CDA Aims To Place 300 Wards In Foster Care 2004/05

The Child Development Agency (CDA) expects to place 300 wards of the state in foster care next financial year, as part of a wider programme to increase placements each year.

The agency, which commenced its thrust to channel wards of state into foster care and out of government institutions in April of last year has, to date, placed more than 160 children in homes.

In an interview with JIS News, Winston Bowen, Director of Programmes at the CDA, says the agency is extremely encouraged by the progress made in placing the children and he anticipates further successes.

"There is still a need for more persons to come forward because there are a number of children that do need to be removed from institutions and be placed in foster care," the Director says.

In an attempt to galvanize interest in the programme, the CDA has accelerated its recruitment of foster parents. The agency has been canvassing Parent Teachers Associations (PTAs) and Service Clubs, in addition to visiting communities and talking with persons about the programme. Help for this recruitment effort has also come from existing foster parents who are encouraging others to participate in the programme.

The CDA's regional offices - North East, Western, Southern and South East - are seen as integral to the recruitment drive.

"Each regional office has a target to bring more parents into the system, have them trained and approved. Afterwards, we match the child with the parent to ensure compatibility," Mr. Bowen says.

The number of children in Children's Homes and Places of Safety vary from 500 to 600. It must be noted, however, that some of them cannot be placed in foster care. For instance, some of the natural parents are working with the CDA towards providing a home for them.

By extensively promoting the programme, the CDA says it will reduce the number of children in government institutions as well as the cost of running them, and will pay more attention and give better care to the children that remain in institutions.

Mr. Bowen notes that foster care is infinitely a better situation for the wards of the state. "The children have more of a sense of security being able to interact with a mother or father and other children as a family unit, as compared to being in an institution with 20 or even 60 children," he explains.

Foster parents are chosen on the basis of their willingness and ability to provide care, nurture, and love for the children. These traits are of the utmost importance, because the children will live in their homes and should be treated like family.

"You don't have to be wealthy in the true sense of the word to be a foster parent. We [CDA] just have to satisfy ourselves that, parents are willing and able and they also have some steady income and a residence, not necessarily owned, among other criteria," the Director notes.

Once persons contact the CDA indicating an interest in the foster care programme, the agency conducts an interview to obtain basic information. The potential foster parent is required to undergo training for two hours a day over a four-day period.

During training, candidates are provided with information about the needs of the children. "We focus on things like growth and development, while outlining the difference between normal children and children with special needs," Mr. Bowen says, noting that there are persons who have indicated their willingness to foster children with special needs.

Budgeting and overall money management are also included in training along with other relevant information in order to help candidates understand that taking a child into their home comes with special responsibilities. This is especially invaluable when foster parents choose to take siblings or more than one child.

After training, recommendations are presented to a committee, which is responsible for approving the application.

As it relates to the tenure of fostering a child, Mr. Bowen says placement can continue for 16 years or more, based on the circumstance. In an instance where a child has a parent, who is not willing to consent and is unable to look after the child, the CDA will go to the court, if the foster parent is willing to adopt, to dispense with consent of the parent.

There are other instances where foster parents, who are not interested in adopting the children, keep them indefinitely. There are some children who, when they reach age 18, continue to live with foster parents because they have become part of the family. "The time a child could be in foster care, varies based on the needs of the child, circumstances and the foster parent," Mr. Bowen explains.

The CDA, an amalgamation of three Departments within the Health Ministry - the Adoption Board, the Children's Services Division and Child Support Unit - came on stream on April 1, 2003 to deal with new standards and regulations for the operation of children's homes and places of safety, among other issues.