Are you a same sex couple, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT+) and have considered becoming a foster parent or wondered if same sex couples can foster in Ireland? Applicants from all walks of life are welcome and encouraged to apply to become foster carers regardless of their marital status, sexual orientation or identity, culture or residential status!

What matters is not a person’s sexual orientation or identity, but their willingness and ability to provide a loving, caring and safe home to a child or young person. There are many children raised by same sex couples and same sex couple families happy and thriving.

Currently there are more than 6,000 children in state care in Ireland, with 5511 of these young people placed in foster care. Due to a number of reasons, including a lack of foster carers, the remaining percentage of these children and young people are placed in other out of home care arrangements such as children’s residential services. Each day more and more foster carers are needed to ensure that there are enough foster carers available for the young people being referred into the care system.

Fostering Process for Same Sex Couples

The application process for same sex couple fostering or applying as a single carer from the LGBT community is absolutely the exact same as anyone else applying to become a foster parent.

Step 1. Initial contact is made to the fostering agency to express your interest in fostering through phone call or email. A member of staff will briefly discuss fostering with you and answer any questions you may have. Some of your personal details will be taken to ensure you meet certain criteria, such as having a spare bedroom, and an information pack will then be sent out to you.

Step 2. A follow up phone call will be made from the fostering agency to see if you would like to arrange an initial visit, where a social worker will call to your home to begin your assessment.

Step 3. At the initial visit you can explore any questions or worries you may have and the assessing social worker will go through what you can expect through the assessment process.

Step 4. The assessment process takes approximately 16 weeks to complete, sometimes longer depending on different situations and circumstances, and will involve 8-10 visits from your assessing social worker.

Step 5. An assessing report is made throughout this time and is then presented to a committee where a decision will be made. Your assessing social worker supports you throughout the whole process of the application from beginning to end.

Step 6. Throughout the assessment you will be required to provide personal information and explore many areas of your life experiences to date, including past and current relationships regardless of your sexual identity or orientation. You will be required to go through Garda vetting, provide personal references and undertake a medical.

Step 7. It may sound like a long and daunting process however, many applicants report feeling very supported and satisfied following the assessment. Take a look at some foster carer’s personal experiences of fostering here; https://www.orchardfostering.ie/fostering-stories/

 

Facts & Myths About LGBT Fostering in Ireland

There are many myths around same sex couples fostering which we will look at busting here;

  • We can’t foster because we are same sex carers.

This is just not true! As previously discussed, sexual orientation or sexual identity do not have any impact on your eligibility to become foster carers and LGBT couples fostering is encouraged as much as same sex couples fostering. There is no lgbt discrimination. The fostering application as mentioned is the same for everyone. Everyone is treated equally as a foster parent.

 

  • Children of LGBT couples are more likely to grow up to be LGBT themselves.

Research shows that the sexual orientation of the parents. whether heterosexual or LGBT, has no impact on that of the children. Furthermore, children raised in LGBT families are more likely to be more tolerant of diversity and individuality which benefits everyone in society.

 

  • Children need a Mum and Dad. Children can’t be raised by same sex couples.

Children need a loving, nurturing and supportive environment from parents or caregivers. It does not matter if this is provided by a single parent, two Mothers, two Fathers or a Mother and Father. A same sex couple family can provide the same level of care and commitment to a child as any other family can provide.

 

  • I can’t foster because I am a single and LGBT.

Again, this is not true. People who can provide a safe and stable home are welcome to apply to become a foster parent. During your assessment, your wider support network will be explored as well as having the support of your assessing social worker and then a support worker once approved. Many of our carers are same sex couples or single.

 

  • The fostering process is different and takes longer for a same sex couple.

The assessment process is the exact same for opposite sex couples and single applicants as it is for same sex couples and single LGBT applicants. This process takes between four to six months, involving eight to ten visits from your assessing social worker. Throughout this process, a lot of your personal information is explored, as well as your partners if there is a partner, but this is the same process for every applicant.

There has been many questions on “Can lesbians foster in Ireland?” Take a look at these two stories from two same sex couples fostering in Ireland and their experiences of the fostering process;  https://lgbt.ie/fostering-for-lgbt-families/

Another fantastic resource for perspective on same sex couples or single LGBT applicants can be found here; https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/f_profbulletin.pdf

Two of Orchard Fostering carers talk about their experience fostering in Ireland as an LGBT couple in the Care Experience Podcast. The Podcast is worth a listen as the couple share their trials and explain what motivated them to become foster carers.

At Orchard Fostering we take pride in helping to build better futures for many young people across Ireland and would like for you to become involved too. If you are in Ireland, LGBT+ and considering fostering you can contact us by filling out an online application form at https://www.orchardfostering.ie/contact-us/ or contact us by phone on 01 6275713 to speak with one of our team members who will be happy to answer any further questions you may have.

We offer advice for foster children who identify as LGBTQ. See our blog on 5 Tips on Support and Advice for Foster Teens and Children who Identify as LGBTQ.