Child Youth Care Centres
Foster care means care of a child who has been placed in the care of a person (foster parent) who is not the parent or guardian of the child as a result of-
An order of a children's court; or
A transfer in terms of section 171 of the children’s act 8 of 2005 as amended
Foster parent means a person who has been designated through an order of children’s court or through a transfer in terms of section 171 to take care of a child who has been found to be in need of care and protection, and includes an active member of an organisation operating a cluster foster care scheme and who has been assigned responsibility for the foster care of a child.
Purposes of foster care
The purposes of foster care are to-
- Protect and nurture children by providing a safe, healthy environment with positive support;
- Promote the goals of permanency planning, first towards family reunification, or by connecting children to other safe and nurturing family relationships intended to last a lifetime; and
- Respect the individual and family by demonstrating a respect for cultural, ethnic and community diversity.
Number of children to be placed in foster care per household
A maximum number of six children may be placed in foster care with a single person or two persons sharing a common household, except where-
The children are siblings or blood relations; or
The court considers this for any other reason to be in the best interest of all the children.
More than six children may be placed in foster care in terms of a registered cluster foster care scheme.
Determination of placement of child in foster care
Before a children's court places a child in foster care by court order in terms of section 156, the court must consider a report by a designated social worker which should consider amongst other the following:
The cultural, religious and language background of the child; and
The availability of a suitable person with a similar background to that of the child who is willing and able to provide foster care to the child.
A child may be placed in the foster care of a person from a different cultural, religious and language background to that of the child, but only if-
There is an existing bond/relationship between that person and the child; or
A suitable and willing person with a similar background is not readily available to provide foster care to the child.
Duration of foster care placement
- The duration of foster care order is determined by the children’s court in terms and it lapses on expiry of-
Two years from the date the order was made; or
Such shorter period for which the order was made;
The foster care order may be extended by a children's court for a period until the child turns of 18 years.
In situations where the order has to be extended beyond the initial period the court taken into consideration the views of-
- The child;
- The foster parent and any other person who has an interest on the matter
Application for foster care
Application for foster care assessments is lodged at the local Social Development office or at the offices of Designated Child protection Organization.
Upon receipt of the application the social workers will conduct the necessary investigation that will result in a determination of whether the child is in need of care. The findings are then presented to court with a recommendation for the child to be placed in foster care.
Who can be Prospective foster parent?
Before a children's court places a child in foster care an assessment a designated social worker is made to determine the suitability of the person wishing to be a foster parent.
For consideration to be a foster parent the prospective foster parent must-
Be a fit and proper person to be entrusted with the foster care of the child;
Be willing and able to undertake, exercise and maintain the responsibilities of such care;
Have the capacity to provide an environment that is favourable to the child's growth and development; and
A person unsuitable to work with children is not a fit and proper person to be entrusted with the foster care of a child.