ALTERNATIVE PARENTAL ALTERNATIVE PARENTAL CARE PROGRAMCARE PROGRAM

I. Definition of Foster CareI. Definition of Foster Care

Foster Care Service is a social Foster Care Service is a social work intervention which work intervention which provides planned substitute provides planned substitute parental care to a child by a parental care to a child by a licensed foster family when licensed foster family when his/her biological parents are his/her biological parents are unable to care for him/her unable to care for him/her temporarily.temporarily.

I. Definition of Foster family I. Definition of Foster family care as an alternative family care as an alternative family care has the following care has the following features:features:

1.1 It is temporary1.1 It is temporary1.2 It has a goal which is the 1.2 It has a goal which is the return of the child to his/her return of the child to his/her biological family or preparation for biological family or preparation for his/her placement to an adoptive his/her placement to an adoptive family.family.1.3 It does not alienate the child 1.3 It does not alienate the child from his/her biological family.from his/her biological family.

II. Types of Foster II. Types of Foster Family Care Family Care

A. By type of Child Care A. By type of Child Care 2.1 Regular Foster Care 2.1 Regular Foster Care 2.2 Kinship Care 2.2 Kinship Care 2.3 Foster Family Care for 2.3 Foster Family Care for Children with Special NeedsChildren with Special Needs2.4 Foster care in the Community 2.4 Foster care in the Community (Aruga at Kalinga Para sa mga (Aruga at Kalinga Para sa mga Bata sa Barangay)Bata sa Barangay)

II. Types of Foster II. Types of Foster Family Care Family Care

B. By Duration of PlacementB. By Duration of Placement

2.5 Emergency Foster Care 2.5 Emergency Foster Care 2.6 Short Term 2.6 Short Term 2.7 Long Term2.7 Long Term

II. Objectives II. Objectives General Objective: General Objective:

To provide temporary planned To provide temporary planned substitute family care for a child substitute family care for a child while his/her biological family or while his/her biological family or relatives is being prepared for the relatives is being prepared for the child’s return or while a more child’s return or while a more appropriate permanent placement appropriate permanent placement is being worked out. is being worked out.

Specific Objectives: Specific Objectives:

1.) To provide temporary care 1.) To provide temporary care through a licensed foster family to through a licensed foster family to a child whose biological family or a child whose biological family or relatives cannot take care of relatives cannot take care of him/her family temporarily. him/her family temporarily.

2.) To enable the child to experience 2.) To enable the child to experience family life through foster care and to family life through foster care and to prepare him/her for his/her prepare him/her for his/her reunification with his/her biological reunification with his/her biological family or other appropriate permanent family or other appropriate permanent type of placement either local or type of placement either local or foreign adoption. foreign adoption.

3.) To enhance the parental 3.) To enhance the parental functioning of the biological functioning of the biological family of the child to the fullest family of the child to the fullest extent and assist them in working extent and assist them in working out the eventual reunification with out the eventual reunification with the child or to arrange for other the child or to arrange for other alternative family care when such alternative family care when such return is not possibly return is not possibly recommended. recommended.

4.) To develop and maintain a pool of 4.) To develop and maintain a pool of licensed foster families in every licensed foster families in every city/municipality through a city/municipality through a continuing capability development in continuing capability development in the communities supported by Local the communities supported by Local Governments Units. Governments Units.

5.) To provide supervision and support 5.) To provide supervision and support services to licensed foster families to services to licensed foster families to ensure quality care. ensure quality care.

6.) To decongest residential 6.) To decongest residential institutions for children and to institutions for children and to uphold the right of a child to a uphold the right of a child to a wholesome family life atmosphere. wholesome family life atmosphere.

ELIGIBILITY ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTSREQUIREMENTS

Children eligible for Children eligible for foster placementfoster placement

A.) A child from infancy to below A.) A child from infancy to below 18 years of age may benefit from 18 years of age may benefit from foster care who is under any of foster care who is under any of the following circumstances:the following circumstances:

1.) Child under the custody of DSWD 1.) Child under the custody of DSWD or of any child caring/placing or of any child caring/placing agency who is not yet legally free agency who is not yet legally free for adoption but needs individual for adoption but needs individual attention in a family setting.attention in a family setting.

2.) Child who was abandoned by 2.) Child who was abandoned by parents in hospital or in other places or parents in hospital or in other places or with relatives who are not qualified or with relatives who are not qualified or incapable to care for him/her.incapable to care for him/her.

3.) Child whose parents are in crisis 3.) Child whose parents are in crisis thereby temporarily unable to thereby temporarily unable to provide adequate care.provide adequate care.

