not uncommon for foster parents to be left waiting weeks or even months to access vital therapy for their foster child, leaving both the child and their foster family dangerously vulnerable to placement breakdowns.
This is a common challenge faced by many foster parents. For example, getting access to CAMHS - government-run Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services - can take many months. At Mosaic, we do things differently. We have trained therapists within our staff team who can offer rapid support, sometimes within just a few hours of an issue arising. We call this the SMILE therapeutic approach. This immediate access to professional therapeutic expertise and tailored therapy is what sets us apart. Before choosing your fostering agency, be sure to check with them what additional therapeutic support they can provide in-house.
Fostering doesn’t just affect the foster child – it impacts the entire family. That’s why you should check first with a fostering agency whether they offer support for everyone involved, including your birth children, who may feel the emotional strain of adjusting to a new family dynamic.
Mosaic provides holistic support for foster parents, foster children and birth children alike. We understand that fostering can be emotionally demanding for all family members, and we offer a range of resources and support systems to ensure your whole family can thrive. This includes peer support activities and a support worker to lift the strain and give you and your foster child regular time out.
Our comprehensive support package also includes personalised therapeutic plans and ongoing professional development to equip foster parents with the skills they need to handle any challenge that comes their way. Be sure to ask questions about ongoing training provided to ensure your continual development.
When learning how to choose the right fostering agency, it’s important to understand what a good service looks like to enable you to ask the right questions:
At Mosaic, we go beyond the basics. Our outstanding success rates, which significantly exceed national averages, speak for themselves. And rest assured we don’t just leave you to get on with it. Our 24/7 support network ensures you’re never left feeling isolated or unsupported.
The right fostering agency makes all the difference. With Mosaic, you’re not just choosing an agency – you’re choosing a partner who will be with you every step of the way, making certain you have the tools, training and support needed for long-term fostering success.
Ready to take the next step? Get in touch with Mosaic today and speak to one of our experienced foster parents to learn more about how we can support your fostering journey.
