KNYSNA NEWS - Child Welfare SA in Knysna is currently experiencing an urgent need for approved and trained safety and foster parents/families who, in case of a crisis, can provide care and protection to children of ages and cultures between 0 and 16 years old.

A crisis will be when social workers are required to remove children from their parents' or caregivers’ care in terms of the Children's Act due to serious neglect, abuse, abandonment or any actions that endanger the child's safety and well-being.

A place of safety is a temporary, short-term home/family where children are taken care of and being protected, pending a children's court investigation by a designated social worker. The children's court usually allocates 90 days to social workers to complete the children's court investigation.

In the child's best interest
After the 90 days, the social worker must submit recommendations to the children's court regarding the future position of the child, which may include one of the following and should be in the best interest of the child:

• That the child is returned to the care of the previous caregiver or parent.
• That the child is placed in foster care.
• That adoption regarding the child is considered.
• That the child is admitted to a child and youth care centre.

This means the child will probably not return to the safety parent's care. When the child is placed in foster care, the court order is reviewed biannually to determine if the circumstances of the biological parents have changed or improved. If not, the court order for foster care may be extended for a further period.

Screening of safety/foster parents

• In both cases, the prospective safety/foster parents undergo a screening process to ensure that appropriate placements are made for children and to ensure the children’s safety.
• In both cases, an allowance is made available to the safety/foster parents to care for the children.
• In both cases, the social worker remains involved with the family to ensure that the needs of the children are met.
• The responsibilities of the safety parents are basically the same as in the case of foster parents.
• The rights and responsibilities of the safety and foster parents are clearly set out in the Children's Act.

The foster parents work in partnership with the relevant social worker in order to ensure that all the needs of the children are met, but also to provide the necessary support to the safety/foster parents.

Need to know more?Child Welfar Knysna would like to encourage anyone who is interested in caring for children to attend an information session on 25 September at 14:00 at The Rock Church, 13 Main Street, Knysna CBD. More info: 044 382 1177/8.

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