Our Responsibility to Provide Care helping rebuild lives
When children and young people are removed from their families because of serious abuse and / or neglect , it is our job to help them rebuild their lives .
It is very concerning that the number of children who can ’ t live with their families continues to grow , with a 25 % increase over the last 3 years . Each week , the system needs to find places for more than 60 new children or 3000 over the year .
During 2008 / 09 , there were also approximately 120 children and young people at any one time living in makeshift and temporary arrangements , because there simply wasn ’ t a suitable place for them .
This led Berry Street to join with other organisations to demand that the Victorian Government guarantee that every child removed from home because of serious abuse and / or neglect is safe and that they get the help they need to heal . The Government ’ s commitment of $ 134 million over the next 4 years was a good start , but won ’ t be sufficient if demand continues to grow .
During the year , Berry Street provided care for 634 children and young people – through foster care , residential care and supporting kinship care .
238 wonderful volunteer foster carer households provided love , care and support to 410 children and young people . 45 new carer households completed training and were accredited .
In our residential care program , our committed staff cared for 224 children and young people , a 20 % increase on last year . This reflects the increased demand on the system and our willingness to be flexible , open 20 contingency units and take in extra children and young people .
It is very concerning that 73 of the children in residential care were under 12 . Ideally , these children should be placed with family members or in foster care , but sadly , this was not possible . This is an area which must be urgently addressed by the Government , as these children need routines and consistency which is difficult to provide in residential units where staff work rosters .
During the year , Berry Street provided care for 634 children and young people .
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