FOSTER Care Associates (FCA) Cymru is appealing for potential carers to help young parents across Wales.

FCA Cymru, which celebrates its 21st anniversary of providing care and support to children and young people this year, is hoping carers with the time, inclination and space to care for a young parent and their child will consider the move into fostering.

A parent and child placement offers the parent, often the mother, and child the best opportunity to remain together.

A young parent may be struggling to care for their child and require extra support and these placements allow the parent to develop their parenting skills in a stable and caring environment whilst in the guidance of their foster carer.

FCA Cymru encourages parent and child placements because they allow the parent to maintain and build upon their relationship with the child, meaning a foster home can play a pivotal role in ensuring the parent and child a happy lifetime together.

Placements can range from short-term assessment periods to long-term ones, meaning appropriate placements can be found to suit the foster home. Some placements are pre-birth to help parents prepare for the birth of the child.

FCA Cymru provides support to those undertaking parent and child placements every step of the way, including training, a financial allowance, access to carer support groups and organised family activities.

For more information on becoming a foster carer with FCA please call 0800 023 4561 or visit www.thefca.co.uk.