Foster Care News - Week 4

Child protection staff crisis looms, warns union - ABC News 12/11/10

Lack of case workers hampers foster kids - The Australian 12/11/10

Colettes giving spirit celebrated - 12/11/10

Family law changes to tighten child protection - SMH 11/11/10

Addiction: Cries for help - Maribyrnong Weekly 10/11/10

Five-on-one attacker walks free - Warwick Daily News 10/11/10

Shaky victory for Stolen Generations - ABC News 10/11/10

Remote area foster carers needed - ABC News North West Queensland 10/11/10

Child protection whistleblower felt 'intimidated' - ABC News 09/11/10

Carers at wits' end - The Mercury 09/11/10

Child services slammed, again - NT News 09/11/10

Quentin McDermott's report "Dangerous Territory" - Four Corners 08/11/10

Foster carers in tears at child protection inquiry - ABC News 08/11/10

Ombudsman hits out at child protection failures - ABC News 08/11/10

Couple celebrate grandparents day - Sunshine Coast Daily 07/11/10

Qld celebrates first Grandparents Day - SMH 07/11/10

Foster Care News - Week 3

John Brumby boosts social care with $493m - The Australian 05/11/10

Man inspired by foster parents - The Chronicle 05/11/10

Children at risk need more foster families - Logan West Leader 05/11/10

Stoush erupts over DOCS staffing at Katoomba office - Blue Moutains Gazette 04/11/10

Family First bill aims to wind back abortion in SA - Australian Conservative 04/11/10

Homeless sleep rough for longer: survey - SMH 04/11/10

Mum loses child after week on the run - Herald Sun 04/11/10

DOCS grabs baby after mum's runner - The Daily Telegraph 04/11/10

Kept in the dark on child protection - SMH 03/11/10

Court to decide whether Christian couple can foster children - Christian Today 02/11/10

Too quick to judge on child protection - SMH 30/10/10

'Give us back our baby' - The Australian 29/10/10

Substance Abuse in Pregnancy - NSW Health Review

NSW Health Review of Substance Use in Pregnancy Services - Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Offi ce

The Chemical Use in Pregnancy Service - CUPS Clinic Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick

If it were not for a stroke of luck, I would never have known about this service. Dr John Feller has been our family Paediatrician for some time. We were visiting him in his rooms with our 6 year old biological son, and our baby foster son when Dr Feller remarked that he hadn't known that we were planning on having any more children. He was probably a bit confused that he hadn't been called to the hospital following the birth as he knows that we definitely would have arranged that!

We told him the story of how this baby had some into our care and he immediately booked us into the magic clinic that has been our one consistent care team. The Chemical Use in Pregnancy Service at Sydney Childrens Hospital in Randwick. The staff are amazing. Non judgemental. Completely respectful. And they genuinely care for these babies and are committed to following through on their progress.

If you find yourself caring for a baby who has been exposed to substance use in pregnancy, and you are in the Sydney area, know that there is help. I am looking into services in other areas to add also.

Chemical Use in Pregnancy (CUPS) Central Network

Chemical Use in Pregnancy Service - Fact Sheet

Caring for your baby if you drink or use substances in pregnancy - Fact Sheet

"For the Children's Sake" - Four Corners Transcript 23/07/07

Early Intervention Services in Sydney

Most of us at some point will find ourselves with a little one who requires that little bit of extra help. And most of us will be our foster child's only advocate and will have to seek out the appropriate services to assist the child. We have used some of these services personally for our foster son - the first four in particular. If you know of services in any other areas that you think I should add, please get in contact or comment below.

Cerebral Palsy - The Spastic Centre

Annie's Centre

Learning Links

Lifestart Early Childhood Intervention and School Age Services Sydney

Quirky Kid Clinic

Foster Care News - Week 2

Carers slam paltry payment - The Mercury 28/10/10

New intervention plan worries for indigenous Australian children - ABC Radio 28/10/10

Grandparents who care for grandchildren get help - ABC News 28/10/10

Indigenous duo have a first for Oxford - The Australian 27/10/10

Lifting the lid on sexual abuse. missing children and worse - Herald Sun 26/10/10

Susie O'Brien: Kids' welfare vital - Herald Sun 26/10/10

Trauma and Recovery for Children in Care, Children formerly in Care and Carers

Mary Jo McVeigh works with people affected by trauma, mostly children affected by abuse or family break-up - ABC

Cara House - Centre for Resilience and Recovery

Trauma and Attachment in Children in Foster Care - Start.org.au

Understanding the Foster Child - Power4parents.org