Foster Care Associations

A Foster Care Association is an organization for Foster Family/Whanau Caregivers to support each other in their work as Caregivers. Foster Family/Whanau Caregivers are a group of people who share their lives, their homes, and their families with children and young people who require support and care.

Belonging to an Association is a declaration on your part, which states that there is something special about being a Foster Family/Whanau Caregiver, and that you are very much a part of the team that works together for the children in care. Also it goes without saying that the bigger the Association – the bigger the voice. If every Caregiver joined up with their local Association, can you imagine how big a voice we would have? The Government would have to wake up and listen to us.

An Association can provide whatever the Caregivers in their area choose. Some of the support and assistance that you may receive from your local Foster Care Association could include some of the following:

- To provide information and support to Caregivers.

- To advocate on behalf of Caregivers.

- To enhance training opportunities for Caregivers.

- To enlist community resources.

- To support Caregivers who have had an allegation made against them by making information available regarding proper processes and policies.

- To assist with review plans when Social Workers visit.

- To keep information circulating by way of a regular newsletter.

- To hold regular coffee and information sharing mornings/evenings.

- To organize fun/social occasions for Foster Family/Whanau Families and children.

- To publicly promote caregiving.

- To collate statistics for National research and data bases.

For more information about your local Foster Care Association please contact:

If you would like your Association details to be added to this section, then please send through details to Allysa

South Auckland Caregiver's Association (Inc.):
Covers Mangere, Otahuhu, all areas covered by the Manukau City Council, and the area up to the Bombays that is covered by the Franklin City Council.
Allysa Carberry
(09) 2670319
carberrys@xtra.co.nz

Christchurch Foster Care Association:
P.O. Box 264, Christchurch Mail Centre
cffca@kol.co.nz

Masterton Caregivers Group:
Malcolm Willoughly
(06) 3774453
malou@infogen.net.nz

Hawkes Bay Foster Care Association:
Frances Ross
(06) 8766523
rossby@xtra.co.nz

North Otago Caregivers Association:
Lindsay Emerson
(03) 4370038
emerson@watchdog.net.nz

Foster Care New Zealand (Otago) Inc:
Willie Nielsen
(03) 4449464
cherish.peace@xtra.co.nz

Southland Foster Care Association:
P.O. Box 7016 Invercargill

Waikato Foster Care Association:

James Tuhoro

P.O. Box 14177

Five Cross Roads, Hamilton

Ph (07) 8553727

Email: htuhoro@hotmail.com

Wanganui Foster Care Association:
Noeline Smith
(06) 3221902
wanganui_fostercare_assoc@xtra.co.nz

Wellington Foster Care Association:
Coral Whitson
(04) 9704806
whitson@paradise.net.nz