In this Journey of Hearts video, Erin, a foster carer with Origins Foster Care, shares her experience of the matching process when becoming a foster carer. The process can be eye-opening, especially when it comes to finding the right fit for both the foster family and the children in care. Erin’s story highlights how flexibility and understanding can lead to positive outcomes for everyone involved.
During Erin’s assessment process, she initially thought that welcoming younger children into her home would be the best fit, given that she has a four-year-old son with some extra needs. “I thought it would be recommended to get other children that would be younger so that they would be maybe at the same stage and into the same activities,” Erin recalls.
It became quite apparent from our day-to-day life that it would be much more beneficial to have children at a different stage in their development, chronologically and emotionally.
As the assessment progressed, Erin realised that fostering children at different stages of development could offer unique benefits to everyone in the household. While initially uncertain about the idea of fostering teenagers, she soon saw the potential advantages for both her son and the older children.
When Erin’s family was matched with two teenage girls, the benefits of this pairing quickly came into sharp focus. “The girls have benefited from our son in the sense that they’re able to play on a much younger level, which they missed out on because of their experiences at a younger age,” Erin explains. This opportunity allowed the girls to fill in some developmental gaps, all while interacting playfully with her son.
In turn, the older children had a positive influence on Erin’s son, helping him grow and develop through their interactions. “They’re teaching him high fives, and they’ll go into the ball pool with him, encouraging him to climb or go down the slide,” Erin notes. These shared moments of play and connection foster a bond that benefits all of them.
Interested in learning more about the matching process and how fostering could fit into your life? Reach out to Origins Foster Care today. And if you know someone who might be interested in fostering, share this post with them!
Reach out for any questions and enquiries. A member of our fostering team will get back to you as soon as possible.
