Some children just need a 'leg up' to change their whole mindset, former footballer and manager Roddy Collins has said.
Monday marks the start of Tulsa's National Fostering Week, which aims to raise awareness of fostering across the country.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Collins said he and his wife fostered her brother’s baby for family reasons.
"Caroline's brother and his partner had a baby, and they weren't well," he said.
"They had some mental issues at the time."
He said his wife was concerned for her brother's partner and so brought her to hospital.
"Caroline brought her down to the Rotunda [Hospital] and she was six months pregnant, she didn't even know," he said
"Caroline says, 'What are we going to do?' and Caroline says, 'We'll take the baby'."
"She's a great addition and she's family.
"Her Dad only passed away five weeks ago and when we buried him, I said, 'You've only one Dad left now'".
'They need a leg up'
Collins and his wife already had a one-year-old son.
"We were 40 when we had [our son] Páraic, and then suddenly we had two within the space of 18 months," he said.
"All this talk about fostering; there's children out there, they need a leg up - it's simple.
"I walk the streets of Dublin regularly, and I talk to the lads in the doorway.
"One little leg up could probably change their whole mindset of these people, just to make them feel wanted, a little aul hug here and there."
'What can you give them?'
Collins said people should consider what they have to offer.
"People might think you might take a child and then after six months the child has to go back, or things have improved, and it's heart-wrenching and that - but don't think of yourself in it," he said.
"Just think of what you're giving to the child.
"These children aren't in a situation because of their [actions], it's not their fault.
"They've ended up in it, unfortunately, and there's different circumstances.
"The challenge is, what can you give them? Can you help them out?
"I don't think of it as other than there was room in the house, we had a few quid, we weren't struggling.
"It's simple - anyone can go and do it and I'd advise it," he added.
