Why millennials can make great foster carers

When imagining a traditional foster carer, these figures are sometimes stereotyped as a middle-aged couple or single mother whose children have flown the nest.

However, in recent years, there has been an increase in the diversity of ages of foster carers, as those who applied to foster as millennials (born between 1981 and 1996) and Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) increased by threefold in 2020.

Beacon Fostering encourages people from all backgrounds to apply, and in this blog, we will be looking at how millennial foster carers could be the key to increasing recruitment in fostering agencies.

The increase in millennial foster carers

This has largely occurred due to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020-21 and the increase in flexible, hybrid working. Millennials are embracing this way of carrying out their careers, as it enables them to fit in caring responsibilities.

The support network that foster care agencies offer is also a factor in the rise of young foster carers. Training and 24/7 support, as well as continuous engagement with social workers and related individuals and groups, also goes hand in hand with this generation’s focus on mental health.

Their engagement with children and teenagers

Millennials and the older members of Gen Z are known for being open-minded and generally more accepting to diversity and new perspectives than older generations. This, combined with being close in age to Generation Alpha (born in 2012 onwards) creates a sense of relatability and understanding regarding current youth challenges. As a result, the foster children they look after can often feel supported and secure regarding the trickier aspects of growing up.