Fostering in the frame as special exhibition opens at Kilkenny libraries

A photo and story exhibition that depicts the everyday lives of Irish foster families in the region opens at Kilkenny’s Mayfair Library this week for two days before moving to Castlecomer next week.

A Day In The Life of Foster Families is described by organisers Tusla as 'a big family album of one day, of one community – the fostering community - and represents a snapshot of their lives'. The exhibition, which was curated by a team comprising foster carers and Tusla fostering staff from Kilkenny, features pictures and individual fostering stories from foster families and children across TUSLA Carlow Kilkenny, South Tipperary (CKST).
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“The A Day In The Life of Foster Families exhibition tells us many things about foster families. They love the sea, sport, baking and animals and, most significantly, they are ordinary families that do an extraordinary thing -caring for children and young people who, for many reasons, need a foster family”, said Kay Fennessy, Tusla Social Work Team Leader and one of the organisers of the exhibition.

“Every photo in A Day In The Life of Foster Families tells its own story and, as an ensemble, creates a sense of place, and an emotional connection. The adage ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ is certainly true for this exhibition and we encourage people to come and view it and which may prompt people to consider fostering."

The photo exhibition coincides with the launch of the Tusla fostering garden at Bord Bia Bloom this weekend and the start of National Fostering Awareness Month, an essential campaign run by Tusla as the statutory agency for, and experts in, foster care. The campaign raises awareness about the ongoing need for foster carers in communities across Ireland and how rewarding it is to foster a child.
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As the statutory agency for and experts in foster care, Tusla provides, through its community of foster carers, a safe, secure, and stable home environment for children and young people who cannot live with their birth parent(s). Across Ireland 3,817* foster carers currently open their homes to 5,021* children. Tusla foster carers are an essential component of Tusla’s alternative care system, with 88.4% of children in care living in a foster placement.

Jacqueline Smyth, National Foster Care Lead, Tusla, said: “Fostering Awareness Month is about celebrating our wonderful community of foster carers - their dedication, kindness, and commitment – and spreading awareness about what it means to foster. When you become a Tusla foster carer, you join Irelands largest community of foster carers, a community with decades of experience and staff who have worked in every aspect of the child and family services and who bring this invaluable experience into their fostering work. The first step in the fostering journey is to speak to someone on the Tusla Fostering team to explore if fostering is the right move for you and your family.”

A Day In the Life of Foster Families will open at Mayfair Library, Kilkenny on Thursday, May 29 at 12pm and is available to view on Thursday and Friday until 5pm. It moves to Castlecomer Library from 3-6 June and an information session on fostering will take place at Castlecomer Library on June 3 from 6pm-7pm. All are welcome to attend.

National Fostering Awareness Month will run throughout June with a host of events and activities around the country, including in-person and online information sessions, which are listed on www.fostering.ie.