Foster care for a child

27 June 2012 06:30 pm - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

By Jeewan Thiyagarajah
In every province in Sri Lanka, children, abandoned, handed over by parent (s) or sent by Courts are found in State sponsored or registered but privately run homes for children. They range from the age of 3-18. Those who run the homes are reimbursed at the end of the year with SLR. 20 per child per day being paid for by the State. An amount which adds to very little but possibly what the State can afford at present. Those running the homes top up to meet the actual costs of maintaining the children.

The homes are strictly regulated with stringent standards imposed with annual ratings for conformity. In about 40 per cent of the instances in which children find themselves in such homes, the parents have as a matter of convenience separated themselves from the children. When the child grows up various members of the family turn up and claim affiliations with the child. We have about 20,000 children in such homes. An effort to re- establish family contact if not move out about 25% of the children from the homes is currently underway.

It is vital in all instances of such foster care for a complete holistic profile of the child along with basic documents to be available at the point of a child entering such homes. Details such as family background, literacy, emotional concerns, general health, skills are all necessary to effectively undertake the role of a guardian while ensuring the best interest of the child. In most instances the child dislikes the separation from family however much of affection is lavished on him/ her in the home. If a child is very young he or she goes to sleep missing a parent. Many though advanced in age lag behind in the class room. When they reach 18 they need to be equipped with life skills to navigate personal lives and earn to live.

Those who run the homes are under stringent watch. If a child runs away hell breaks loose on them. Very few want to work in homes handling such children and are at times traumatized by their own daily experiences. If a child is hospitalized, someone has to be deputized to stay in the hospital. Finding competent staff to work in homes is becoming increasingly difficult. In many instances children are taken to Court on account of long delayed cases, where the law and administrative guidelines provide for expeditious disposal or limits the inconvenience on the child but in practice it is observed in the breech.

Today’s adult is yesterday’s child. Among the children in homes are those with leadership skills who know what it is like to be disadvantaged. They need to be given the tools ideally by more fortunate peers in privileged schools to strengthen their capacity and skills to become successful in whatever area of potential. Such leadership if empowered will act as a powerful force of children from within empowering them to steer paths for the future. The children in these homes should have access to English, IT, social skills, opportunity to develop in sports or the arts and begin to understand options which are available to more fortunate peers. There is no reason why Corporates cannot combine to provide top up ‘education’ and create a job bank for kids coming out finally from these homes to have the opportunities other kids have. The children were separated initially by unfortunate circumstances. When they become adults, yesterday’s child may if strong, be in a position to alter the original circumstances even to the extent of reclaiming if not reuniting with one or more parents. E.g. reforming alcoholics, drug dependents, poverty etc. We now so easily deprive the child of parental contact and deny the right of parenting in some instances particularly when people are poor. Both are outrageously illegal.

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Foster care for a child

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Gota fires back at Cardinal, rebuts allegations

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Street food vendor arrested for verbally harassing foreigner

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Ranil Wickremesinghe caravan moves on despite barking dogs

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

MIRROR CRICKET

Sahan Arachchige to lead Sri Lanka ‘A’

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Foreign powers intensify surveillance on Presidential elections as strategic interests take centre stage

New uterine loop for monkey birth control

Sajith avoids reception hosted for Iranian President

Do not be afraid to use weapons, Minister Alles tells police

Sahan Arachchige to lead Sri Lanka ‘A’

Dates confirmed for 78th Bradby Shield

SLAS appoints independent committee for investigation

Pakistan lose key players for last two T20Is against New Zealand