Foster Care & Kinship Foster Care

In a push for “de-institutionalisation,” the Foster Care Unit of the Children’s Authority is moving to match “best practice countries.” This involves a country possessing less Children’s Homes and more alternative placement options like foster care and adoption for children in need of protection. Acting Manager of the Foster Care Unit, Anjuli Tewari de Fague, said while not downplaying the role of Children’s Homes in society, individualised care in family environments is ideal. Once approved for traditional foster care, there are several options for those with varying resources and schedules. With kinship foster care, new legislation allows the authority to place children with relatives, other than a parent, keeping children within their own family network. Mrs. Tewari de Fague stressed the primary requirement to become a foster parent is an “open heart and open home,” and the Authority works hand in hand with foster parents through the provision of stipends, where needed, basic training, and psycho-educational support.