Eligibility for foster parent
By definition, a foster parent is an adult person who is not the biological parent or next of kin of a child but willing and capable to undertake care, welfare and maintenance of the child. Thus, it is a person or people who officially take a child into their family for a period of time, without becoming the child’s legal parents; while providing for the care, accommodation and upbringing of the child, with or without financial reward.
A prospective foster parent must always keep the best interest of the fostered child in mind. This includes understanding that children need to be, and feel safe, in order to develop nurturing attachments. The foster parent must maintain and promote the child’s self-esteem and cultural identity, while establishing a connectedness that will form an essential part of the child’s lifetime relationships
The foster parent must be mindful of the fact that they are providing an essential parental care service, which does not aim to estrange children from families. They form part of a national team, through a localised network that seeks to preserve family connections and offer much needed support to the families and vulnerable children.
PERSONS ELIGIBLE TO FOSTER CHILDREN
- An adult Swazi citizen;
- A Responsible married couple;
- A man and woman of high moral character and integrity who are commonly known to be cohabiting though not a legally married couple;
- A responsible single person not below the age of twenty-five (25) years;
- A person or couple who have sufficient means of livelihood and are willing or able, emotionally, physically or otherwise to foster a child;
- A person or couple assessed by the social worker, the inquiry report discussed and the applicant/s recommended as suitable foster care parent by the Foster Care Child Placement Committee;
RESPONSIBILITIES OF FOSTER PARENT:
- The prospective foster parent will be involved in the children’s network and support structures.
- The foster parent is will be responsible for the protection of the child from neglect, discrimination, violence, abuse, exploitation, exposure to physical and moral hazards as well as oppression. They are expected to provide good guidance, care, assistance and maintenance for the child, to ensure the survival and development of the child.
- They will also ensure that during temporary absence, the child shall be cared for by a competent person, and ensure access to birth registration services, access to education and health care, and ensure protection from all forms of abuse.