Centacare push to keep more siblings together in foster carer “villages”

Groups of children are often separated when removed from their parents, but these carers are trying to change that with their “village” concept.

Sisters and foster carers Carmen and Terese live near to each other and care for four brothers in state care between them. Photo: Tait Schmaal

Sisters Terese and Carmen know it takes a village to raise siblings in foster care.

Between them they have taken in four brothers in state care to ensure they get to see each other as much as possible.

Carmen, 52, cares for the youngest, an eight-month-old, while Terese, 57, provides a home for his three older brothers - aged six, eight and 10 - just a few streets away in Adelaide’s western suburbs.

Groups of more than two children are usually separated when they are removed from their parents by authorities but Centacare Catholic Family Services is trying to change that with its “village” concept of foster care.

About 85 per cent of referrals the organisation receives from the Child Protection Department are to find homes for sibling groups of between two and six children.

It can be difficult to find one foster carer or household to take them together but the village approach aims to match carers who are related, close friends or live nearby who can ensure the children maintain regular contact.

Terese, who also has a daughter aged 20, said the arrangement was much better for her foster sons because “they do worry about being split up”.

“They’re always excited to see their younger brother,” she said.

“They see each other every weekend. We have a barbecue all together every Sunday.”

Terese added that it was easier for the boys’ mother to have access visits with them than if they lived with strangers or in different parts of Adelaide.

Centacare foster care manager Amalie Mannik said there were many reasons why a carer may not be able to take a whole family of children, including finances, the size of their home or the needs of their biological children.

“It’s horrible when you know you are going to need to split siblings,” she said.

“The more little villages we have like this, the better.”

A report released earlier this year by the CREATE Foundation revealed siblings in state care are most likely to be separated in South Australia than anywhere else in the country.

Nationally about a third of children living in state care were separated from their brothers and sisters, compared to 42 per cent in SA.