MayoFosterCare.ie

The National Conference of The Irish Foster Care Association was launched by Robert Mizzell Country and Western Singer in the Castlecourt Hotel Westport on Tuesday night 20th July. Robert spoke about the wonderful effects that Foster Care had on his life, he said that his foster mother "Mama Courtney" had fostered over thirty children and had given them a great start in life. He said that children raised in residential care could never compare to being brought up in a foster home, family interaction is a vital part of foster care, he himself at the moment could not foster due to his lifestyle as a Country and Western Singer but he hoped that his daughter would become a Foster Parent when she was older. He also said that from his experience the most thing that children needed was routine and to know that when the came home there would be meals at mealtime.

The launch was attended by Alice Parkinson Chairperson of the Board of the Irish Foster Care Association, Mr Paul Murphy Child Care Manager Mayo HSE, some of the workshop presenters for the Conference were in attendence including Antoin Boyd Senior Education Psychologist for Mayo Community Care, Finn McCarthy and Claire Riordan HSE West PCCC Psychologists, Mags Gallagher Aftercare Worker on the children in Care Team. Derval Dunford who will present a workshop in "Sui Mindfulness Meditation and Relaxation".

The Cathaoirleach of Westport Urban Council Teresa McGuire also attended the launch as did Noreen Kelleher from Co. Leitrim Regional Rep on the IFCA board . A large number of Foster Carers from the Mayo branch attended the launch and a branch meeting afterwards which Alice Parkinson IFCA addressed and Noreen Kelleher IFCA also spoke of her role in the association.

The Brochure which was launched outlines the workshops which will be presented over the weekend of the conference. The official opening of the conference will be performed on Friday 5th November by Mr. Paul Murphy Child Care Manager Mayo. The Branch officers also launched The Branch Website www.mayofostercare.ie which will carry further information on the Conference. All the members of the organising committee were in attendance