Cornwall Introduces New Foster Care Initiative

A new fostering initiative has been introduced to serve a specific area within Cornwall. This foster care framework, named Mockingbird, is spearheaded by The Fostering Network and forms part of a governmental strategy aimed at retaining current foster carers and recruiting additional ones. Its inauguration took place at the Eden Project on Saturday, with the objective of providing enduring foster care services in the St Austell region. Bethan Drew, a Mockingbird coach, stated that the program was “absolutely desperate for more foster carers”. She further commented: “They say that a child comes into care every 15 minutes and in the last few years the number of foster carers has gone down while the number of children going into care has gone up. “We are absolutely desperate for more foster carers and if you are considering it we would encourage you to contact Fostering South West. “There are no expectations, they’re welcome just to talk things through with you.” According to Cornwall Council, the Mockingbird initiative draws its foundation from the principle that “it takes a village to raise a child”. This framework involves foster families connecting to form communities known as “constellations,” centered around a “central hub home” that supports six to 10 associated satellite foster homes. Brian Smith, a hub home carer, explained that the methodology was intended to replicate an extended family structure. He remarked: “An extended family is something children in care don’t experience normally. “Being a foster carer and being a child in care is quite isolating and mockingbird is a way to overcome some of that.” Cornwall Council also indicated its intention to introduce a second constellation during the spring season.