A young father had made the best provision possible for his three children. Using a hammer and nails he had fixed up his shack with several recycled pieces of wood.

The roof of his abode consisted of a large sheet of plastic which was kept in place with parcel tape and adhesive. It should be no surprise therefore to learn that his three children slept on a double mattress on the concrete floor of his shack and cooking, washing and toilet facilities were all outside somewhere round about the shack but within the same area. Their mother had long gone and left them and he was ‘everything’ to his children. He loved them sincerely and was a dedicated father who would have done anything to protect them and keep them with him.

This is just one story that tore at the heartstrings of a Foster Care Officer, she explained. “I had to excuse myself for a minute and go outside to shed a tear and then take a deep breath before returning to my desk to speak to the father. I had to mentally draw a line between my own emotions and the job at hand. He pleaded with me not to take his children into care, but our Director, here at the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), had already made the decision: although he was willing, he was unable to adequately provide for his family. So,though harsh, I had to carry out my duty on behalf of the children’s safety and well-being”.

Eventually the children were placed with a foster family while their father was given the assistance and help necessary to fix up his home and find meaningful employment. The Foster Care Officer concluded, “This was one of my more successful cases because it wasn’t long before the father was able to improve his living arrangement and income to a standard where he could be reunited with his children and I was able to close their case”.

While foster parents are well aware that their role is only a temporary one in a child’s life, it does not prevent them from becoming attached to the children in their care: it is natural for children to bond with their carers’ and vice versa. One foster father explained, ‘When I first became a foster parent me and my wife had two children staying with us and the house was full of noise, laughter and fun. After a while I left and went to Suriname and when I returned the house was empty: During the time I was away the children had been reunited with their biological parents.

Since then, whenever we have foster children, I always leave a space in my mind to remind me that these children will be leaving us some day and that our job is only for a time. Of course I still enjoy playing with them, making their tea and taking them to church but there is always that space in my mind’.

Foster parents receive training: part of that training teaches them about the importance of foster children linking with their biological parents. It is the mandate of the CPA to work on behalf of children to reunite them with their biological families, when and where ever possible. Foster parents and biological parents never meet, however there are many stories where children are reunited with their parents but (through agreement between both parties) still correspond with their foster parents.

There is even one story where the biological mother and foster parent became good friends and the foster mother would babysit the child, while his mother was at work. Some biological parents, however, do not want the foster parent involved in the child’s life after reunification.

These are some of the reasons why ‘Foster Caring’ is so special and why people who step forward to be foster parents must be versatile and understanding, open and willing to learn exactly what Foster Care entails. If you would like further detail about Foster Care call the Foster Care Unit on 231 8423.

If you are concerned about the welfare of a child call the CPA hotline on 227 0979 on write to childcaregy@gmail.com

A message from the Childcare and Protection Agency Ministry of Social Protection