A Middlemarch family has opened their lifestyle block and hearts to vulnerable children who can't live in their own homes.
Lynette and and her husband Eddy took their first foster-child about nine years ago but stopped to raise their three biological children.
When their kids grew up, the house became quieter and the couple resumed fostering about three years ago.
‘‘We thought we'd do something useful for the community and we've never looked back.''
The children's ages ranged from newborns to teenagers, she said.
The White family provided short-term emergency respite.
Often Child, Youth and Family staff called in the middle of the night to say a child was on their way.
‘‘We're used to get the phone calls so we get up and get ready.''
The 6ha lifestyle block in Middlemarch was ideal for looking after foster-children.
Several animals on the land included four unwanted horses, which Mrs White had adopted.
‘‘It's a farmlet for strays,'' Mrs White laughed.
The family were reimbursed for feeding the children but they did not do it as a money-making venture, she said.
‘‘You get rich in other ways.''
The greatest reward was seeing a stroppy kid change to a happy kid and ‘‘seeing that first smile''.
All children in the house were treated the same, earning pocket money by completing chores, including washing dishes, feeding the horses and collecting manure and firewood.
‘‘It is a normal family life and they usually fit in quite nicely.''
Some kids ran away but they never got far.
‘‘The furthest was to the road and they waited to see if I was going to come and get them.''
Mrs White's mother, ‘‘Grandma'' Rowena Muir, lives on the farm next door and helps out with the kids.
She urged other Otago people to become foster-parents.
‘‘There are kids out there that desperately need support ... all it takes is a clean bed and some food on the table,'' Mrs Muir said.
CYF Southern region director Theresa Perham said foster-carers were a vital part of the CYF team.
‘‘They spend the most time with kids in care and can bring about fundamental change - by nurturing them, sticking by them and helping them begin to trust the world again.''
More people were speaking up about child abuse and CYF needed more foster-carers.
Foster-carers could be married, single, or partnered; own their own house or rent one; have no children of their own or have a large family; be working full-time or a stay-at-home parent.
Foster-carers needed to be reliable, consistent, patient and resilient.
Most of the children had had a difficult start in life and experienced trauma and abuse. Consequently, many had complex needs and challenging behaviours, she said.
‘‘Having a wider pool of foster-carers to call on is invaluable. It means that we can find a home that is well-suited to that child or young person's needs in an environment where they can thrive.''
Foster-care
- National Children’s Day and the start of National Foster Care Awareness Week is tomorrow.
- More than 3500 people in New Zealand are Child, Youth and Family foster-carers.
- In Otago and Southland, 266 children and young people were in out-of-home placements at the end of September last year.
- The foster-care options are short-term or emergency care, respite or transitional care through to offering a young person a ‘‘home for life’’.
- Anyone interested in learning more on the training support available to be a foster-carer can call 0508-326-459.
