I recently launched Counting on Foster Care, a study published by the Northern Area Health Board. I was heartened by many of the findings of that study, especially the range of motives of foster carers that encompassed altruism and personal aspirations. I was pleased to see that most carers surveyed found the experience of fostering enjoyable and that any concerns they had prior to fostering had been alleviated. The indications are that there are significant benefits to be derived from the fostering experience, for both the children and foster carer families. This provides us with valuable information for the future recruitment of foster carers, with fostering being promoted as having something to offer not only to the children in care but to the foster family themselves.