by Louise Doyle
A DONEGAL father who along with his wife, fostered a young boy with additional needs nine years ago, has spoken of his pride in him as they prepare to take on a major running challenge at Bluestack mountains.
Frank and Jacqueline have been foster carers with Five Rivers Fostering, Ireland’s first independent private Fostering Agency, for almost a decade.
They are full time foster carers for three boys aged 20, eight and six.
They also used to provide emergency foster care and respite foster care, and have had over 50 children placed with them since they were approved as carers.
Frank and Jacqueline specialise in caring for children with additional needs and are highly skilled and experienced in this area.
The couple, who live in Redcastle, have five grown children of their own.
Speaking to the Donegal News, Frank explained what inspired he and his wife to become foster carers.
“We thought about it for years, and it was when our youngest child was around 11 that we started the process,” he said.
“My father’s cousin was a foster carer in Scotland, and that provided us with a valuable source of information. We spoke about it with our four sons and daughter because it was such a huge decision, and we couldn’t have done it without their support.”
The couple contacted Five Rivers Fostering to set the wheels in motion.
“The process took about six months and entailed interviews with social workers and garda checks.
“When we first started out on our own journey, we started by doing respite which involved kids coming for a weekend. We also did emergency care for four years which meant being on call for three weeks out of four in case a child needed to be brought to our home at the last minute.”
Frank admitted that the process seemed daunting at the beginning, but said that he and his wife were supported every step of the way by Five Rivers Fostering.
“Everything that is unknown is always a bit daunting but we have it to be completely rewarding.
“Our eldest foster child is now a young man of 20. He has a lot of additional needs. He has autism, he is non verbal and deaf and he has a learning difficulty.
“We were told that he would not be able to participate in much and that his mobility was also poor but what we found was that his mobility was poor when he was walking but somehow when he ran his feet straightened out. We began slowly walking with him, then jogging and eventually running.
“We have since done a 5k together which has also helped him mentally. We’ve also taken part in many marathons over the years. At the minute we’re preparing for a 30-mile run at Blue Stack Mountains in September. I have a son in Dubai who is coming home to take part in it with us too.”
Frank admitted that there will be challenges for people who choose to become foster carers, but he praised Five Rivers Fostering.
“There will be challenges but Five Rivers are very helpful and are contactable 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”
Frank said he and his wife are “very proud” of the children they have fostered. He urged anyone considering it to contact Five Rivers.
He pointed out that all types of families, including single parents, are welcome to apply to become foster carers.
“It’s hugely rewarding. In fact, my daughter is now going through the process to also become a foster carer,” said Frank, whose words come amid a shortage of foster carers in Donegal and across the north west.
Five Rivers Fostering work with foster care families throughout Ireland, working with foster carers in the north west since 2009.
In March, Five Rivers opened an office in Bridgend.
Five Rivers will be main sponsors of the Inishowen Pride Festival this year on Sunday, June 2.
Aptly, the theme of this year’s event is ‘Different families, same love’.
Deirdre McDonagh, CEO of Five Rivers Fostering, said: “We are very proud to be main sponsors of Inishowen Pride 2024. We at Five Rivers Fostering welcome foster carers from all backgrounds, life stages and nationalities, so this year’s theme of ‘Different families, same love’ is one that really resonates with us and one we are very keen to get behind.
“The role foster carers play in our community is so important as the care you give a child or young person today will change their tomorrow. But there are often misconceptions about who can foster, and we need and want diversity in our carers and we need carers in Donegal.”
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