The Irish Foster Care Association’s National Helpline Service operates from 11am – 3pm, Monday to Friday, this service offers independent and professional support to the foster care community. The aim of the service is to offer the best and most appropriate support during challenging times by providing clarity and guidance for all those involved in foster care. The service is confidential, responsive and personal and open to everyone involved in foster care.
Stats for 2023:
calls, emails, webchat and referrals to the National Helpline
new cases to the Helpline
cases supported by our National Advocacy Team
IFCA’s Helpline Service is the first point of contact for foster carers and all those with a query or question about fostering. The service is designed to assist all foster carers experiencing difficulty by:
Please enter your details below and a member of our helpline team will call you back. Please note The Helpline hours are between 11am to 3pm Monday to Friday
IFCA’s Helpline Service is the first point of contact for foster carers and all those with a query or question about fostering. The service is designed to assist all foster carers experiencing difficulty by:
We have a number of valued and committed volunteers, some who have been with us for a number of years. Our volunteers come from various backgrounds and are trained and certified in Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Skills Practice.
‘Hi, my name is Niall Sheehan. I am based in Dublin but from down the country. I have qualifications in Computer Science, Finance, Project Management and Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am currently doing a Master’s in Integrative Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy. In between parenting, study and work, I enjoy a daily walk while listening to music, reading, Sudoku (& variants), and I joined the Tallaght Choral Society to sing the big and fabulous choral works. I have been a foster carer since 2003 and a single foster carer since 2012.
I started with IFCA’s National Helpline in early 2018. I hope I have brought to the Helpline an understanding of how complex, dynamic and challenging the communications and behaviours that are part and parcel of fostering can be; a recognition and empathy with the all-encompassing, 24×7 role we fulfill; and a true and honest acknowledgement of the oft-times difficulty of dealing with the system whilst advocating for the children in our care.’
Support our work – Volunteer with us
We have a number of valued and committed Volunteers some who have been with us for a number of years. Our Volunteers come from various backgrounds and are trained and certified in Counselling and Psychotherapeutic Skills Practice.
‘Hi, my name is Niall Sheehan. I am based in Dublin but from down the country. I have qualifications in Computer Science, Finance, Project Management and Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy. I am currently doing a Master’s in Integrative Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy. In between parenting, study and work, I enjoy a daily walk while listening to music, reading, Sudoku (& variants), and I joined the Tallaght Choral Society to sing the big and fabulous choral works. I have been a foster carer since 2003 and a single foster carer since 2012.
I started with IFCA’s National Helpline in early 2018. I hope I have brought to the Helpline an understanding of how complex, dynamic and challenging the communications and behaviours that are part and parcel of fostering can be; a recognition and empathy with the all-encompassing, 24×7 role we fulfill; and a true and honest acknowledgement of the oft-times difficulty of dealing with the system whilst advocating for the children in our care.’
Support our work – Volunteer with us
