Foster Care

The vast majority of children who are Looked After by Cumbria County Council's Children's Services are cared for by foster carers. Foster Carers are trained in how to keep children safe, healthy living and how to help children enjoy and achieve and make a positive contribution. Many children return home to their family after a period in foster care but those who are fostered on a permanent basis are helped to maintain contact with their own parents and family. Foster Carers provide a very valuable service and can make such a difference to a child's life.

There are almost 500 children in Cumbria who are unable to live with their families at any one time. Most of these are placed with foster carers.