Image by Back to the Bay.
This week’s powerful Home and Away storyline introduces us to Cohen, a young boy whose life has been turned upside down after his mother, Samantha, is arrested. Homeless and living out of a tent, Samantha did everything she could to protect and care for Cohen in desperate circumstances. But when the police discover a stash of stolen phones in her possession, she is taken into custody, leaving Cohen frightened, confused, and alone.
Cohen’s story is fictional, but sadly, it reflects the very real experiences of many children who enter the foster care system. At Challenge Community Services, we know that children like Cohen are not “bad kids”—they are children who’ve lived through incredibly tough situations. That’s why we follow CARE: Creating conditions for Change, a framework for providing trauma-informed, compassionate, and developmentally appropriate care for children and young people in out-of-home care. At the heart of this framework are six evidence-informed principles that guide our everyday interactions and decision-making to create environments where children feel safe, valued and supported.
Let’s take a closer look at how each of the CARE Principles could help Roo, Cohen’s new foster carer, as she steps back into fostering and how these principles also support carers themselves as they navigate the challenges, fears, and strengths that come with opening their homes and hearts.
Relationship Based: Building Trust One Day at a Time
Cohen enters Roo’s home, wary and withdrawn. He doesn’t trust adults—why should he? The only person he depended on, his mum, has just been taken away by police. His fear and confusion are valid. What he needs now is someone who shows up consistently, listens without judgment, and proves through actions (not just words) that he is safe.
CARE teaches us that relationships are the foundation of healing. For carers like Roo, this principle can also touch on deeply personal fears like What if I’m not enough? What if I can’t reach him? Roo doesn’t need to “fix” Cohen; she needs to patiently build a connection, day by day. And in doing so, she may discover her own capacity to be a steady, calm presence even in the face of rejection or distance.
Whether it’s preparing meals together, talking about shared interests, or just being quietly present, these small, reliable moments help Cohen begin to feel secure again and reassure Roo that trust, though fragile, can be built with time.
Developmentally Focused: Meeting Kids Where They’re At
Children and young people who have experienced trauma often show behaviours or emotional responses that don’t match their age. While Cohen may be old enough to speak and express himself, emotionally, he might regress, showing signs of fear, anger, or helplessness more common in much younger children.
This can be confronting for foster carers. Roo may worry she’s doing something wrong if Cohen lashes out or withdraws. CARE reminds us that development isn’t linear and it’s not a reflection of her failure. Instead of expecting Cohen to “act his age,” Roo can offer support that meets him where he’s at emotionally and developmentally.
Maybe Cohen needs to play, to be comforted, or to express himself through art or quiet time. And maybe Roo, in responding flexibly and without shame, rediscovers the power of nurturing on a deeper level, where her intuition and patience become her greatest tools.
Trauma Informed: Understanding the Why Behind the Behaviour
Cohen may push people away, refuse to talk, act out, or break rules. These behaviours are not signs of a “bad kid”; they’re symptoms of trauma.
CARE is rooted in the idea that when we understand a child’s trauma, we can respond with empathy rather than punishment. For carers, this requires an emotional shift, especially when behaviours hit raw nerves. Roo, already carrying the emotional burden of her past experience with another complex placement, might feel exhausted, even defeated.
But by recognising Cohen’s behaviour as a survival response, one that developed because he had to stay alert and fend for himself, he can reframe her reactions. Her patience becomes a form of courage. Her empathy, a strength.
Trauma doesn’t just change children; it affects those who care for them. But CARE empowers carers to respond with understanding, not fear. Every child has a story. And behind every outburst or angry word is a need: to feel safe, to be heard, to be valued.
Family Involved: Honouring Bonds and Rebuilding Connections
One of the most heart-wrenching parts of Cohen’s story is the deep love he has for his mum, despite their struggles. For many children in care, family bonds, no matter how complicated, remain important.
CARE encourages us to include family in the healing journey wherever possible. For Roo, this can stir up difficult emotions. She might feel protective, unsure, or even conflicted with thoughts like “how do I support Cohen’s connection to someone who made mistakes? What if he wants to go back?”
These questions are normal, and they reflect the emotional tightrope many carers walk. But by speaking kindly of Samantha, allowing Cohen to keep personal items that link him to his mum, and supporting family contact when appropriate, Roo helps Cohen keep his identity intact.
These aren’t just kind acts, they’re also affirming for Roo, reminding her that her role is not to replace, but to support and honour. In doing so, she becomes a bridge between past and future, helping Cohen hold hope without shame.
Competency Centred: Focusing on Strengths, Not Shortcomings
Cohen may arrive at Roo’s home feeling powerless. He’s been taken from everything familiar, and his future is uncertain. In these moments, giving a child opportunities to make choices and build confidence can be transformative.
CARE teaches us to nurture capability by celebrating small wins and encouraging participation. Roo may worry at first—is it enough to let him choose dinner? Does it matter if he helps unpack groceries? But these everyday moments are powerful. They show Cohen he can have an impact, that his voice matters.
Carers often underestimate the significance of their own actions. But by leaning into Cohen’s strengths, his curiosity, creativity, or sense of humour, Roo also reconnects with her own strengths as a guide, mentor, and cheerleader.
These moments aren’t just about Cohen growing; they’re about Roo remembering what she brings to the table, too.
Ecologically Oriented: Creating a Supportive, Nurturing Environment
Finally, CARE reminds us that the spaces children live in matter. Cohen’s world has already felt unsafe—he’s lived in a tent, faced arrest, and been thrust into the unknown. Now, his healing begins with the environment around him.
Roo’s home doesn’t have to be fancy; it just has to be safe. Predictable routines, calm surroundings, and familiar faces help regulate a child’s nervous system. And for Roo, these routines aren’t just for Cohen; they offer stability for her, too.
When foster carers create a nurturing home, they create it for themselves as well. It becomes a shared space of comfort, where both child and adult can exhale.
The community around them also plays a role; teachers, neighbours, services, all have a part to play. Roo can’t do it alone, and CARE recognises that a child’s ecosystem matters. At Challenge, we work to ensure that every child’s environment supports their wellbeing, from the bedroom they sleep in to the relationships they build at school and beyond.
Bringing It All Together: CARE in Action
The CARE Principles aren’t just words—they are a way of life for foster carers, caseworkers, and support staff who believe that every child, no matter their background, deserves the chance to heal and thrive.
Cohen’s story may be fictional, but the heartbreak, trauma, and hope are real. Foster carers carry much of that journey on their shoulders. It’s not easy, but with support, reflection, and guidance from frameworks like CARE, it is possible.
Roo has been through her own challenges. But with CARE as her guide, she doesn’t have to be perfect, just present, open, and willing to try again. And Cohen, like so many children we work with every day, isn’t a “bad kid.” He’s a child who has survived the unimaginable, and with the right support, he can begin to feel safe, valued, and hopeful once more.
If you’d like to learn more about how our foster carers support children through the CARE Principles, or how you can become a foster carer yourself, get in touch with Challenge Community Services today. Because every child deserves a chance, and every healing journey begins with care.
