How to Become a Licensed Foster Home/Family in the
1. What is foster care ?
This is
providing temporary family care for infants, toddlers and even minors who have
been surrendered, abandoned, separated from their biological families because
of abuse, etc..
Under
Philippine laws, surrendered and abandoned children are placed under the legal
guardianship of the Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD). Anybody
who is involved in this kind of alternative care should coordinate with the
DSWD.
2. Requirements
The DSWD
requires foster homes/families to be licensed , as required by law ( Art. 67 of
PD 603 ). A social worker assists a potential foster home/family in fulfilling
the license requirements.
How
can one become a foster parent :
After
deciding to really become a foster family, certain procedures
/requirements
must be met . First and foremost of these is the Home Study.
What
is a home study ?
This is a
detailed study of the applicant's character,background,motivations,experience
with children, and competence to act as foster parents . The home study will
also take into consideration the family's ability to cope with separation ,
foster care being temporary in nature. The home study is carried out in a
serires of home visits and interviews by the social worker . Children and other
members of the family are also interviewed.
Why
is a license important ?
It
protects the foster family from any liability unless the injury was due to
extreme negilgence on the part of the foster family.
1. Can a foster family coose a child to be
fostered ?
The
choice will only be limited as to the sex and age of the child. A child is
selected and matched on the basisi of the capacity of the child to benefit from
the resources of the family. Ideally, a foster family should be provided information
on the child, a picture and medical report. In some cases , pre placement
visits are arranged.
Foster
parents may also meet with other foster parents so that experiences of
long-time and experienced foster parents are shared.
2. What are the responsibilities of foster
parents ?
This way
, you will help the child let go if it is time to go.
Foster
families are also encouraged to keep a photo album and records which could be
sent to the child when he joins his permanent family.
1. What is the length of placement ?
Length of
placement is variable. There are no hard and fast rules, but there are indications
on how long the stay might be. For surrendered babies, adoptive placement may
take anytime. If the baby/child has been recently abandoned, the child must
wait for at least six months before legal determination of abandonment can be
initiated. Adoptive placement can not take place unless the child is declared
abandoned by the court.
If the
placement is out of the country, the length of time may be longer.
For older
children, other factors are considered. Firstly, older children are more
difficult to place. The older the child gets, the harder to find a temporary
home.