FAQs on FIT PERSON AND FOSTER PARENT

1. Who is a fit person?

Ans: A fit person, means any person (individual) prepared to own the responsibility of a child, for a specific purpose is identified after inquiry made in this behalf and recognized as fit for the said purpose, by the committee or, as the case may be, the board to receive and take care of the child.

2. What is the difference between fit person and foster parent?

Ans: Individuals who have been declared as fit person by the Board or committee can become foster parent.

3. The eligibility criteria for becoming a foster parent.

Ans: a) both the spouses must be Indian Citizen.

b) both the spouses must be willing to foster the same child.

c) both the spouses must be above the age of thirty- five years and must be in good physical, emotional and mental health.

d) ordinarily the foster family should have an income with which they are able to meet the needs of the child.

e) medical reports of all the members of the foster family residing in the premises should be obtained including reports for Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberclosis (TB), and Hepatitis B etc. to determine that they are medically fit, and

f) the foster family should have adequate space and basic facilities .

4. Eligibility of children who can be placed into foster Care.

Ans: a) Children who are not being adopted after being declared legally free for adoption may be eligible for foster care.

b) If the adoptable children between the age of 6 to 8 years do not get a family either in Incountry or inter country adoption within a period of two years after they are declared legally free for adoption by the CWC, such children to be eligible to be placed in Group Foster Care by the Committee on the recommendation of the DCPU or SAA.

c) Children in the age group of 8 to 18 years, who are legally fr4ee for adoption but have not been selected by any Prospective Adoptive Parent (PAP) for one year to be eligible to be placed in Group Foster Care by the Committee on the recommendation of the DCPU or SAA.

d) Children with special needs, irrespective of age, who do not get a family either in incountry adoption or in inter country adoption within a period of one year after they are declared legally free for adoption by the CWC, such children to be eligible to be place in group foster care by the Committee on the recommendation of the DCPU or SAA, provided the Home Study Report of the Foster Family supports their fitness and group setting has facilities for care of such children.

5. Benefit to become a foster parent.

Ans: fostering give parents the opportunity to provide a safe haven and support system for the children who need it the most. One is able to provide them with a consistent living environment that will give them chance to work through difficulties and try to overcome obstacles.

6. Process to apply for fostering a child.

Ans: process for selection of foster parent/family is be notified by the State Govt. Eligible persons can approach the DCPUs or the CWCs of their concerned district. After, home study of the family is done and due protocols are followed, the committee, passes final order for placing the child in foster café, specifying the period in which the child will be placed in foster care. (a list/panel of fit persons and foster parents is maintained by the DCPU/CWC).

7. Do foster family have choice on the child they want to take home?

Ans: Since, a panel is maintained by the DCPU, which means that prospective foster parents have given their willingness to accept any child referred to them, so there is no choice given to choose a child. The only choice is to accept or not accept the referred child.

8. Infrastructural requirements.

Ans: Foster Family should have adequate space and provisions to provide basic facility to the child.

9. How long can a child stay in foster care?

Ans: Foster care may be short term or long term depending upon the needs of the child. The duration of short term foster care shall be for a period of not more than one year.

Long term foster care, shall be for a period exceeding one year. This can be periodically extended by the committee till the child attain 18 years of age on the basis of assessment of the compatibility of the child with the foster parents or in group foster care setting.

10. Number of children one can foster.

Ans: the number of children placed under foster care should not exceed eight children including biological children of the foster giver.

11. Can foster children meet their biological families?

Ans: yes, with due permission of the CWC.

12. What after completion of foster tenure, ie. can a fostered child be adopted within the foster giving family, if yes, process for the same.

Ans: after completion of the tenure of Foster care, if the foster family is willing to adopt the fostered child, they can go ahead with the same. In such conditions, the institutions, from where the child has been placed in foster care will have to proceed the legal procedure.

FAQs on FIT FACILITY AND GROUP FOSTER CARE

1. What is a fit facility?

Ans: the Board or the Committee shall recognize a facility being run by a Governmental organization or voluntary or non- governmental organization registered under any law for the time being in force to be fit to temporarily take the responsibility of a child for specific purposes after due inquiry regarding the suitability of the facility and the organization to take care of the child in such manner as may be prescribed.

2. What is the procedure for recognition of fit facility as group foster care.

Ans: a) An institution or organization prepared to own the responsibility for a particular child for foster care may apply in Form 38 of the JJ (CPC) Model Rules, 2016 for recognition of group foster care through DCPU of the district concerned.

b) the committee shall on application from any institution or organization run by Govt. or Non- govt. organizations after proper inspection and inquiry may recognize the facility as fit facility for group foster care.

c) A decision on the application, shall be taken within 15 days from date of receipt of such application.

3. Tenure of fit facility for group foster care.

Ans: 3 years which may be renewed for further period of three years in accordance to provisions of the JJ (CPC) Act, 2015.

4. Eligibility of Children to be considered for foster care.

Ans: a) children who are declared legally free but not able to get adopted.

b) if adoptable children between age of 6 to 8 years do not get a family either in in-country or in inter-country adoption within a period of two years after they are declared legally free for adoption by CWC, such children to be eligible to be placed in GFC by the committee on the recommendation of the DCPU or SAA.

C) children in the age group of 8 to 18 years, who are legally free for adoption but have not been selected by any prospective adoptive parent for one year to be eligible to be placed in group foster care by the committee on the recommendations of DCPU or SAA.

D) children with special needs, irrespective of age, who do not get a family either in in country adoption or in inter country adoption within a period of one year after they are declared legally free for adoption by CWC, such children to be eligible to be placed in GFC by the committee on the recommendations of the DCPU or SAA, provided the Home Study Report of the foster family supports their fitness and group setting has facilities for care of such children.

5. Number of children who can be fostered under GFC.

Ans: the number of children placed under group foster care shall not exceed eight children in one unit including biological children of the foster care giver.