Respite foster care
Over the last few weeks on a Sunday morning folks have had the chance to answer the Sunday question by sharing about someone who has inspired them. It has been lovely to hear first Malcolm and then Shirley share of the impact of two families who have pursued fostering.
Perhaps you have felt a tug on your heart and have imagined fostering or adopting yourself, but feel the impact would be too huge or the burden too heavy. 
You may not be aware of the role of respite foster carers and this could be a great way for you to explore the possibility of fostering in a less full on and intense way. Respite foster carers care for children for short periods in a variety of situations. Some respite carers for example offer a weekend a month and are matched with a child who is still at home but in a family that is struggling. Other respite carers are available for a few weeks at a time to look after a child in foster care when the carers go on holiday or need a break to re-energise. Respite carers can be married, single, younger, older. Respite carers receive all the same training and support as full time carers.
Perhaps investigating respite foster caring could be a way for you to pay attention to that tug on your heart. If you’ve any questions about it, do feel free to ask me, or you can get in touch with Home for Good or Edinburgh council fostering services to ask them questions.
Jess Philbrick Smith
