INCREASING THE POOL OF FOSTER PARENTS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN

INCREASING THE POOL OF FOSTER PARENTS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN

6.

Ms Ellen Lee asked the Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports whether the Ministry has plans in place to enhance and increase the pool of foster parents to meet the increasing need of caring for abused children.

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan: At present, MCYS has 197 foster parents who care for 324 foster children.

MCYS has been actively recruiting foster families through news advertisements, media publications, and public awareness campaigns. We also work with community organisations in our recruitment efforts. These include MadAboutKids, Dads for Life, Centre for Fathering, Faith Organisations, Voluntary Welfare Organisations, Singapore Teachers' Union, Singapore Nurses' Association, and People's Association Women's Executive Committee. There has been a 22% increase in the number of foster parents over the last five years (from 161 in 2005 to 197 in 2010).

Fostering requires the full commitment of the entire family to meet the foster child's needs and, more importantly, the love and care that forms a secure base from which children understand the world. As such, recruitment of foster families is a challenging task as it involves a high level of commitment and candidates have to be selected after a rigourous selection and training process.

MCYS will continue in its outreach efforts to heighten public awareness and participation in foster care.

Column: 2159