News
How To Support Your Foster Child With Homework
Why is helping your foster child with homework helpful? Parents and carers who take an interest in their children's homework have a better knowledge of their education. Additionally, children who are able to complete homework tasks successfully are likely to develop a...
What Should I Do If My Foster Child Is Being Bullied?
Bullying, unfortunately, isn’t uncommon. It can be a very upsetting for any child, let alone a child who may already be feeling vulnerable. By knowing the signs of bullying and feeling confident in dealing with them, you will be able to help resolve the issues more...
My Foster Child Keeps Going Missing
Your foster child going missing can be a distressing and anxious time for the whole family, as well as the child. Children can abscond and go missing for a variety of reasons including wanting control in their lives. Reasons a foster child may run away Having a...
5 Ways to Prepare to be a Foster Parent
If you're preparing to be a foster parent, congratulations on starting a journey many aren’t ready for or feel unable to take. Be proud of yourself! There are a few things we recommend you do to prepare for your foster child. Becoming a foster parent is a huge...
Matching foster children and carers
At AFA we make sure we ‘match’ as carefully as possible. What does this mean? Well, when a referral comes to us from a local authority we, the duty team, read the information they send with great care. This is a crucial first step to arranging placements that are...
Revision Techniques – Advice for Young People
With exams just around the corner, whether GCSE’s or A levels, it is important to be prepared, but also not to panic. Below is our top ten tips and further advice posted online by past students, which may be useful in preparing for your exams. Top Ten Tips Create a...
Information on Special Guardianship Orders (SGOs)
Special Guardianship orders are often discussed at LAC reviews and currently, a number of Local Authorities are developing policies relating to SGOs. Here is some information we thought might be helpful. What is special guardianship? Below definition from...
What is Being a Foster Carer Like?
We love talking about fostering! But to understand what being a foster carer is really like, we’ve handed over the reins to those who know best – our fabulous foster carers and their families. Here are some of the thoughts and comments they’ve shared with us: What Do...
Advice for Foster Parents on Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
We take CSE very seriously here at AFA. We recognise the risks and challenges presented by Child Sexual Exploitation, and that it is our responsibility to identify young people in our care who are at risk of CSE. We work with other agencies to safeguard and protect...
AFA’s High Quality Services Recognised in National Research
Over the last 18 months AFA have been involved in a national research project commissioned by the Dept of Education, looking at different models of supporting long-term foster care placements. The research report was undertaken by Mark Beek, Gillian Schofield and...