Model Guidelines for Foster Care, 2015 issued for care of children without parental support
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued the Model Guidelines for Foster Care, 2015 developed through a consultative process to be adopted or adapted by the State/UT as per their requirement. The District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) constituted under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) is the nodal authority for implementing the foster care programme, while all decisions related to placement of a child in foster care are to be taken by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of the district. Children from the Child Care Institution (CCIs) are identified on the basis of their Individual Care Plan. Children without parental support in the community would be placed under foster care. The prospective foster carers/ parents would have to apply in response of periodical advertisement to be given by DCPU in local newspapers.
Based on the Home study Report, the recommendation of the DCPU and the compatibility report of interaction between the child and prospective foster carer/parent during the matching process, the CWC shall make a final order for placing a child under foster care.
Child in the age group of 0-6 years is not to be ordinarily placed in long term foster care but given for adoption if declared legally free by CWC. The foster carers/parent shall be required to sign an undertaking for foster-care of the child.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.
