What is fostering?
What is the maximum age to be a foster child
18
Who can become foster parents?
In Singapore, legally married couples who are at least 25 years old, in good physical and mental health, financially stable, and have a safe, suitable home can become foster parents.
They must complete a pre-foster care training program and undergo a background check. The process, overseen by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), also includes home assessments and interviews.
Foster parents are expected to provide a stable, supportive environment for the child's emotional, educational, and physical well-being.
How many fostering agencies are there in Singapore?
5
What do fostering agencies do?
Fostering agencies play a key role in the foster care system by recruiting, training, and supporting foster parents. They assess potential foster families, provide ongoing training and resources, and offer emotional and practical support throughout the fostering process. These agencies also work closely with social workers and the child’s biological family, ensuring the child’s needs are met and monitoring their progress.
Additionally, fostering agencies help manage the legal and administrative aspects of foster care, ensuring the child’s safety and well-being throughout their time in care.
How does HFG work with fostering agencies?
They co-host events with agencies to explain the fostering process to the public, share real stories from foster families, and encourage more families to consider fostering
Raise awareness of fostering and match interested people to agencies who provide the services
Why is fostering important?
provides vulnerable children with a safe, stable, and loving home environment when their birth families are unable to care for them
It could help a foster child feel included, comforted and accepted, give them hope for a better future
What are the common challenges faced by foster parents?
Foster parents often face challenges such as dealing with the emotional trauma and behavioral issues of children who may have experienced neglect or abuse.
They may also struggle with managing attachment issues, balancing the child's needs with their own family life, and navigating the complexities of legal and social services.
Additionally, foster parents may experience feelings of uncertainty about the child's future and face the emotional difficulty of saying goodbye if the child is reunited with their biological family.
What are the names of the main fostering agencies?
How do they support foster parents and children?
Fostering agencies support foster parents and children by providing training, ongoing emotional support, and guidance on managing challenges.
They help with legal and administrative tasks, coordinate healthcare and education for children, and offer resources like respite care.
Agencies also ensure foster parents have a support network to assist them throughout the fostering process.
What makes HFG different from other fostering agencies?
- HFG does not manage individual cases
- HFG's focus is in supporting foster parents and advocating for them as a key stakeholder in the fostering ecosystem