More foster families sought for special needs, older kids

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) is appealing for more people to foster children aged seven and above, as well as those with special needs, as it continues to grow its pool of foster parents. 

Sharing the details of a survey of foster parents in Singapore, the MSF said it is harder to find foster families for these children: The majority of the 350 kids currently in foster care are aged below seven. A “significant number” of older kids and those with special needs are in voluntary children’s homes because they lack the opportunity to be cared for by foster families, the ministry said, although exact figures were not available.

“Families are still the best place for children to grow up in, which is why we want to grow the family option …  Children with special needs need a lot more time and attention, which can be intensive, so some foster parents may not be prepared for that. Some may also find teenagers difficult to care for so they prefer younger kids,” said Ms Audrie Siew, deputy director of MSF’s children in care branch.

Ms Siew was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Foster Family Tea Party, an annual appreciation event held by MSF to recognise contributions made by foster parents.

During the event today (Nov 29), Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin said the number of foster parents has increased 40 per cent from the end of 2013 to 337 currently — an “encouraging” growth as the ministry moves closer to its target of having 500 foster families.

The Fostering Perception Survey, the first being done by the MSF, received responses from 246 foster parents. It found that nine in 10 foster parents are willing to continue fostering, and 85 per cent of them thought the current training by MSF helped prepare them to care for their foster kids. 

Nine in 10 also rated their experience working with Foster Care Officers as positive. However, the respondents called for better support during the placement of children.

“This is an area that we can improve on … One of the reasons is that many of our children are often removed from their homes because of safety reasons, and placed into foster care with very short notice.

Hence, information on their care needs are limited,” Mr Tan said, adding that the MSF is also strengthening various training programmes to help foster parents carry out their responsibilities better.

Madam Norlia Ali Marican, 50, said the courses organised by the MSF were helpful in preparing her to care for her three-year-old foster son, who has global development delay, a term used to describe children who are developing more slowly than average. “He can be aggressive — bites, beats, throws things around because he doesn’t know how to express himself. Every child comes with different challenges; most important is to be patient, love them regardless of their background,” said Mdm Norlia, who has 12 years of fostering experience.

To grow its pool of foster parents, the MSF set up of two agencies earlier this year, run by MCYC Community Services Society and Boys’ Town.