Foster Care Process May 29, 2007

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FOSTER FAMILY

CARE

Director Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan

Standards Bureau

Department of Social Welfare and Development


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Assignment of the Child to foster home shallbe preferred to institutional care. Unlessabsolutely necessary, no child below nine (9)years of age shall be placed in an institution. An

older child may be taken into an institution forchild care if a thorough case study indicates thathe will derive more benefit therefrom.

- Article 68 of P.D. 603, The Child & Youth WelfareCode, 1974


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A social work intervention

Provides a planned temporary

substitute parental care to achild

By a licensed foster family

When biological parents are

not able to care for theirchildren temporarily

What is Foster Family Care?


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Features of Foster Family Care

It is temporary in nature

It has a goal

the return of the child to his/herbiological family

Permanent placement throughadoption

It does not alienate the child fromhis/her biological family


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Objectives of Foster Family Care

General Objective:

To enable the child experience acaring and nurturing family lifeprovided by a licensed foster family

on a temporary basis due to thechilds biological familys inability tocare for him/her.


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Specific Objectives:

1. To prepare the child for his/herreunification with his/her biologicalfamily or other appropriate permanent

placement.

2. To enhance the parental functioning ofthe biological family of the child to the

fullest extent and assist them inworking out the eventual reunificationwith the child or to arrange for otheralternative family care when suchreturn is not possibly recommended.


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Specific Objectives:

3. To develop and maintain a pool oflicensed foster families in everycity/municipality under the auspices of

the Local Government Units.

4. To build the capability and provide

support services to foster families toensure quality care ofchildren.


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General Policies1. An applicant foster family may indicate

the age, sex and medical condition ofthe child and length of stay of a child

that they are capable of taking care of.

2. A thorough study must be made ofapplicant families to determine their

motivations, capacities and potentialsas foster family to a particular child.


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General Policies

3. The DSWD shall review the home studyreport prepared by the Child Placement

Agencies before the issuance of a license

to determine the need for validation on acase to case basis within a two weekperiod after receipt.

4. The placement of a child with a foster

family shall be considered when all effortsto strengthen his/her biological family orrelatives have failed.


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General Policies

5. A child shall be placed only with a licensed foster

family except in emergency cases where theevaluation of the family shall be done within oneweek after the childs placement. A license and aFoster Placement Authority shall be issuedimmediately upon approval of the foster family.

6. All placements must be covered by a FosterPlacement Authority. The transfer of a child fromone foster home to another shall be authorizedonly after a case conference has been undertaken

and the issuance of the Foster Care PlacementAuthority by the DSWD Field Director except incases of emergency e.g. death/sickness, manmade and natural calamities, abuse and neglect.Such incidents shall be reported to DSWD FieldOffice within 24 hours..


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General Policies

7. Foster care being temporary in nature shall cover

the period ranging from less than six months toone year except when situations so require asassessed by the social worker. Periodicassessment of the childs progress in the fosterhome shall be made.

There are, however, instances where the childstays with his/her foster family for more than theplanned period sometimes even more than a year.

The reasons may be any of the following:

- Difficulty in locating the childs biologicalfamily.

- Declaration of childs abandonment has notbeen decided upon by the court.

- Difficulty to place the child for adoption dueto his/her age, sex or special needs.


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General Policies

In view of the childs prolonged stay, a

foster family may apply to adopt their fosterchild to provide him/her a permanentfamily.

8. The foster family shall encourage the foster child

to relate with his/her biological family or relativesor adoptive family, as the case may be and shallprovide the wholesome atmosphere for theenhancement of their relationship.

9. The licensing of foster families and the renewal orrevocation of such license shall be recommendedby the Executive Director/Head of the foster careagency and approved by the DSWD Field OfficeDirector.


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General Policies

10. Biological children of prospective foster familieswho are 5 years and above shall be consulted andtheir approval is required when fostering a child.

11. A licensed foster family shall take care of a

maximum number of two(2) children under 2years of age or three (3) older children at anygiven time except where siblings have to betogether with one foster family. In case ofchild/ren with special needs, only one (1) childshall be placed with a foster family at a time.

12. Children who will eventually return to theirbiological families or relatives should not bealienated from their parents.


