FOSTER CARE
WHAT IS FOSTER CARE?
Alternative care arrangement wherein licensed foster parent/s provides a planned substitute parental care to a child.
WHO MAY FOSTER A CHILD?
● Must be of legal age;
● Must be at least sixteen (16) years older than the child unless the foster parent is a relative;
● Must have a genuine interest, capacity and commitment in parenting and is able to provide a
familial atmosphere for the child;
● Must have a healthy and harmonious relationship with each family member living with him or
her;
● Must be of good moral character;
● Must be physically and mentally capable and emotionally mature;
● Must have sufficient resources to be able to provide for the family’s needs;
● Must be willing to further hone or be trained on knowledge, attitudes and skills in caring for
a child; and
● Must not already have the maximum number of children under his foster care at the time of
application
● The relatives of the child shall be given priority, so long as they meet the above qualifications
● An alien possessing the above qualifications and who has resided in the Philippines for at
least twelve (12) continuous months and maintains such residence until the termination of
placement by the NACC or expiration of the FFCL.
WHO MAY BE PLACED UNDER FOSTER CARE?
● A child who is abandoned, surrendered, neglected, dependent or orphaned;
● A child who is a victim of sexual, physical, or any other form of abuse or exploitation;
● A child with special needs;
● A child whose family members are temporarily or permanently unable or unwilling to
provide the child with adequate care;
● A child awaiting adoptive placement and who would have to be prepared for family life;
WHY FOSTER A CHILD?
1. Foster parents offer foster children in need of protection a chance to belong and grow in loving family environment.
2. Foster parents are able to empower foster children in overcoming challenges and nurturing their strengths essential to their holistic development.
3. Foster families can create lifelong connections, proving that love and care has no boundaries and can heal even the deepest wounds.
4. Foster care celebrates the beauty of different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences that enrich both the foster parents and the foster children.
5. Foster families builds their foundation on love, proving that a caring family can be cornerstone of a child’s happiness and success.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FOSTERING A CHILD?
1. Foster parents receive needed support care services such as, but not limited to counseling, training on parenting, child care, and development, respite care, skills training, and livelihood assistance.
2. Foster parents have the opportunity to build relationships with fellow foster parents, allowing them to share their fostering experiences through a Foster Care Support Group.
3. Single foster parents are recognized by the law as Solo Parents and can register for a Solo Parent I.D. to enjoy the benefits that come with it.
4. Foster parents can register their foster children in PhilHealth as their dependent.
5. Foster parents become a role model as they contribute to the transformative journey of foster children – celebrating every achievement as a testament to their support and dedication.
PROCEDURE
Step 1: Choose your service provider – An interested individual or couple to foster a child may inquire at the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO) or Child Placing Agency (CPA) within the jurisdiction of his/her residence for initial assessment and schedule of the Foster Care Forum.
Step 2: Attendance to foster care forum – The interested individual or couple attends the Foster Care Forum at RACCO or CPA, as a prerequisite to his/her/their application. The forum serves as a venue to discuss the process and requirements of foster care. It also gives an opportunity for the
interested individual/couple to raise his/her/their queries and share their thoughts and apprehensions on the program.
Step 3: Submission of Documentary Requirements – The interested individual or couple submits his/her/ their applications and complete documentary requirements, as discussed in the forum, to RACCO or CPA.
Step 4: Assessment of application – The RACCO/CPA social worker assesses the applicant’s capacity and motivation in fostering a child through home visits and collateral interviews with his/her/their family and community members. The RACCO/CPA social worker prepares a comprehensive Home Study Report (HSR) indicating his/her assessment and recommendation to the applicant/s based on the results of home visits and collateral interviews.
Step 5: Deliberation of Foster Care Application – The RACCO/CPA social worker presents the application of the foster care applicant to the Regional Child Placement Committee (RCPC) for approval.
Step 6: Issuance of Foster Family Care License (FFCL) and Foster Care Identification Card (FCID) – The applicant receives the Foster Family Care (FFCL) and Foster Care Identification issued by the RACCO. His/her case is included in the roster of available foster parents.
Step 7 : Foster Care Matching – The RACCO/CPA social worker presents the foster parent’s case at the Foster Care Matching. The licensed foster parent is matched to a child based on his/her/their resources and capacity to provide the child’s needs.
Step 8: Receipt of acceptance from the foster parents and child’s social worker – The social worker informs the licensed foster parents the result of the matching and discusses the child’s case, as basis for his/her/their decision. The foster parent submits a letter to RACCO accepting the result of the matching.
