Vulnerable families in West Wales are receiving crucial support
through the Fostering Network's Step-Up Step-Down project,
helping children remain with their parents.
Minister for Children and Social Care - - called the project
'transformative' during her recent Pembrokeshire visit, where she
heard directly from families about its impact.
Rather than removing children from parents, highly trained family
support foster carers provide time-limited preventative help, and
work alongside families.
They mentor families and offer short breaks for children,
creating stability, and giving parents time to address their
challenges with support.
Supported by £879,000 in Welsh Government funding across
Pembrokeshire and Powys, the project has supported 29 children
remain at home, and recently helped one family regain full
custody of their daughter who was previously on a foster care
order
The Minister said:
"Every child deserves stability and the opportunity to remain
connected to their family when it's safe to do so.
“Step-Up Step-Down is a transformative project which matches our
vision to radically transform children's services in Wales,
helping fewer children enter care while ensuring those who do
receive support stay as close to home as possible.
“By working alongside parents, the project is improving outcomes
for children, while helping families stay together.
Foster carers can ‘step up' when families need more help and
‘step down' when parents are in a better place to support their
children.
Foster carers Lindsey and Alistair said:
"We've fostered for years and found that the end of placement can
be very rewarding where there's a warm bond made with the family.
Step Up Step Down lets us build that warmth for a little longer.
“We like to help people out of times of crises, to help them
realise they are more capable than they think. Keeping families
together, when it is safe, can give children stronger futures."
Notes to editors
- Step Up, Step Down in
Wales | The Fostering Network
