A drive to recruit new foster parents in Dublin is being launched today.
The initiative by the Child and Family Agency, Túsla, is focused on north Dublin - where the demand for local foster care is not being met.
The agency says children from the area are being taken out of their communities and put into care in rural areas that are not ideal.
The campaign encouraging Dubliners to consider fostering a child will be launched by Minister of State for Equality, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin.
The event will bring together current foster parents, as well as church and community leaders, to ask them to help to promote fostering - and to spread the message that foster carers are a diverse group of people who come from all walks of life.
The head of Túsla is Gordon Jeyes. He says it is in the children's best interests to remain in a familiar environment.
