Ministry of Gender, Family and Social Services has revealed that nine children have been placed under the care of foster parents this year.
The foster care programme began in 2020 to allow children under state care to be reintegrated into society in a safe familial environment. The gender ministry noted that requests to become legal guardians of children under state care have been increasing in the past three years.
The gender ministry stated one child was placed under the care of foster parents in 2020, while three children were placed under foster care in 2021, and nine children have been placed under foster care so far this year. The ministry has been making efforts to make it easier for children to be placed under the care of foster parents. It also stated it was difficult to find legal guardians for children over three years old as most families want to foster younger children.
The biggest change in the foster care programme introduced in 2020 is the ministry’s involvement in providing support to foster parents after placing children under their care. The ministry aims to make further changes such as establishing foster homes in communities instead of keeping children in isolated facilities while under state care.