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General Policies

13. Report of death, injury or any untoward incidentof a foster child, should be directly addressed tothe Secretary of the Department copy furnishedthe Program Management Bureau within 24

hours. An incident report together with themedical and/or death certificate shall beforwarded within two (2) days after the childsdeath, accident or ailment.

14. A licensed foster family shall not use foster careas a trial placement for adoption.


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Types of Foster Family Care

A. By Type of Child Care

1. Regular Foster Family Care theplacement of an unrelated abandoned,neglected or dependent child withnormal development, regardless ofage, to a licensed foster family.

2. Kinship Care the placement of achild to his/her relatives or godparentswho have been licensed.


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3. Foster Family Care for Children with Special

Needs the placement of children withbehavioral problems or with special needssuch as:

3.1 Children in conflict with the law, abusedand exploited children, street children,children with disabilities, children victimsof armed conflict, children affected or

infected with HIV/AIDS or other long-term diseases.

3.2 Children whose adoption has beendisrupted and need temporary placement


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By Duration of Placement1. Emergency Foster Care the immediate

placement of a child to either a licensed orunlicensed foster family due to the urgentneed of the child for care i.e. a child foundlate hours in the evening or during weekends.

2. Short Term the placement of a child for a

period of six (6) months or below as assessedby the social worker.

3. Long Term the placement of a child for aperiod of over six months and above.


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Foster Care in the Community (Aruga at

Kalinga Para sa Bata sa Barangay)

- a strategy to develop a pool of licensed

foster families in a barangay to providefoster family care to children within thebarangay and to children referred bynearby barangays and other CCAs


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TYPES OF FOSTER FAMILIES

Volunteer

Subsidized


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Eligibility Requirements

1. Children Eligible for Foster

Placement

a) A child from infancy to below 18 years ofage may benefit from foster care who is

under any of the following circumstances:

1.1. Child under the custody of DSWD or ofany child caring/placing agency who is notyet legally free for adoption but needs

individual attention in a family setting.

1.2. Child who was abandoned by parents inhospitals, in other places or with relativeswho are not qualified or incapable to care

for him/her.


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1.3. Child whose parents are in crisisthereby temporarily unable toprovide adequate care.

1.4. Child awaiting adoptive placementwho needs to experience family lifein preparation to his/her adoption.

1.5. Child who needs long-term familycare, but cannot be placed foradoption or residential care.


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1.6. Children who need special care and

protection due to:

Sexual, physical abuse or in dangerof further abuse or neglect by

his/her parents or guardian.

Social difficulties as a result ofneglect, abuse or exploitation e.g.street child, victim of child labor,

orphaned children victims of armedconflict and others.

Developmental or physical disability.


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Parents/child infected or affectedwith HIV/AIDS as well as thosewhose parents suffer from mentalillness, pulmonary tuberculosis andother diseases.

Commitment of an offense butwhose family or relatives are notcapable of providing him/her care.


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b) One who is 18 years of age andabove who is unable to fully takecare or protect him/herself fromabuse, neglect, cruelty,exploitation or discriminationbecause of a physical or mental

disability or condition.


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Prospective Foster Parent/s

1. Applicants should not be over 60 years of age

but not under 25 years old to ensure sounddecision making capability; should have agenuine interest in parenting a non-relatedchild and those with special needs.

2. Applicants may either be legally married,widowed, separated, or whose marriage hasbeen annulled, a solo parent or single andshould be able to provide a wholesome family

atmosphere for the foster child.

3. For a widowed or single applicant, amale/female adult should be available in thehome to approximate a complete family.


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Prospective Foster Parent/s

4. Applicants must have a healthy andharmonious relationship with each familymember.

5. Applicants must have good moral character, beemotionally mature, and financially able to

provide for the familys needs.6. Applicants and his/her family members should

be mentally and physically fit and free fromcontagious and infectious diseases to cope

with the additional responsibility of caring for achild with special needs.

7. Applicants must be willing to be trained tofurther hone their knowledge, attitude and

skills in caring for children with special needs.


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Aruga at Kalinga Para sa Barangay

(Foster Care in the Barangay)

1. The LGU must be supportive in thepromotion of the Foster Care Program

and can draw participation and supportfrom its civic minded residents.

