FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 1987
→THE PURPOSE IS TO PROVIDE FAMILY CARE TO CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 16 WHO HAVE NO PARENTS OR IMMEDIATE FAMILY ABLE TO CARE FOR THEM OR WHO, FOR VARIOUS REASONS, HAVE TO BE SEPARATED TEMPORARILY FROM THE IR NATURAL FAMILIES,
+FOR EXAMPLE, ONE OR BOTH THE PARENTS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO LOOK AFTER THE CHILD BECAUSE OF ILLNESS, FAMILY PROBLEMS, IMPRISONMENT OR THE IR UNWILLINGNESS OR INABILITY TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE CARE, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID.
+THE IDEAL FOSTER PARENTS SHOULD BE COUPLES AGED BETWEEN
25 AND 60 WITH A HAPPY AND STABLE MARRIAGE.
+ THE OVER-RIDING CONSIDERATION IS THAT THEY MUST BE WILLING TO CARE FOR AND LOVE THE FOSTER CHILD, HE SAID.
ENQUIRIES ABOUT APPLICATION CAN BE MADE WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S CENTRAL FOSTER CARE UNIT AT THIRD FLOOR, TUNG SUN COMMERCIAL CENTRE, 194-200 LOCKHART ROAD, WAN CHAI, OR BY TELEPHONING 5-8930681.
FOSTER PARENTS RECEIVE A MONTHLY ALLOWANCE OF $1 360, COMPRISING A MAINTENANCE GRANT OF $1 020 FOR EACH CHILD AND AN INCENTIVE PAYMENT OF $340 FOR THE PARENTS.
THERE IS ALSO A +SETTING-UP+ GRANT OF $510 FOR EACH CHILD, WHICH IS NORMALLY PAYABLE WHEN THE CHILD IS FIRST RECEIVED INTO THE FOSTER HOME TO ASSIST IN ANY INITIAL EXPENSES SUCH AS PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL BEDDING, TOYS AND OTHER ITEMS.
ADDITIONAL GRANTS TO MEET SPECIAL NEEDS OF FOSTER CHILD MAY ALSO BE CONSIDERED.
1
IN AUGUST LAST YEAR THE NUMBER OF SUBVENTED FOSTER CARE PLACES WAS INCREASED BY 40 TO A TOTAL OF 160 PLACES.
AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THERE WERE 125 CHILDREN UNDER FOSTER CARE IN 94 FOSTER HOMES.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT GOOD PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN PROMOTING THIS FORM OF NON-INSTITUTIONAL CARE, NOTING THAT THERE WAS HOWEVER A PREFERENCE AMONG FOSTER PARENTS FOR TAKING CHILDREN AGED FROM TWO TO FOUR.
HE URGED PEOPLE TO CONSIDER FOSTERING CHILDREN IN THE OTHER AGE GROUPS.
CURRENTLY, THE CENTRAL FOSTER CARE UNIT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITING AND REGISTERING POTENTIAL FOSTER PARENTS AND ASSESSING THE IR SUITABILITY BY CONDUCTING HOME STUDIES, WHILE THREE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MATCHING A CHILD WITH A FOSTER HOME AND THE SUPERVISION OF PLACEMENT.
THE THREE