Types of Foster Care
Lutheran Community Care Foster Care Services provide a range of care options that foster carers can choose from. Both our Generalist Care and Specialist Care programs are therapeutic in nature. We exist to provide quality support to families and stable placements for children to help them heal, grow and thrive. As a foster family with Lutheran Community Care, you are a key partner in the care team. We walk alongside you and offer personalised, 24/7 support.
We provide various types of Generalist Care and many foster carers register for multiple types of care.
Our Specialist service equips and supports families caring for children with higher or complex needs.
Short Term Care
Short Term Care may be required at any time and on very short notice.
Children and young people may require a placement for a period of time between 90 days and up to 12 months. This provides children and young people with safety and stability while their social worker and the care team decide on a longer term plan.
At the end of this time, a child or young person may be reunified with their birth family, or matched with a long term foster family.
We now include 'Emergency Care' in the above description of Short Term Care.
We acknowledge that children’s attachment needs are foundational to their social, emotional and cognitive development, and we can best support them to develop healthy attachments by offering placement stability for as long as possible. If you have thought about the potential to provide 'Emergency Care' based on your occasional availability to care for children over a weekend or for very short periods of time, we encourage you to consider enquiring about Respite Care.
In our Short Term care film, LCC carers share how their family reacted to their decision to foster.
Long Term Care
Long Term Care is needed when a child is unable to live with their family and needs a stable, safe environment in which to grow up.
Long Term Care may be required until a child turns 18.
In our Long Term film, our carer shares why she enquired about foster care and how fostering has influenced her life.
"A lot of people talk about foster children and what you give to them, but they give a lot in return. I've been given a lot by having them in my life, it's been a real pleasure."
Respite Care
Respite Care usually takes place over weekends and school holidays. This type of care provides foster families a break while the child or young person enjoys a positive experience building relationship with another adult or family. The period of care can be negotiated on a regular or once-off basis.
In our Respite Care film, our carers share how Respite Care fits in with their work commitments and lifestyle.
Specialist Care
We offer Specialist Care to children and young people with complex needs who require a higher level of care than general foster care.
LCC Specialist Care is a therapeutic service. We walk with families through their recruitment, assessment, training and provide personalised, 24/7 support.
Carer Testimonial
"Just give them the best you can with the time you’ve got - whether that’s short or long"
- Lauren, LCC Foster Carer
