ARC welcomes the announcement of the commencement of interim fostering of children in the Maldives under the Guideline for Fostering that came into effect on 23 August 2015. It is ARC’s firm belief that a child’s needs are best met within a nurturing family setting, and in this regard, foster caregivers provide an alternative family environment for children, who would otherwise remain in the care of the State.
ARC also believes that it is extremely important that utmost care and vigilance be exercised in the selection of prospective foster parents. ARC therefore expresses concern that Article 7(a) of the Interim Fostering Guidelines does not specify that this process will be undertaken by the already established Foster Care Panel, to ensure that it is carried out in a systematic and transparent manner. As with regular fostering, the process of Interim Fostering, including the assessment and monitoring procedures, should be overseen by the Foster Care Panel to guarantee the safety and well-being of the children placed in foster homes.
Foster parents are responsible for nurturing, supporting and guiding children, and to provide a stable and safe home environment, where the physical, emotional and development needs of the children are met. To safeguard and promote the welfare of children who enter the fostering process, it is vital to strengthen the foster care system and ensure that foster families are offered the support they need, and monitored regularly.