SEXUALLY ABUSED, HOMELESS AND IN FOSTER CARE, TINA'S STORY

16th November 2020
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Tina Redmond was sexually abused as a child by a man. As a teenager, she suffered panic attacks, fear and nightmares. She didn't tell anyone about the abuse and found it very difficult to concentrate. She tried to take her own life during her despair.
At 14 she ran away from home and lived on the street in Dublin for around six months.
One night, she attended a party in a field where everyone was on drugs, having sex and burning cars. She said she was so terrified that she pretended to take drugs and as soon as the party "died down" she went to the gardai and asked for help.
She was placed in foster care and received a lot of counselling.
Tina's troubles though did not end there. A photographer duped her into glamour modelling at just 17, until her foster carer put a stop to it.
Now a married mum of two with a business of her own, Tina wants to share her story to warn others of the dangers faced by vulnerable teenagers today.
Watch Tina's story tonight here on our Stay With Me Art Show KZbin Channel, Monday 16th November 2020 at 7pm. Subscribe FREE
In response to Tina's story, the Child and Family Agency Tusla said:
“Tusla does not comment on individual cases. When a child or family enters into a relationship with a public service such as Tusla they are entitled to expect that information generated in that relationship is treated in confidence and remains private. This is critically important in the subject matters which Tusla is involved. In the context of modern day approaches to service provision Tusla is committed to the principle and practice of ensuring that children’s voices are heard and that they are included in decisions about their care. Children across the country have been involved in participative projects that have actively improved Tusla service provision in recent years. Many HIQA inspection reports have also highlighted how children’s views were consulted as part of care planning and reviews, and that care plans were found to be child-centred and informed by the voice of the child. We strive to continuously engage with the children and families who we work with, and with foster carers who play a valuable role in the delivery of services. We also provide foster carers with financial, emotional and professional support, and training, including a national out-of-hours emergency phone service. We would encourage anyone who has a query or concern about their case to contact us to discuss further. Details can be found at www.tusla.ie/g... ”
Alison O'Reilly's statement in response to Tusla's statement. "As a former foster carer with Tusla in north Dublin, as well as a journalist who has met with 45 foster carers across the country in the past year, I do not agree with the statement by Tusla, where it says 'We strive to continuously engage with the children and families who we work with, and with foster carers who play a valuable role in the delivery of services. We also provide foster carers with financial, emotional and professional support, and training, including a national out-of-hours emergency phone service.' This is not the case for me nor the foster carers I interviewed. Having provided an "excellent level of care" in my last placement as well as great care for all my other placements, I received no emotional support, no support at all, I made at least 40 requests for support for one particular child. I had to beg for mileage when I was expected to travel 1500km for one child in particular, and I received no support at all in one horrific placement (nothing to do with the child, all to do with Tusla). I did not get emotional support, instead, I organised my own and then Tusla said they would pay for it (after six weeks of me organising my own). I will provide a full report of the foster carers study I have done independently. It is a broken system and foster carers in my opinion are not treated well, do not get the support they require and for this reason, as well as the last placement I had, which was the worst experience of my life, I will never foster with Tusla again. I will tell this story someday. Providing 'financial support' is also something that is written in the legislation. You dont get 'paid' to be a foster carer by Tusla, the state gives you an allowance and no allowance in the world would 'pay you' to care for a child in care".
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Video Journalist Alison O'Reilly
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A Hardshoes Production 2020
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