Registry established for foster parents

SOLIDARITY Helpende Hand has launched a national platform for the registration of potential foster parents in response to the overwhelming case load of children in need of placement.

Helpende Hand works hand in glove with other welfare organisations such as the Suid-Afrikaanse Vrouefederasie (SAVF) and the Christian Social Services Council (CMR) and also encounters many destitute children in their own outreach programmes.

Social worker at Helpende Hand, Isabel Faurie, says prospective foster parents often do not know what process to follow to become involved, while welfare organisations in urgent need of foster parents have no way of identifying them.

The new platform will facilitate contact between the respective parties, although it does not have statutory powers and will not be involved in vetting potential foster parents or placing children in foster care.

Annette van Loggerenberg, Manager of CMR North, says the challenges contributing to shortages are many.

‘Foster care is a great responsibility, because foster parents accept responsibility for the day-to-day care of other people’s children,’ she says.

‘Children who are placed in foster care are often severely traumatised and their challenging behaviour makes heavy demands on foster parents.

‘These children often have various health problems and cognitive deficits owing to emotional and physical neglect.’

Visit www.pleegsorg.co.za to register as a foster parent, or SMS ‘pleegsorg’ to 38969 to donate R10 to Helpende Hand’s foster care fund.

The foster care fund was established to provide funding for foster children’s additional needs, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy and counselling.