Family Based Care
A Child is God's intention for the world to go on and He appoints the family as the partner.
Family Based Care is the care, nurture and development of a vulnerable child within an existing family as an alternative to long term institutional care. It is now globally accepted that institutional care should be a last resort for vulnerable children and then for a short period only.
It is usualy poor families who open their hearts and homes to Orphans and Vunerable children. The powerful African principal of "Ubuntu" - " I am well when we are well" results in a strong culture of "community".
Family Based Care
The Family Base Care Division is responsible for the recruitment, screening, training, support and development of Foster Families. Many families have taken children on an informal basis (non-legalized) and enter the program to benefit from the Parenting Skills course and the various development projects. Approximately 75 new Families enter the program each year as prospective parents for children in institutions.
Families are assisted with obtaining birth certificates for children where the birth has not been registered as well as obtaining Government grants to meet the children's nutritional, health and educational needs.
For more information please contact Monica Woodhouse at monica@gcf.org.za
Social Work and Statutory Office
Social Workers and Auxiliary Social Workers are responsible for the recruitment and screening of prospective Foster Parents. Foster Families are recruited from the local and rural community churches and women’s groups and a stringent assessment and screening process ensures that only secure families are approved. This process involves at least 7 visits to the family home, interviews with neighbours and other community members and a police clearance. Successful families who have passed the criteria are referred to the Training Department for a 5 day Foster Care Training Program.
A database with the details of available Foster Parents is maintained for the placement of children from The Place of Restoration Interim Shelter and other childcare institutions. The "matching" panel consists of two seperate groups -
- The Social Workers of the Family Based Care Office and their Director have all the relevant information regarding the family.
- The Shelter Social Worker and the Director has all the relevant information regarding the child and acts in their best interest.
In this manner objectivity is maintained and harmful practices regarding the placement of children are eliminated.
This Social Work and Statutory Offce is also responsible for the legal matters regarding the placement of a child and submits reports to the Department of Welfare every second year.
Please contact Lydia Gordon at lydia@gcf.org.za for more information.
Training and Development of foster families within communities:
The ethos of the Training Department is to transfer skills and knowledge to Foster Families to impact poverty, parenting skills and food security. The Post placement support groups and additional projects assist families to deal with the challenges they may face and provides opportunities for self development and income generation. These projects are:
- Foster Care Training (all aspects of Foster Care and Parenting Skills)
- Answers to Life (Life Skills and Transformation training)
- My Money and I (Financial Skills such as Budgeting and Savings)
- Household and/or Community Food Gardens
Other training programs that are provided on request are:
- Grief and Bereavement workshops
- The moral and medical implications of HIV/AIDS
- Parenting skills for Reunification
Please contact Schalk Coetzee at schalk@gcf.org.za for further details.