November designated Foster Care Month

The month of November has been designated Foster Care Month to increase awareness of the Ministry of Social Protection’s foster care programme and to obtain support from the community.

This year’s theme is Be part of a rewarding experience; Foster a child in need of care today.

According to the Social protection Ministry, the 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.

It notes that Foster Care offers continued family-based care, support, guidance and love to a child who has to be separated from his/her biological family, but it is a temporary arrangement until the child can safely be returned home.

The ministry says there are currently over 600 children in residential care and most of these children would be better off in family-based care.