Tusla have announced an urgent appeal for people in Waterford to become foster carers.
The Agency have launched a Fostering Recruitment Campaign to help with an increased demand for the services.
Since the pandemic and the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, there are not enough foster carers for the amount of children in care.
There are currently 405 kids in care across Waterford and Wexford, but only 325 foster carers in the same region.
Clare Murphy, Tusla's Regional Chief Officer for the South East, says people who do foster children find it to be a very rewarding job.
The Agency are calling on people to make it known if they could foster a child for even one weekend a month.
They are not asking for full-time carers, but just for people to give any amount of time they can. More information on the different types of care can be found via the Tusla website.
"There would be training provided. There would be support provided. There is an out of hours emergency service. There would be an allocated social worker. So, you wouldn't be doing it on your own," Clare told WLR.
In contrary to the past, there are currently no specific requirements to become a foster carer.
Fosterers can be single, married, a couple, or the same sex. You can have your own children, have a disability, and have only one bedroom.
You can be employed or unemployed, live in rented or your own accommodation, be over 40, and be from any background.
"When people say 'what kind of a person should foster?' I would say they should be kind, they should be compassionate and they should like children," Clare said.
She is actually encouraging anyone with a diverse background to come forward for matching purposes.
If you feel fostering could be for you, you can make it known by phoning 1800 226 771 or by visiting the fostering section of Tusla's website.
For more Waterford news and sport, click here.