4.) Child awaiting adoptive 4.) Child awaiting adoptive placement would have to be placement would have to be prepare for family care.prepare for family care.

5.) Child needs long-term care and 5.) Child needs long-term care and close family ties that can be close family ties that can be developed in a foster home but who developed in a foster home but who cannot be placed for adoption or cannot be placed for adoption or residential care.residential care.

6.) Children who needs who needs 6.) Children who needs who needs special care and protection due to:special care and protection due to:

Sexual or physical abuse Sexual or physical abuse Social difficulties as a result of Social difficulties as a result of

neglect, abuse or exploitation neglect, abuse or exploitation Developmental or physical disabilityDevelopmental or physical disability HIV/AIDS victimHIV/AIDS victim

Committing a minor Committing a minor offense but has been offense but has been released on released on recognizance or on a recognizance or on a custody supervision or custody supervision or his/her case dismissed his/her case dismissed but whose family or but whose family or relatives are not relatives are not capable of providing capable of providing him/her care.him/her care.

B.) One who is 18 yrs. of age and B.) One who is 18 yrs. of age and above that is unable to fully take above that is unable to fully take care of him/herself from abuse, care of him/herself from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of physical discrimination because of physical or mental disability or mental disability

PROSPECTIVE FOSTER PROSPECTIVE FOSTER PARENTSPARENTS

Applicants should not be over 60 years of Applicants should not be over 60 years of age but not under 25 years old;age but not under 25 years old;

Applicants may either be legally married, Applicants may either be legally married, widowed, separated, single and should be widowed, separated, single and should be able to provide a wholesome family able to provide a wholesome family atmosphere for the foster child;atmosphere for the foster child;

Applicants must have a healthy and Applicants must have a healthy and harmonious relationship with each family harmonious relationship with each family member;member;

Applicants must have good moral Applicants must have good moral character, emotional maturity, be character, emotional maturity, be physically fit and financially able to physically fit and financially able to provide for the family needs;provide for the family needs;

Applicants must be willing to be trained Applicants must be willing to be trained to further hone their knowledge, attitude to further hone their knowledge, attitude and skills in caring for children with and skills in caring for children with special needs;special needs;

Applicants and his/her family members Applicants and his/her family members should be mentally and physically fit should be mentally and physically fit and free from contagious and infectious and free from contagious and infectious diseases to cope with the additional diseases to cope with the additional responsibility of caring for a child with responsibility of caring for a child with special needs.special needs.

Required Documents from the Required Documents from the Prospective Foster Family:Prospective Foster Family:

1.1. Marriage ContractMarriage Contract

2.2. Birth CertificateBirth Certificate

3.3. Medical CertificateMedical Certificate

4.4. Latest Income Tax ReturnLatest Income Tax Return

5.5. Recent Family PictureRecent Family Picture

6.6. Consent of Each Child (10 above)Consent of Each Child (10 above)

7.7. Police ClearancePolice Clearance

The Foster Care Process:The Foster Care Process:

1.1. Attendance to Foster Care SeminarAttendance to Foster Care Seminar

2.2. Application of Prospective Foster FamilyApplication of Prospective Foster Family

3.3. Conduct of Home StudyConduct of Home Study

4.4. Issuance of License to Foster FamilyIssuance of License to Foster Family

5.5. Conduct of Matching ConferenceConduct of Matching Conference

6.6. Issuance of Foster Placement AuthorityIssuance of Foster Placement Authority

7.7. Placement ofPlacement of Child w/ Foster Family Child w/ Foster Family

8.8. SupervisionSupervision

General Policies:General Policies:As a general policy the placement of the child in a As a general policy the placement of the child in a

particular licensed foster family shall be based on the particular licensed foster family shall be based on the judicious matching of the needs of the child and judicious matching of the needs of the child and capacity/resources of the foster family.capacity/resources of the foster family.

The following policies shall be covered in protecting The following policies shall be covered in protecting children under foster care service:children under foster care service:

1.1. The prospective adoptive family may indicate the The prospective adoptive family may indicate the age, gender, and medical condition of the child that age, gender, and medical condition of the child that they are capable of taking care of.they are capable of taking care of.

2.2. A thorough study of families applying for license as A thorough study of families applying for license as foster family is necessary to determine their foster family is necessary to determine their motivations, capacities and potentials as foster motivations, capacities and potentials as foster families for particular types of children.families for particular types of children.

