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Foster care is the placement of child, who needs to be removed from the parental home, into the custody of a suitable family or person willing to be foster parents. This is done by order of the Children's Court. Children can be removed from their parents if they are abused, neglected or abandoned.
1. WHO CAN FOSTER A CHILD? Welfare organisations screen applicants to ensure that they are suitable to be foster parents. Factors taken into account in the screening include the age of the prospective foster parents, their health, the family composition and income, the suitability of accommodation, the general environment and closeness of schools and public transport. Other aspects considered are the prospective foster parents' views about child rearing and education, their ability to accept responsibility, their attitude towards the natural parents, and their motivation to foster a child who is not their own despite the temporary nature of the placement. However, the choice of foster home for a particular child depends on the needs of a child. For example, if a particular child is already acquainted with and emotionally attached to a particular foster parent candidate, this will be an important factor. Religious and cultural factors will also be considered for each child. 2. WHAT ARE THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A FOSTER PARENT? Foster parents are supervised by social workers. Foster parents have the obligation to:
Placement in foster care gives foster parents custody over the child, which includes the right to discipline the child. However, this does NOT include the power to:
Foster parents may not remove a child out of South Africa without the approval of the Provincial MEC for Social Developent/Minister for Social Development. 3. WHAT FINANCIAL SUPPORT IS THERE FOR FOSTER PARENTS? The child is maintained by means of a foster child grant paid by the state to the foster parents. The natural parents of the child also have a duty to contribute to the child's maintenance, through an order of court called a contribution order. 4. FOSTERING AND HIV/AIDS Fostering is usually for a short period so children are not tested for HIV before they are fostered. If a child is under 14 and his or her HIV status is known, this can be told to the foster parents. There is no compulsory medical examination before a child is placed in foster care. Therefore, a person with HIV cannot be denied the opportunity to foster a child. |
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5. HOW DO YOU APPLY TO BE A FOSTER PARENT? Contact the Department of Social Development's District Office or Service Point in your area. The intake worker will arrange for you to be screened by a social worker operating in your area. The screening involves interviews and a visit to your home. 6. WHAT LEGAL PROCESSES DO YOU GO THROUGH (IF ANY)? The screening of foster parents is done by social workers. At the Children's Court hearing, the social worker will recommend to the court that the child be placed in foster care with the foster parents, who have already been screened. The foster parents often don't need to go to court at all. Foster parents will, however, need to go to court for Children's Court proceedings if they are called as witnesses by the Commissioner of child welfare. |
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STAATSLIGGAAM:
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Department of Social Development (Provincial Government of the Western Cape) |
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