INITIALLY, it might seem underhanded for an officer from the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA) to visit a child’s school to check that his/her attendance and punctuality are good. But this is just another part of the job carried out by members of the Foster Care Unit at the CPA. They also enquire about the child’s appearance, conduct and welfare while attending school.

Foster Children are always monitored to ensure they are receiving quality care, and Foster Parents are trained to understand why this line of investigation is necessary, and the reasons why they must comply with CPA Officers.

It would be futile to attempt to safeguard a child from one set of circumstances to then place that child in a dysfunctional setting where they will not receive the attention or care that he/she needs.

When a child is being fostered, the child’s well-being and state of mind are of utmost importance to the CPA. The environment they inhabit away from home is meant to provide the same care, consideration and affection for the Foster Child that is offered to other children in the family.

From time to time, Officers will visit the home unannounced to ensure that the child is comfortable and contented, and that his/her basic needs are being met. The child’s bedroom will be inspected to ensure that it is comfortable, tidy and clean. Foster Children are allowed to talk to the CPA officer along with the Foster Parent, or, if preferred, in private, about any concerns he/she may have.

Most Foster Parents prefer to care for small children, and sometimes they even end up with two or three siblings for a while. Keeping siblings together in a family setting helps young children to cope with their temporary new home, and it makes bonding with the Foster Parent easier.

When a mother was sentenced and sent to prison for 10 months, one courageous foster mother (Ms Hines) took in the four children left behind by these unfortunate events. She said, “It can be hard work at times, but I’ve had harder challenges in life. Having a close-knit family of my own also helps. My children play games with Foster Children, and assist in small ways, such as putting on shoes and brushing teeth.

“When the CPA rang to tell me about the children, I immediately saw the importance of keeping them together. The youngest was only five months, and the eldest was six years old. I often think about how we will handle the ‘hand over’ when their mum is released, because the baby has bonded well with my family, and has no, or very little, recollection of her mother. But of course, this is another bridge we will cross once we get to it.”

Foster Parents are never forced to take a particular child; the child (or children) they eventually foster is matched as closely as possible to the details they would have supplied on their application form. Only relevant information about the child’s circumstances and background are shared with the Foster Parent to enable him/her to better cope with the child.

On occasion, Foster Children may need to attend supervised visits with their biological parent(s), and the Foster Parent will be responsible for bringing the child to a pre-arranged location, which is usually a quiet area at the CPA. Foster Parents and Biological Parents very rarely meet, as CPA Officers always facilitate the visits and the handing over of the child to his/her parent(s).

The CPA has dealt with many varied cases, where children were made vulnerable due to their parents’ reckless behaviour or thoughtlessness. Knowing that a Foster Parent is on hand to give some comfort and consideration towards the child makes all the difference.

In one incident, a ten-month-old baby boy could consistently be heard crying while his Mother and Father would be drinking, quarrelling and occasionally fighting. A vigilant neighbour reported the couple, and an investigation by the CPA revealed that the child was not only unhappy but also malnourished. The role of the Foster Parent, in this case, was not only to care for the child, but to provide nutritional foods to boost the child’s health and well-being while his parents attempted to sort out their lives.

Both parents attended the Parenting Skills Programme (run by the CPA) where they learnt about the importance of good parenting, and were made to examine their lack of the same. Between them, a hostile, disjointed, somewhat miserable existence was being created for their son instead of him being their centre of attention. The programme ran for six weeks and the child remained in care for three months.

During this time, fortnightly supervised visits were arranged by CPA Officers between the parents and the child. After a review was completed on the family to the satisfaction of CPA Officers, reunification was approved by the Director of Children Services.

Every Foster Child brings along a new experience; an experience where the Foster Parent may need to monitor and modify his/her fostering skills accordingly, in the best interest of the child, while providing care, protection understanding and love.

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

A MESSAGE FROM THE CHILDCARE AND PROTECTION AGENCY, MINISTRY OF SOCIAL PROTECTION