ALTERNATIVE PARENTAL CARE PROGRAM

I. Definition of Foster Care

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

I. Definition of Foster family care as an alternative family care has the following features:
1.1 It is temporary 1.2 It has a goal which is the return of the child to his/her biological family or preparation for his/her placement to an adoptive family. 1.3 It does not alienate the child from his/her biological family.

II. Types of Foster Family Care

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

II. Types of Foster Family Care

B. By Duration of Placement 2.5 Emergency Foster Care 2.6 Short Term 2.7 Long Term

II. Objectives
General Objective:
To provide temporary planned substitute family care for a child while his/her biological family or relatives is being prepared for the childs return or while a more appropriate permanent placement is being worked out.

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

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

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

4.) To develop and maintain a pool of licensed foster families in every city/municipality through a continuing capability development in the communities supported by Local Governments Units. 5.) To provide supervision and support services to licensed foster families to ensure quality care.

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

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Children eligible for foster placement

A.) A child from infancy to below 18 years of age may benefit from foster care who is under any of the following circumstances:
1.) Child under the custody of DSWD or of any child caring/placing agency who is not yet legally free for adoption but needs individual attention in a family setting.

2.) Child who was abandoned by parents in hospital or in other places or with relatives who are not qualified or incapable to care for him/her. 3.) Child whose parents are in crisis thereby temporarily unable to provide adequate care.

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

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

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

Sexual or physical abuse Social difficulties as a result of neglect, abuse or exploitation Developmental or physical disability HIV/AIDS victim

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

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

PROSPECTIVE FOSTER PARENTS

Applicants should not be over 60 years of age but not under 25 years old; Applicants may either be legally married, widowed, separated, single and should be able to provide a wholesome family atmosphere for the foster child; Applicants must have a healthy and harmonious relationship with each family member;

 Applicants must have good moral character, emotional maturity, be physically fit and financially able to provide for the family needs; Applicants must be willing to be trained to further hone their knowledge, attitude and skills in caring for children with special needs; Applicants and his/her family members should be mentally and physically fit and free from contagious and infectious diseases to cope with the additional responsibility of caring for a child with special needs.

Required Documents from the Prospective Foster Family:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

Marriage Contract Birth Certificate Medical Certificate Latest Income Tax Return Recent Family Picture Consent of Each Child (10 above) Police Clearance

The Foster Care Process:

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Attendance to Foster Care Seminar Application of Prospective Foster Family Conduct of Home Study Issuance of License to Foster Family Conduct of Matching Conference Issuance of Foster Placement Authority Placement of Child w/ Foster Family Supervision

General Policies: As a general policy the placement of the child in a particular licensed foster family shall be based on the judicious matching of the needs of the child and capacity/resources of the foster family.

The following policies shall be covered in protecting children under foster care service: 1. The prospective adoptive family may indicate the age, gender, and medical condition of the child that they are capable of taking care of.

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

3. Application of prospective foster families of Child Placement Agencies shall be validated by the Department before the issuance of the license with in 5 days before the issuance of the license. If not qualified, TA should be provided by DSWD before license is issued. 4. Placement of a child in a particular, licensed foster family shall take place if the social worker has developed a permanent plan for the childs welfare and best interest e.g. adoption, return to biological family which maybe reviewed periodically. 3. The placement of a child in foster family shall be considered when all efforts to strengthen his/her biological family or relatives have failed and should be based on any of the conditions in Chapter V Section 4.

6. The child shall be placed in a foster family who have been licensed, except on the case of an emergency, but in which case, evaluation of the family should be done not later than one week after receiving the child and a license be issued immediately if the family has been confirmed by the social worker to be suitable. 7. The transfer of a child from one foster home to another shall be authorized only after a case conference has been undertaken and approval of the Foster Care Placement Authority by the DSWD Field Director has been released except when cases of emergency e.g. death/sickness. The incident shall be reported to DSWD Field Office within 24 hours.

8. Foster care being temporary in nature shall cover the period ranging from six months or less to one year except when situations so require as assessed by the social worker. Periodic assessment of childs progress in foster home shall be made. 9. The foster family shall encourage the foster child to relate with his/her biological family or relatives or adoptive family, as the case may be and shall provide the wholesome atmosphere for the enhancement of their relationship. 10. The licensing of foster families and the renewal or revocation of such license shall be recommended by the Executive Director/Head of NGO/GO and approved by the DSWD Field Office Director.

11. Biological children of prospective foster families shall be consulted and their approval is required when fostering a child. 12. A licensed foster family shall take care of a maximum number of two (2) children under 2 years of age or three (3) older children at any given time except where siblings have to be together with one foster family to ensure quality care. In case of child/ren with special needs, only one (1) child shall be placed with a foster family at a time. 13. Children who will eventually return to their biological families or relatives should not be alienated from their parents. The social worker should consider that the child/ren be placed in foster families whose socioeconomic condition is similar to that of their biological families

14. Report any case of death, injury or any untoward incident of a foster child, to the DSWD, Program Management Bureau within 24 hours after which an incident report together with the medical and death certificates shall be forwarded within two (2) days after the childs death, accident or ailment. 15. A licensed foster family shall not use foster care as a trial placement for adoption.