Do children have a right to a family, or at least, a family environment which they can feel comfortable in? Of course they do! This is even stated in the UN Conventions on the Rights of the Child. But then another question arises. What happens when these children cannot live with their natural parents? What are the alternatives in such cases? There aren’t too many alternatives, but fostering is one which is surely beneficial to the child.

What is fostering?

Fostering provides an opportunity for children and adolescents having various family problems to have a better family environment, where they can get the love and security they need. These family problems may involve crises, abuse, parents with physical or mental health difficulties, parents abusing of alcohol or drugs, or parents who have passed away, among others. Even though the child would be living within a foster family, the natural parents would still have parental authority. Thus the child’s surname will not change to that of the foster family. This also means that decisions pertaining to the child’s placement would not be taken by the foster carers alone, but together with the professionals involved in the specific case, in order to ensure compliance with the legal circumstances that the case may present.

The duration of the placement in foster care can vary according to the case’s exigencies and can vary from short term to long term. Other types of fostering include:

Respite fostering; which involves a foster family taking care of the child over the weekend.

Emergency fostering; when there is no one from the child’s family, who is able to take care of him/her because of emergency situations such as hospitalisation.

Next-of-kin fostering; in this case the foster carers are the child’s next-of-kin such as aunts, uncles or grandparents.

Specialised fostering; the child to be fostered has special needs.

What are the benefits of

foster care?

One of the main aims of foster care is to reconcile the child with its natural parents. The foster carers thus offer the child a family environment, until such a time arrives and the natural parents are able to take care of the child again. However, it is important to note that this only happens if it is in the child’s best interest. A good foster carer should be able to involve the natural parents in the upbringing of the child. This is necessary for the child to get the stability and care he/she needs to develop his/her abilities and character. There may also be circumstances in which the child is kept in foster care until he/she is 18 years old.

How are foster families assisted by Agenzija Appogg?

Professionals from the Fostering Team at Agenzija Appogg are always ready to give their support to both the foster families and those entrusted in their care. The team believes in sensitivity and prudence in all situations. The social workers have to consider both sides of the coin. On one hand, the foster family has already established its rules and regulations. On the other hand the child in foster care has very little, or no idea at all, of what family life is. In most cases, the child has no idea how to behave in a family environment. Thus the fostering team offers all the help needed by the foster family, and do their best to encourage patience, dedication and the perseverance needed to raise the child.

What qualities should a

foster carer have?

Prospective foster carers need to be able to provide and care for children in a holistic manner. This means that they need to be able to see to the child’s emotional developmental, educational needs and matters or health among others. Furthermore, foster carers are expected to provide stimulation, guidance and boundaries, as well as stability for children. The latter is imperative since the provision of a stable family environment would enable the child to develop and maintain a secure attachment to the foster carers in order to ensure the best possible development.

However, all these attributes and qualities do not occur in a vacuum; and therefore it is also part of the social worker’s role to look into the qualities of prospective and current foster carers within their home environment. Finally, one needs to be aware of the importance of working alongside a team of professionals in order to ensure that the child’s best interest is sought continuously.

The final gain

So what benefits do we expect from fostering? Some might say that children might be better off in a residential home because they would be very well looked after.

However, international research is consistently demonstrating that children benefit from living within a family environment whereby their needs are met individually, and where they can experience love, care and support from the same people.

The Fostering Act

In November 2007, the Fostering Act was passed. This Act sets various standards and procedures. It also includes the authority given to a Fostering Board, whose members meet regularly to examine Home Study Reports and review reports drawn up by social workers, determine the suitability of prospective foster carers – specifying what type of foster care is required, to review complaints and to make recommendations to the Ministry of the Family & Social Solidarity, among other duties.

The Fostering Act also permits foster carers to have access to any relevant information which would enable them to give the best possible care to the child, and which may affect the best interest of the child they are fostering. On their part, the foster carers are bound by this Act to “ensure that the child placed in his/her care shall be cared for, maintained, instructed and educated according to the child’s abilities, aspirations and natural inclinations.”

Ultimately, the Fostering Act secures the right that the child being placed in foster care has access to social work interventions by the professional staff in charge of that particular placement.

Local facts

Currently there are 149 children in foster care, and 146 foster families who actually have the children with them. However, there are another 60 children and youngsters waiting to be fostered.

*Sarah’s Experience

*Sarah has been fostered for the past seven years. Her foster parents, *Robert and *Marisa explain that fostering is not such an easy experience, especially if the child in care is already an adolescent. Sarah was fostered at the age of ten, meaning that her character was already formed and her norms set. This posed a greater challenge to the couple, since it took much longer for Sarah to adapt.

Marisa explains that a social worker paid them a visit after they expressed their wish to foster. They were one of the first couples to foster, and back then, there was very limited awareness about the subject. After the social worker explained what fostering was all about, Marisa and Robert discussed it and decided to take this step.

Once they completed the required training, Sarah went to live with the couple. This happened after Marisa’s and Robert’s characters were monitored to make sure Sarah would be compatible with them and their lifestyle. This training helped them accept the fact that Sarah was not their natural child, even though they were going to be her carers. They were even trained about how to help Sarah maintain contact with her natural parents.

Marisa and Robert, at first, found it to be quite a challenging task. Sarah was experiencing behavioural problems, and it was rather difficult for them until they managed to find a way to help her. However as time passed, Sarah settled in, and now she gives a lot of satisfaction to this family.

Marisa and Robert explain that they never tried to build her dreams for her. They just helped her to attain her wishes. They have never, ever tried to replace her natural parents, however they give her all their love. This couple has no regrets at all about their decision to foster, and they would do it again, with no hesitation whatsoever.

* Names have been changed to protect the identity of the child.

Agenzija APPOGG regularly organises training for prospective foster carers. Families and individuals interested in fostering are encouraged to call the Fostering Services of Agenzija APPOGG on Supportline 179. Further information can be obtained from the website www.appogg.gov.mt. A copy of the application form can be downloaded from the Fostering section of the website.

Agenzija APPOGG (www.appogg.gov.mt) forms part of the Foundation for Social Welfare Services which also incorporates Agenzija sedqa (www.sedqa.gov.mt) and Agenzija SAPPORT (www.sapport.gov.mt).