Foster Care | Better Care Network

Foster Care

The term “foster care” is used in a variety of ways, and, consequently, it often causes confusion and miscommunication. In the industrialized world it is generally used to refer to formal, temporary placements made by the State with families that are trained, monitored and compensated at some level. In many developing countries, however, fostering is kinship care or other placement with a family, the objective(s) of which may include the care of the child, the child’s access to education, and/or the child’s doing some type of work for the foster family.

Such care is informal and unregulated by the State. Foster care can also be understood as formal care, typically provided by adults who are not related to the child, but may include formalized kinship care. It is usually for a limited period until the child can return home or move into a more permanent placement such as adoption.

In emergency situations, such as armed conflict, informal fostering often occurs spontaneously when a family takes in an unaccompanied child. Also, in some emergency situations, agencies have organized a quasi-formal type of foster care to ensure immediate, family-based care for unaccompanied children. Such foster care should be formally arranged by the local authority or child protection organisation and include assessing each child’s best interests; screening, training, and monitoring of caretakers; and planning for the longer term needs of each child.

Foster care can provide the advantages of family-based care within a child’s own community. In some situations, particularly spontaneous care initiated during an emergency, it can become de facto adoption in settings where State child protection services and formalization of care arrangements are very limited or do not exist.

Foster care plays an important role in a situation where a child’s own family is not providing adequately for his or her care. It can provide protection and care for the child while the family situation is improved, with the eventual aim of family reunification.

It is vital that children are provided opportunities to express their wishes and concerns regarding with whom they live and have contact. The appointment of a legal guardian is a means of ensuring their opinions are taken into account.

Foster caretakers often receive support to meet the child’s needs and prevent placement breakdown. This may include parenting guidance and access to basic services for the child. Payment for care requires thoughtful consideration and should not encourage the separation of children from their families, or the use of a child for financial gain. All placements should be regulated to ensure the standards of care protect the child and encourage her development.

This body of literature provides examples from around the world of spontaneous, informal and formal fostering. It includes guidance on standards of care and child care policy.

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Foster Care and Adoption Policy in Lesotho

Ministry of Social Development, Government of Lesotho, 07 Aug 2012

A document containing the policy for foster care and adoption in Lesotho.

Foster Care and Adoption Procedures and Practice Guidelines for Lesotho

Ministry of Social Development, Government of Lesotho, 01 Aug 2012

This document contains the Procedures and Practice Guidelines for Foster Care and Adoption in Lesotho.

Foster Care as a Viable Alternative to Institutional Care in the Middle East: Community Acceptance and Stigma Across Type of Placement in Jordan

Michael J. MacKenzie, Kathryne B. Brewer, Craig S. J. Schwalbe, Robin E. Gearing, Rawan W. Ibrahim, Jude Batayneh, Dua’a M. Darwish, Jihad Al-Kharabsh, 01 Jul 2012

This paper describes a study that assessed the attitudes of people in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan toward the implementation of foster care as an alternative to institutions for children.

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Dimensions of high quality foster care: Parenting Plus

Jill Duerr Berrick, Marit Skivenes - Children and Youth Services Review, 18 Jun 2012

The study is designed to identify whether effective caregiving mirrors strong parenting among typical parents or whether a set of additional skills is required to parent foster children responsively. Some of the principle features of quality caregiving for children are described particularly in the domains of family integration, relationships with biological parents, and support for children's special needs.

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Better Care Network, 06 Jun 2012

The People’s Republic of China issued its third and fourth combined report on the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in June 2012. This extract of the report focuses on sections relevant to children's care and in particular those addressing Family Environment and Alternative Care

Namibia: Standards for Foster Care Services

Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Government of Republic of Namibia, 01 Jun 2012

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare (MGECW) of Namibia released the 2012 Foster Care Standards and Guidelines which are aimed to guide social workers and other service providers in recruiting, assessing, training, matching, supporting, supervising and monitoring foster care services. The Foster Care Guidelines assist in translating the Standards into day-to-day practices. These Standards and Guidelines with accompanying training manuals were prepared to strengthen supported family-based care for vulnerable and marginalized children.

Webinar on the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (In FRENCH)

Better Care Network , 08 May 2012

On May 2, 2012, in preparation of the Family Strengthening and Alternative Care Conference for Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa in Dakar, Senegal, BCN and the regional planning committee convened experts and practitioners to present and discuss the efforts to implement the Guidelines for the Alternative Care in the region. Watch this video for presentations, country level experience from Togo, and discussions on the pressing issues facing implementation in the region.

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Thari Ya Bana: Reflections on Children in Botswana 2011

University of Botswana and UNICEF , 02 May 2012

Collection of research and reflections on children’s issues in Botswana articles in the various chapters of the publication have been structured to follow the life cycle of the child as she or he grows and is faced with different issues that need to be addressed: young child survival; child development; child protection; HIV and AIDS; and child-sensitive social protection.

Looked After Children Knowledge, Skills and Competence of Health Care Staff

The Royal College of Nursing and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health , 01 May 2012

This document provides an outline for the competencies, training and skills needed by healthcare staff to work with looked after children at different professional levels in the UK. It recognizes that all health staff should have access to appropriate training, learning opportunities, and support to fulfill their roles and responsibilities, particularly when it comes services provided to looked after children.

USA: Stepping Up for Kids -what government and communities should do to support kinship families

Annie E. Casey Foundation, 22 Apr 2012

This comprehensive policy report by the Annie E. Casey Foundation summarizes what is known about kinship care in the United States, identifies the problems and issues these families face, and recommends how best to support caregivers as they step up to take responsibility for children in their extended families and communities.