Hello! To all our wonderful MacKillop Carers – welcome to Foster Care Week 2020. While we would usually connect with you in person this week, little about this year has been usual!
You have all shown exceptional resilience this year. I’ve heard many stories of the creative solutions you have come up with to keep the young ones in your home safe and connected throughout the pandemic. You’ve helped them to stay connected to their learning, to their education, to their culture and most importantly, to their birth families. I know this comes with many challenges and I want to thank you sincerely for your perseverance.
These connections are fundamental to a child’s healing and to their healthy and strong development. You have made – and you continue to make – a profound and positive impact in their lives. That is something to be incredibly proud of.
And here at MacKillop, we are proud of you. This week, we want you to take some time to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements this year. We have designed a digital program with a focus on self-care, and we have gifts that will help you in your self-care practices at home.
We will also be launching our mini-podcast feature with Mama Mia’s parenting podcast, This Glorious Mess. The two podcasts will feature MacKillop carers, staff and a young person who previously grew up in care. They will cover topics such as saying goodbye, the impact of foster care on carer’s biological children, and how to best prepare young people for independent living. I hope you find them inspiring and educational.
Our digital self-care sessions will be occurring throughout the week and I encourage you to join us where you can. However, should the times not work for you, they will be recorded and shared so you can connect with them at a time that suits you best.
Thank you again for your commitment and care. I hope you find time to relax and celebrate this week, and to feel appreciated by all of us here at MacKillop.