There are currently 30 foster carers in Jersey, but Fostering and Adoption Jersey said that there was a need to recruit more people to cope with demand. The service hopes to recruit ten new foster carers by the end of the year.
During the campaign, two pop-up information events are due to be held where members of the public will be able to talk to social workers about the process of becoming a foster carer.
Margarida Lourenco-Olivier, from the service, said that children should be placed with foster carers who suited their needs, which was why there was always a need to recruit more people.
She said: ‘Every child who comes into care will have different needs and each carer is assessed for those different types of need.
‘We need to keep that variety in terms of foster carers, which is why we need a pool of as many as we can.’
Janette Young (57) and her partner, Glyn, have fostered 46 children during the last 18 years and currently have two boys, aged six and two, and two girls, aged 14 and nine, living with them – as well as their 13-year-old daughter.
The couple also have two children, who are 22 and 21 years old, studying in the UK.
Mrs Young said: ‘I think if anyone has even thought about fostering then they should get in touch and find out more about the process. It’s not going to happen quickly and it’s not going to be a walk in the park but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have huge rewards.’
The pop-up events are due to take place on 12 and 13 May between 10 am and 4 pm at Les Quennevais precinct and 19 and 20 May between 10 am and 4 pm at Jersey Library.
