Should smokers be prevented from fostering children?

[sp1814]

Another case of the nanny state, or a sensible step to protect kids from passive smoking?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/77212 20.stm

[Velvetee]

Yes.

[LoftyLottie]

Yes

The prime concern should be the children and potential fosterers should be prepared to give up smoking if they want to foster.

If they won't then they are not commited enough to foster and surely you need to show total commitment.

[jen78]

I don't see how denying a child a good home can be beneficial and I'm sure guidelines could be put in place to encourage smokers not to smoke around children.

There are far too few homes available as it is without further narrowing the boundaries.

Next thing it will be overweight people as they could be seen to be setting a bad example!

[wasp]

To protect children from passive smoking , smokers should be banned from becoming parents . That would be the logical step.

[weeal]

Not all smokers smoke inside the house you know!

[LoftyLottie]

Well I would agree that natural parents should stop smoking once they decide to start a family. I really can't understand how people can smoke in the home while there are children around, knowing it can damage a child's health.

[youngmafbog]

Difficult decision this, childs potential health vs a loving home.
I would say it would have to be taken on individual circumstances. It would be purile to deny a good home to a child because a foster parent(s) smoked. Afterall they could be smokers but not in the house, particularly if it is only one that smoked. On the other hand two chain smoking parents in a small terraced house would probably not be a good option.
Down to the Social workers really to make the call as and when.

[LoftyLottie]

Your posting wasn't there weeal when I started my post.

I agree that not all smokers smoke in the house, but a lot do. In the case of foster carers, the authorities have a duty of care and have to be very stringent - they act in lieu of parents. It would be difficult to manage a situation where prospective foster parents do smoke but have to undertake not to smoke near the children.

If natural parents choose to smoke in a house then it is their right to make that decision.

[youngmafbog]

LL, so stop smojing altogether or would refraining from smoking in the house suffice ?

[coccinelle]

When I was looking at adoption many years ago I was told that smoking would lessen our chances.

[LoftyLottie]

Refrain from smoking all together, I think. I agree with your previous posting Youngmafbog, however, I think the authorities need to take a firm line and unfortunately 'not smoking in the house' is too woolly.

So I believe if someone is genuinely commited to fostering they would be prepared to give up smoking.

[Bbbananas]

Not if they smoke outside of the house and never in the presence of the children. Foster homes are urgently needed - I agree with Jen, it is just further narrowing the boundaries.

Of course it is ideal if any parents are non-smokers, but this is a little idealistic. Just because someone smokes does not make them a potentially bad foster parent if they do it well away from the child.

(No - I'm not a smoker)

[smudge]

Yes....

I have always been so against anyone smoking around babies & children.

Adults can do what they like to their lungs, hair, eyes, etc., but let our children grow in a healthy atmosphere, 'specially at home.

Mind you, when a bus or some cars pass by, their exhaust fumes are enough to choke anyone to death, young or old!

As an aside - my Dad always smoked in & around the home, as did lots of other adults way back then, but we grew up quite healthy -unknowingly smelling of cigarette smoke at the time.

[Ethel]

I don't see a problem - smoking is a choice, not a necessity.

If people want to foster they CAN stop smoking - they are not banned from fostering if that is what they want to do

They just have to decide what they want more.

[LoftyLottie]

How would you enforce that Salla? (not smoking near the children).

[LoftyLottie]

Exactly Ethel.

[Gromit]

The Foster Carers themselves (well, their Network of members) seem to be in favour of the ban.

"The Fostering Network believes that no child under five years old should be placed with non-related foster carers who smoke. This is because of the particularly high health risks for very young children and toddlers who spend most of their day physically close to their carers.

The charity also recommends that disabled children of any age, those who are unable to play outside and those with breathing problems like asthma are not placed with fosters carers who smoke."

http://www.fostering.net/whats_new/articles/60 90391

Rather than 'the nanny state' imposing this, it would appear that councils are listening to the Foster Carers, before deciding on what is good practice and what criteria needs to be met by fosters to provide a safe and healthy environment for children to grow up in.

[bednobs]

Yes they should.
smoking outside dosen't make a hell of a lot of difference tbh - asnt there a study not all that long ago that showed the harmful particles stayed on clothes and then were transferred to the children?

Anyway,t he sensible thing to do would be to put "no" on the application form i suppose!