A LOCAL foster carer is encouraging more people to put their hand up to support kids in need, saying it is “for everyone”.

Hewett mum Sam Sands has worked with children her whole life as a childcare worker and school services officer and has raised two children now aged 19 and 22-years-old.

When her biological children went off to school though, Mrs Sands believed she had the ability to raise more young children and sought a way to make it happen.

“I’ve always loved kids,” she said. “I just felt the need to have more children of my own at home.

“My husband wasn’t too keen on actually having (conceiving) anymore, but if we were helping others he was quite happy to do that.

“I had always thought I wouldn’t be able to do it because I wouldn’t be able to give them back.”

Next Monday marks the beginning of Foster and Kinship Carer week, a time celebrating carers across Australia and to encourage new people to take up the role.

Foster carers typically raise children in either long-term or short-term arrangements, with the former including looking after a kids for much of their childhood, while the latter often takes place over 12-18 months.

Mrs Sands currently has six children in her care.

“I started with a long-term… so we started with a five day-old baby boy,” she said.

“You’re never guaranteed that they’ll stay with you forever, particularly when they’re so young, but by the time he was four-months old he was confirmed as long term and we knew he was going to stay with us.

“Then, looking at him out in the backyard by himself, it felt like he was an only child so one day I asked whether we could look after any more children, and we were able to get a little nine-month-old girl to come along.

“After they started school I didn’t quite feel finished again, so I went down the path of short-term foster care.”

Depending on the circumstances for each child, they still visit their biological parents and may return to them or other family if the situation calls for it.

Despite all the ups and downs foster caring brings, Mrs Sands said it was a rewarding and fulfilling experience.

“There are huge challenges,” she said. “These children have been taken away from their birth parents.

“It’s not always easy and you’ve got to be prepared for some hardships. You’ve got to be prepared to have their biological parents involved.

“They obviously have different surnames to us, so there’s sometimes questioning and you need to get around that.

Mrs Sands added it takes particular qualities to care for children like they’re your own, but it was for “all people” whether they be parents, single people or gay couples.

“The awesome things are that you can see them develop. If you work well enough with them and give them love and attention, they’ll reach their milestones by the time they leave,” she said.

“I feel like if I’ve taught them that people love them and care for them and how to attach to people then I think I’ve done my job.

“It’s so rewarding seeing the children grow and flourish from often a scared little bundle to a confident bigger bundle.

“To make a difference in a child’s life in this way – you can’t beat that can you?”

Carer’s recognised during special week

LOCAL foster and kinship carers will be commended for their service to children who need it most throughout next week.

Monday marks the beginning of Australia’s Foster and Kinship Carer week, which recognises the hard work and dedication regular people put in to care and raise children across the country.

In the past year, 100 new family-based carers have registered to provide safe and loving homes for the state’s most vulnerable children and young people.

In addition, 82 primary foster carers were recruited and 29 more kinship and child-specific carers also joined the State Government’s program.

More than 3500 children a supported by these carers across the state.

Child protection minister Rachel Sanderson said the state had continually surpassed its target of recruiting 50 new foster carers each year.

“Despite all the changes and challenges in our lives over the past few months during the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s humbling to see so many South Australians wanting to improve the lives of children and young people in our community,” she said.

“While the recruitment of new carers is something we absolutely strive for, this week is a time to recognise the ongoing efforts of our existing dedicated carers who provide unwavering support to children and young people in care.

“The love and support of carers makes a remarkable impact on children and young people and ensures they are given every opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Department of Child Protection chief executive Cathy Taylor said foster and kinship carers had the ability to make a positive and lasting difference to children, young people and families.

“It is also an ideal occasion to raise the profile of fostering and show how it can transform lives and make the world of difference,” she said.

“More carers are always needed, particularly those who are willing to care for sibling groups, children with a disability, older children and adolescents.”

For more information about becoming a foster carer call 1300 2 FOSTER or visit (www.fostercare.sa.gov.au).