THURSDAY, JANUARY 21, 1982
10
MAJOR BOOST TO HONG KONG'S FOSTER CARE SERVICE
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS ANNOUNCED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF ALLOWANCES TO FOSTER PARENTS.
AS FROM JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR, THE MAINTENANCE GRANT HAS BEEN REVISED TO $750 A MONTH AND THE INCENTIVE ALLOWANCE TO $250 A MONTH, GIVING A TOTAL ALLOWANCE OF $1 000 PER CHILD PER MONTH.
THIS COMPARES WITH THE PRESENT LEVEL OF $700 PER CHILD PER MONTH, COMPRISING A MAINTENANCE GRANT OF $500 AND AN INCENTIVE ALLOWANCE OF $200.
A NEW +SETTING UP+ GRANT HAS ALSO BEEN INTRODUCED WHICH WILL BE PAYABLE TO FOSTER PARENTS AT THE TIME THEY RECEIVE A CHILD INTO THE IR CARE. THE GRANT IS SET AT 50 PER CENT OF THE MONTHLY MAINTENANCE GRANT ($375 AT CURRENT PRICES) AND IS INTENDED TO ASSIST WITH INITIAL PURCHASES OF BEDDING, TOYS, CLOTHES AND OTHER ITEMS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT THE PRINCIPLES GOVERNING THE NEW LEVELS OF ALLOWANCES WERE THAT THEY SHOULD PROVIDE REASONABLE ASSURANCE TO FOSTER PARENTS THAT THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO SUBSIDISE THE MAINTENANCE COST OF THE CHILD IN THEIR CARE.
+WHILE THE LEVEL OF ALLOWANCES SHOULD NOT BE SUCH AS TO ATTRACT POTENTIAL FOSTER PARENTS PRIMARILY FOR REMUNERATIVE GAIN, THEY SHOULD ALLOW FOR THE PURCHASE OF TOYS, TREATS AND OUTINGS FOR THE FOSTER CHILD AND FOR OTHER CHILDREN IN THE FAMILY, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE RATES OF ALLOWANCES WOULD BE REVIEWED ANNUALLY IN RELATION TO INCREASES IN THE COST OF LIVING (AS MONITORED BY THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
THE NEW SYSTEM OF CALCULATING THE FOSTER CARE ALLOWANCES AND THE NEW RATES HAVE BEEN ENDORSED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
EXPLAINING THE BACKGROUND TO THESE NEW MEASURES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT FOSTER CARE NOW MADE A VERY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROVISION OF CHILD CARE SERVICES IN BRITAIN, CANADA, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER WESTERN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.
IN HONG KONG, HOWEVER, PARTLY BECAUSE OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND A TRADITIONAL RELUCTANCE BY CHINESE FAMILIES TO ACCEPT SOMEONE ELSE'S CHILD INTO THE FAMILY, DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SERVICE HAS BEEN VERY SLOW.
ALTHOUGH FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO SUPPORT 70 FOSTER PLACES IN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, ONLY 45 PLACES HAVE BEEN TAKEN UP BY ONE AGENCY, THE HONG KONG CHRISTIAN SERVICE, AND IT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN POSSIBLE TO FIND SUITABLE FOSTER PARENTS TO ENABLE ALL 45 PLACES TO BE FILLED.