The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Philippines has appealed to families and individuals taking care of children orphaned due to Typhoon Yolanda to register under the Rapid Family Tracing and Reunification (RFTR) Program of the Department and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The DSWD Secretary, Corazon Juliano-Soliman pointed out that the aim is to ensure the children are protected from child traffickers, child abuse and exploitation but also so that support needs for the child and caregivers can be assessed and addressed through formal foster care arrangements.
Secretary Corazon highlighted that by registering these families and individuals can become licensed foster families or parents and as a result may be eligible for the support and benefits provided under the Foster Care Act of 2012, including a monthly subsidy to support his/her needs in the form of financial aid, goods or support services. The Secretary stressed that throughout the process of fostering, the DSWD and licensed foster care agencies or child placing agencies will be there to support and guide foster families/parents in every step of the way.