2. The identified barangay must be childfriendly; offers safe and healthyenvironment for children and able toprovide basic amenities for foster childand families such as clean water, health,education and recreational facilities


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YEAR FOSTER FAMILIESDEVELOPED

2002 497

2003 1080

2004 728

2005 476

2006 736TOTAL 3517

Status of Implementation


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YEAR CHILDREN IN FOSTERCARE

MALE FEMALE TOTAL

2002 180 188 368

2003 281 368 649

2004 228 298 526

2005 230 314 5442006 230 292 522

TOTAL 1149 1460 2609



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Department Order no. 14 series of 2000:Adoption of a Foster Child by His/ HerFoster Family

Reasons why children stay long in the home:

1. difficulty in locating the childs biological family

2. The long process of declaring the child abandonedin court

3. Difficulty in placing the child for adoption due to thechilds age, sex or special needs


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On what grounds can a foster family adopt the

child under their care?

The foster child is legally free for adoption andnot yet matched for adoption either domestic or

intercountry

The foster family is qualified to adopt

Bonding between FC and FF exists andseparation from the FF would be traumatic tothe child


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YEAR FOSTER CHILDREN ADOPTEDBY FOSTER FAMILY

MALE FEMALE TOTAL

2002 18 46 64

2003 33 45 78

2004 11 17 28

2005 28 48 76

2006 18 28 46

TOTAL 108 184 292



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Required Documents from

Prospective Foster Family

1. Marriage Contract

2. Birth Certificate

3. Medical Certificate

4. Latest income Tax Return

5. Three (3) Character References

6. Recent Family Picture

7. Consent of each child

8. NBI or Police Clearance.


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The Foster Care Process

1. Attendance to Foster CareFora/Seminar

2. Application of Prospective Foster Family

3. Conduct of Home Study4. Issuance of License to Foster Family

5. Conduct of Matching Conference

6. Issuance of Foster Placement Authority7. Placement of Child with Foster Family

8. Supervision

9. Termination of Placement

FOSTER CARE PROCESS


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Attendance toFoster Care fora/

seminar

Application toDSWD/ Licensed

Foster Care

Agency

Assessment/ HomeStudyReport

N

Y

Issuance ofFoster CareLicense

For re-assessment when reason fordisapproval are:

other family members are still not

ready to accept foster child did not meet the requirements,

however willing to comply after acertain period.

Applicants informed on the reasons fordisapproval.

Identification ofChild for Foster

Placement

MatchingConference

(FCC)

Y

SERVICES TO FOSTERFAMILIES

Foster Care Subsidy

Respite Care Support Group Capability Building Counseling Referral to other

services e.g. medical,legal, livelihood

Issuance of Foster Placement Authority

Placement of Child with Foster Family

SUPERVISION

Child StudyReport

SERVICES TO THEFOSTER CHILD

Health Services Education Therapy Psychosocial

TERMINATION OF PLACEMENT

Return toBiologicalParents/

Relatives

AdoptionPlacement

Death Disruption

Child will beplaced to otherfoster families

Returned to CCAwhen there is noavailable fosterfamilies

Extend counselingservices to thefoster familiesAfter Care

Legend:FCC Foster CareCommitteeYYesN No

FOSTER CARE PROCESS


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Challenges

1. Continue development of Foster Families

Mobilization of non-traditional partner in therecruitment of prospective foster families

e.g. - faith-based organization; churches

- parent teachers association

- homeowners association

- corporate foundations

Develop incentive scheme for foster familiesother than subsidies (e.g. matching foster

families with sponsors)2. Strengthen and expand advocacy efforts

on foster care


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Challenges

3. Lobby for the passage of the Foster Care

Bill

Salient Features: Adoption of a foster child by his / her foster family

Assistance to foster families

- Foster Child Subsidy

- Assistance & Incentives to foster parents

- Support Care Services- Personal Exemption

- Additional Exemption for dependents


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Challenges

Incentives to Agency- Exemption from Income Tax

- Qualification as a Donee Institution

Incentives to Donors

- Full deductability from the gross income of the donor of

the amount donated

- Exemption from donors tax

- Subject to provisions of the Tax Code

Penalties for violators of provisions of the Act

Regional Child Welfare Specialist Group (RCWSG) to serve asFoster Care Committee

Appropriations for the implementation of Foster Care


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Challenges

4. Develop better data management andsystem of monitoring of children placed infoster families

5. Continue developing and strengtheningthe capability of staffs competencies inthe management of children in need/were provided with alternative care

6. Undertake research studies on children inalternative care to support planning,policy and program development


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