3.3. Application of prospective foster families of Child Application of prospective foster families of Child Placement Agencies shall be validated by the Department Placement Agencies shall be validated by the Department before the issuance of the license with in 5 days before before the issuance of the license with in 5 days before the issuance of the license. If not qualified, TA should be the issuance of the license. If not qualified, TA should be provided by DSWD before license is issued.provided by DSWD before license is issued.

4.4. Placement of a child in a particular, licensed foster family Placement of a child in a particular, licensed foster family shall take place if the social worker has developed a shall take place if the social worker has developed a permanent plan for the child’s welfare and best interest permanent plan for the child’s welfare and best interest e.g. adoption, return to biological family which maybe e.g. adoption, return to biological family which maybe reviewed periodically.reviewed periodically.

3.3. The placement of a child in foster family shall be The placement of a child in foster family shall be considered when all efforts to strengthen his/her biological considered when all efforts to strengthen his/her biological family or relatives have failed and should be based on any family or relatives have failed and should be based on any of the conditions in Chapter V Section 4.of the conditions in Chapter V Section 4.

6.6. The child shall be placed in a foster family who have been The child shall be placed in a foster family who have been licensed, except on the case of an emergency, but in licensed, except on the case of an emergency, but in which case, evaluation of the family should be done not which case, evaluation of the family should be done not later than one week after receiving the child and a license later than one week after receiving the child and a license be issued immediately if the family has been confirmed by be issued immediately if the family has been confirmed by the social worker to be suitable.the social worker to be suitable.

7.7. The transfer of a child from one foster home to another The transfer of a child from one foster home to another shall be authorized only after a case conference has been shall be authorized only after a case conference has been undertaken and approval of the Foster Care Placement undertaken and approval of the Foster Care Placement Authority by the DSWD Field Director has been released Authority by the DSWD Field Director has been released except when cases of emergency e.g. death/sickness. except when cases of emergency e.g. death/sickness. The incident shall be reported to DSWD Field Office within The incident shall be reported to DSWD Field Office within 24 hours. 24 hours.

8.8. Foster care being temporary in nature shall cover the Foster care being temporary in nature shall cover the period ranging from six months or less to one year except period ranging from six months or less to one year except when situations so require as assessed by the social when situations so require as assessed by the social worker. Periodic assessment of child’s progress in foster worker. Periodic assessment of child’s progress in foster home shall be made.home shall be made.

9.9. The foster family shall encourage the foster child to relate The foster family shall encourage the foster child to relate with his/her biological family or relatives or adoptive with his/her biological family or relatives or adoptive family, as the case may be and shall provide the family, as the case may be and shall provide the wholesome atmosphere for the enhancement of their wholesome atmosphere for the enhancement of their relationship.relationship.

10.10. The licensing of foster families and the renewal or The licensing of foster families and the renewal or revocation of such license shall be recommended by the revocation of such license shall be recommended by the Executive Director/Head of NGO/GO and approved by the Executive Director/Head of NGO/GO and approved by the DSWD Field Office Director.DSWD Field Office Director.

11.11. Biological children of prospective foster families shall be Biological children of prospective foster families shall be consulted and their approval is required when fostering a consulted and their approval is required when fostering a child.child.

12.12. A licensed foster family shall take care of a maximum A licensed foster family shall take care of a maximum number of two (2) children under 2 years of age or three number of two (2) children under 2 years of age or three (3) older children at any given time except where siblings (3) older children at any given time except where siblings have to be together with one foster family to ensure quality have to be together with one foster family to ensure quality care. In case of child/ren with special needs, only one (1) care. In case of child/ren with special needs, only one (1) child shall be placed with a foster family at a time.child shall be placed with a foster family at a time.

13.13. Children who will eventually return to their biological Children who will eventually return to their biological families or relatives should not be alienated from their families or relatives should not be alienated from their parents. The social worker should consider that the parents. The social worker should consider that the child/ren be placed in foster families whose socio-child/ren be placed in foster families whose socio-economic condition is similar to that of their biological economic condition is similar to that of their biological familiesfamilies

14.14. Report any case of death, injury or any untoward Report any case of death, injury or any untoward incident of a foster child, to the DSWD, Program incident of a foster child, to the DSWD, Program Management Bureau within 24 hours after which Management Bureau within 24 hours after which an incident report together with the medical and an incident report together with the medical and death certificates shall be forwarded within two death certificates shall be forwarded within two (2) days after the child’s death, accident or (2) days after the child’s death, accident or ailment.ailment.

15.15. A licensed foster family shall not use foster care A licensed foster family shall not use foster care as a trial placement for adoption.as a trial placement for adoption.