Step 9: Issuance of Foster Placement Authority – The foster parent receives the Foster Placement Authority (FPA) from the RACCO.
Step 10: Physical entrustment of the child to the foster parent – The licensed foster parent brings his/her/their foster child home. Pre-placement activities (video conferencing, pre-entrustment conference, and etc.) are conducted before the actual entrustment.
Step 11: Monitoring of foster care placement – The social worker conducts home visits, monthly, or more frequently as needed for the first three months and bi-monthly thereafter, to monitor the foster child’s adjustment in the foster home as well as monitor the licensed foster parent handling of their foster parenting roles and responsibilities. During home visits, the RACCO/CPA social worker provides updates the licensed foster parent on the status of the placement of his/her/their foster child either he/she is to be returned to his/her biological family or already available for adoption, or he/she will have to stay longer with them due to reasons concerning the permanent placement of the child.
Step 12: Discharge of foster child to foster home – The foster child is discharged from his/her foster home when placed to his/her adoptive parents or reunified with his/her birth parents or relatives.
WHAT ARE THE DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS?
● PSA copy of Certificate of Live Birth;
● PSA copy of Marriage Certificate or Divorce, Declaration of Nullity of Marriage or legalseparation documents;
● Medical Certificate issued by a licensed physician within six months from the time ofapplication;
● Latest Income Tax Return or Certificate of Employment or any document to show proof of income;
● Original copy of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance or Police Clearance issued at least within a year from the date of application;
● Original copy of Barangay Certificate stating that the applicant is a resident of the barangay, the length of their residence therein, and that they are of good moral character;
● Whole-body photos of the applicant and, taken at least six months from the date of application; The date when the photo was taken must be indicated;
● Signed Undertaking on Child Protection and Code of Conduct of Foster Parents;
● Certificate of Attendance at Foster Care Forum (digital copy is accepted);
● Original copy of letters from three non-relative Character References who know the applicants for at least three (3) years;
Such other documents that the NACC, CPA, or LGU may require such as but not limited to the following:
● Photograph of the interior and exterior of the applicant’s house;
● Photocopy of Philhealth ID and copy of updated Members Data Record or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) record when said HMO allows its principal members to declare a foster child as a dependent;
● Written consent of biological children, age 10 years and above, if living in the household;
Additional Requirements for Alien Applicants
● Passport (showing the applicant’s citizenship/nationality);
● Original copy of Certificate of Residence in the Philippines issued by the Bureau of Immigration, or the Department of Foreign Affairs;
● Proof of the alien’s residence in the Philippines for at least 12 continuous months at the time
of the application;
● For purposes of determining continuous residence, the alien must not have spent more than 60 days of the last 12 months period before the filing of the application outside the Philippines, except only for valid reasons.
● Undertaking from the alien that he/she will maintain such residence until the termination of placement of the foster child/ren by the NACC or expiration of the FFCL;
● Two (2) character references from non-relatives who know the applicant/s in the country they are citizens or were residents before residing in the Philippines, except for those who have lived in the Philippines for more than 15 years.
WHERE TO FILE APPLICATION?
You may file their application to the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO), where the applicant resides.
Aside from RACCO, you may also contact the following licensed and accredited Child Placing Agencies (CPAs):
1. Kaisahang Buhay Foundation
No. 56 10th Avenue, Cubao, Quezon City
Phone: (+632) 912-1159 Email: kbf@kbf.ph
Website: www.kbf.ph
2. NORFIL Foundation, Inc.
#16 Mother Ignacia Ave., cor. Roces Ave., Quezon City
Phone: (+632) 8372-3577
Email: norfilfoundation@norfil.org
Website: www.norfil.org
3. CRIBS Foundation, Inc.
C. Lawis Extension, Brgy. San Luis
Antipolo City, Rizal
Phone: +(632) 8658-2807
Email: cribsfoundation@yahoo.com
Website: www.cribsfoundationinc.org
4. Parenting Foundation of the Philippines
19 Chapel Drive Mintcor Southcrow, West Service Road,
Cupang, Mutinlupa
Phone: (+632) 8659-0340
Email: 1687.pinoybata@gmail.com
5. Operation Compassion Philippines
2/f Philippine Bible League Bldg. 9
Colonel Salgado St. West Kamias, Quezon City
Phone: (+632) 435-4519
Email: info@operationcompassion.ph
Website: www.operationcompassion.ph
6. Onesimo Bulilit
390 Fraternal Street, quiapo, Manila
Phone: (+632) 735-1161
7. Generations Home
Email: roheifoundation@rohei.com