Georgetown: Over 600 abused and abandoned children in 23 orphanages across Guyana are in need of foster parents. And as the country observes Foster Care Month throughout November, the Social Protection Ministry headed by Minister Volda Lawrence, is calling on family- oriented persons to take up the mantle.
Under the theme “Be part of a rewarding experience; foster a child in need of care today,” the Ministry will be hosting a number of activities to educate Guyanese on its Foster Care Programme.
“The specific aim of the activities during this month is to encourage more persons to open up their homes and hearts and take in a child who is in need of alternative care. Foster care is a family based solution for a child in need of out-of-home care,” the Social Protection Ministry said in a statement.
In the absence of their biological parents, Foster Care, the Social Protection Ministry explained, offers continued family-based care, support, guidance and love to children who were separated from their biological family.
It was noted that foster, unlike adoption, is a temporary arrangement until the child can safely be returned home.
“Currently, there are 600-plus children in residential care and most of these children would be better off in family-based care. Residential care at most times is life savers for children, but it is not the best care. Foster care is family-based care,” the Social Protection Ministry stated.
Since 2009, the Child Care and Protection Agency (CCPA) has managed to put approximately 200 children in foster homes.
Foster care in Guyana was instituted approximately six years ago with the aim of reducing the high number of children who are institutionalised.
Children are often removed from their primary caregivers because they were abused or faced the likelihood of being a victim of abuse, whether it is a case of physical or sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment.
The process of becoming a foster parent is very simple, since it is not an adoption and does not require the legal process of going to the court to get custody of a child.
Any person desirous of becoming a foster parent would need to complete an application form provided by the agency before a home study and visit are done.
Additionally, the agency would conduct criminal and medical checks on the applicant before an appointment is made with the CCPA Director.
The director has the authority to approve or disapprove the application based on the findings. However, if the approval is granted, the applicant will be placed on a foster care register before being matched with a child from one of the residential homes.
Children are often fostered for a period of three to six months before the process of reunification takes place. However, there are times when children would remain within their foster homes for more than a year.
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