We need foster parents

We are recruiting new foster parents. Are you willing to help?

Unfortunately, not all children grow up in a loving home with their biological parents. Sometimes it is necessary to find alternative care for these children to ensure their safety. This is called foster care.

“Parenthood requires love, not DNA.” -Anonymous

What is foster care?

According to the Children's Act 38 of 2005 a child is placed in foster care when he is removed from a home by the Children's Court and placed with a responsible adult who is not his parent or guardian.

The placement must be confirmed by the Children's Court.

Foster parents are expected to provide foster children with the following:

·         Suitable housing.

·         Living conditions that will aid in the child's health, well-being, and development.

·         Provide necessary material aids for the child to live a dignified life.

“There is no better gift to give a child than a family.” -Anonymous

Furthermore, foster parents must:

·         Protect and promote the foster child's well-being.

·         Protect the child from abuse, neglect, humiliation, victimisation, exploitation, and any other physical emotional, and moral harm or danger.

·         Protect, develop, and promote the child's rights.

·         Provide teaching opportunities in accordance with the child's developmental stage.

·         Provide guidance when making decisions in accordance with the child's developmental stage.

·         Manage and direct the child's behaviour humanely.

·         Nurture a healthy relationship.

·         Accommodate any special needs that the child might have.

·         All decisions regarding the child should be made in the child’s best interest.

Foster care is always intended to be a short-term plan where every effort possible will be made to ensure reuniting children with their parents or family when it is possible. Foster care is never the outcome, but it is part of the process that aims reunite a child and parent again. Unfortunately, sometimes circumstances are not ideal and children remain in the foster care system for a longer period.

·         When children are in foster care, it is important that every effort is made to expose the child to the same developmental opportunities as any other child in that family.

·         The foster care contract is used as a starting point for planning service delivery.

·         The child in foster care, foster mother, foster father, and any children of the foster parents; must all be involved in service delivery to the foster child and the planning thereof.

·         If possible, it is desired that foster parents join support groups.

·         It is recommended that foster parents attend training once a year or widen their knowledge on the subject.

“There are no unwanted children. Just unfound families.” -Anonymous

Criteria for prospective foster parents

·         Foster parents are capable of establishing a routine and house rules that will provide security for the child and foster care.

·         The foster parent must be able to provide basic needs such as food, clothing, health, education, hygiene and love.

·         The child in foster care must be allowed to keep their personal belongings.
The child's right to privacy must be respected.

·         The child must be encouraged to build or maintain relationships with their family of origin.

·         Foster parents must ensure the child is protected from any form of abuse and will be educated about the procedure to follow, in the case of abuse.

·         The child must be disciplined in a way that does not involve corporal punishment.

·         The allowance provided to the foster parent must be used for the foster child's care and education.

·         The foster parents and the rest of the family should be positive role models.

·         A guideline for the minimum age difference between the foster parents and the child in foster care is 20 years.

Marital and family status

Where the foster parents are not related to the foster child, it remains BADISA's policy to only place children with parental couples or singles where there are already children in the family.

When parents do not have children of their own, there is the risk of the foster child forming a bond to such an extent with the parent, that it could risk or complicate the possibility of family reunification.

Conflict that arises from a situation like this, is in most cases not in the best interest of the child.

Other selection criteria:

To protect the child the following applies:

·         No selection can be completed without police clearance.

·         All adult residents in the household must complete a Form 30 in order to determine whether their names appear on part B of the Child Protection Register.

·         If a member of the household has a record of crime against children, the application cannot be considered.

If the Lord has put it in your heart to assist a child in need, please contact us to make an appointment:

Telephone: 022 713 1723

Email: admin@badisawk.org.za