Click here to read our recent editorial

Actively looking for foster carers NOW!

If you would like to be part of this innovtive approach to fostering from the very beginning call the TimeWise team on (01) 842 45 25 and discover if fostering with TimeWise is right for you.

TimeWise Information Evening

We will hold an information evening on the Thursday, 2nd September 2010 in our head office - Daughters of Charity Child and Family Services,T. O'Reilly building, Swords Rd, Santry, Dublin 9. Click here for map and directions. All are welcome to attend.

'Foundations for Fostering' Training Course

From those who made telephone enquiries, some have now successfully completed the ‘Foundations for Fostering’ training course which took place in November 2008, May and September 2009, and April 2010. Their comments about their experiences so far to becoming Foster Carers with TimeWise include; “I thought the course gave me a good insight into fostering, especially with regard to birth parents and foster children’s feelings.” “I feel that TimeWise may fill a very important gap for children who have been separated from their birth family”.

TimeWise are now again seeking to recruit more Foster Carers living in North Dublin, Louth and Meath and will be hosting the Foundations for Fostering training course again during the year for all new prospective foster carers. If you would like further information, please do not hesitate to give us a call: (01) 842 45 25

TimeWise Information Evening

Shopping Centre Stands

We had a stand in the Omni Shopping Centre, Santry, on the 18th and 19th June 09 and in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on 1st and 2nd October for those interested in learning more about the TimeWise Programme.

TimeWise Information Evening

What is Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC)?

MTFC | The Aims | How the programme succeeds | Services

Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care was developed in the early 1980's by the Oregon Social Learning Centre in the United States. It was designed as an alternative to institutional, residential, and group care placements for young people with severe and chronic criminal behaviour. Subsequently, the MTFC model has been adapted and used with children and adolescents with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties. It is underpinned by Social Learning Theory, which describes the mechanisms by which individuals learn to behave in social contexts. In family settings, daily interactions between family members shape and influence both positive and negative patterns of behaviour that children develop and carry with them into their interactions with others outside of the family (e.g., peers, teachers, etc).

Young people involved in an MTFC programme are placed to live with foster carers who have been trained in implementing the programme, for a period of 6-9 months. During this time, wrap-around support is provided to the young person in every aspect of their lives, as well as to their birth family and foster carers.
Four key elements of treatment are targeted during placement and aftercare:
(1) Providing the young person with a consistent reinforcing environment where he or she is mentored and encouraged to develop academic and positive living skills
(2) Providing daily structure with clear expectations and limits, with well-specified consequences delivered in a teaching-oriented manner
(3) Providing close supervision of the young persons whereabouts
(4) Helping the young person to avoid deviant peer associations while providing them with the support and assistance needed to establish pro-social peer relationships.

The aims of MTFC are to create opportunities so that young people are able to successfully live in families rather than in group or institutional settings, and to simultaneously prepare their parents, relatives, or other aftercare resources to provide them with effective parenting so that the positive changes made while the young people were on an MTFC programme can be sustained into the future.