Now, WCD Ministry’s focus shifts to implementation of foster care

The Ministry of Women and Child Development, is focusing on the issue of foster care scheme emphasising on the implementation of Model Guidelines for Foster Care, 2015 issued for care of children without parental support. 

The Ministry has also issued new guidelines for adoption as well as Foster Care this year. Speaking to Millennium Post earlier on the issue, Union Minister of Women and Child Development Maneka Sanjay Gandhi said, “We are focusing on the new foster care scheme, where if you have those people who do not want to adopt but then they can opt for children under this scheme and bring them home. After this the Government will pay to the foster carer or parent who will be taking care of the child’s welfare. You can take two to three children under the scheme. We will have regular checks on the foster carer or parent who opt for the scheme, so children are not treated as servants by them.”

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued the model guidelines for Foster Care, 2015 developed through a consultative process to be adopted or adapted by the State or UT as per their requirement. The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) constituted under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is the nodal authority for implementing the foster care programme, while all decisions related to placement of a child in foster care are to be taken by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of the district.

Explaining this, the minister said: “Children from the Child Care Institution (CCIs) are identified on the basis of their Individual Care Plan. Children without parental support in the community would be placed under foster care. The prospective foster carers or parents would have to apply in response of periodical advertisement to be given by DCPU in local newspapers. Based on the Home study Report, the recommendation of the DCPU and the compatibility report of interaction between the child and prospective foster carer or parent during the matching process, the CWC shall make a final order for placing a child under foster care.” 

Gandhi added, “Child in the age group of 0-6 years is not to be ordinarily placed in long term foster care but given for adoption if declared legally free by CWC. The foster carer or parent shall be required to sign an undertaking for foster-care of the child.”