How India Can Improve Community-Based Foster Care for Vulnerable Children

India has a large number of orphaned and vulnerable children, who need nurturing and care from families. However, the existing system of child care institutions (CCIs) is inadequate and ineffective, as it fails to provide a family-like environment and holistic development for the children. Experts suggest that community-based foster care, which places children in alternative families within their own communities, is a better and more sustainable option for children in need of care and protection. However, there are several challenges and gaps in the implementation and uptake of foster care in India, which need to be addressed urgently.

Community-Based Foster Care: A Family-Based Alternative Care Model

Community-based foster care is a family-based alternative care model, which places children who are temporarily or permanently separated from their biological parents, in the care of alternative families within their own communities. The alternative families are selected and trained by the child welfare authorities, and are supervised and supported by them. The alternative families provide the children with a safe, secure, and loving environment, and cater to their physical, emotional, social, and educational needs.

Community-based foster care is based on the principle of the best interest of the child, and the right of the child to family care. It aims to preserve the child’s identity, culture, religion, and language, and to maintain the child’s contact and relationship with the biological family, whenever possible and appropriate. It also aims to prepare the child for reunification with the biological family, adoption, or independent living, depending on the child’s situation and preference.

Community-based foster care is recognised and promoted by various international and national laws and policies, such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, and the Integrated Child Protection Scheme, 2009. However, the implementation and uptake of foster care in India is still very low and limited, compared to other countries.

Challenges and Gaps in the Implementation and Uptake of Foster Care in India

There are several challenges and gaps in the implementation and uptake of foster care in India, which hinder its effectiveness and potential. Some of these challenges and gaps are:

• Lack of awareness and sensitisation: There is a lack of awareness and sensitisation among the stakeholders, such as the government officials, the child welfare committees (CWCs), the district child protection units (DCPUs), the non-governmental organisations (NGOs), the community members, and the potential foster families, about the concept, benefits, and procedures of foster care. There is also a lack of awareness and sensitisation among the general public, especially in the rural areas, about the rights and needs of the orphaned and vulnerable children, and the role and responsibility of the society in their care and protection.
• Lack of capacity and resources: There is a lack of capacity and resources among the stakeholders, such as the CWCs, the DCPUs, the NGOs, and the foster families, to implement and support foster care effectively. There is a shortage of trained and dedicated staff, who can identify, assess, place, monitor, and counsel the children and the foster families. There is also a lack of adequate financial and material support, such as foster care allowances, health insurance, education scholarships, and other incentives, for the foster families, who often belong to the poor and marginalised sections of the society.
• Lack of coordination and collaboration: There is a lack of coordination and collaboration among the stakeholders, such as the central and state governments, the CWCs, the DCPUs, the NGOs, and the foster families, to implement and support foster care efficiently and effectively. There is a lack of clear roles and responsibilities, standard operating procedures, data management systems, and feedback mechanisms, among the stakeholders, which leads to confusion, duplication, and delays. There is also a lack of convergence and integration of foster care with other schemes and programmes, such as the Integrated Child Development Services, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, and the National Rural Livelihood Mission, which can enhance the outcomes and sustainability of foster care.
• Lack of evidence and research: There is a lack of evidence and research on the impact and outcomes of foster care in India, which can inform and improve the policy and practice of foster care. There is a dearth of reliable and comprehensive data on the number, profile, and status of the children and the foster families involved in foster care, which can help in planning and monitoring foster care. There is also a lack of rigorous and systematic studies on the quality, effectiveness, and challenges of foster care, which can help in evaluating and strengthening foster care.

Recommendations and Suggestions for Improving Foster Care in India

There are several recommendations and suggestions for improving foster care in India, which can address the challenges and gaps in the implementation and uptake of foster care. Some of these recommendations and suggestions are:

• Increase awareness and sensitisation: There is a need to increase awareness and sensitisation among the stakeholders and the public, about the concept, benefits, and procedures of foster care, and the rights and needs of the orphaned and vulnerable children, through various means, such as campaigns, workshops, trainings, media, and social networks. There is also a need to create a positive and supportive attitude and environment for foster care, by dispelling the myths and misconceptions, and by recognising and appreciating the role and contribution of the foster families.
• Enhance capacity and resources: There is a need to enhance the capacity and resources of the stakeholders, such as the CWCs, the DCPUs, the NGOs, and the foster families, to implement and support foster care effectively. There is a need to recruit, train, and retain qualified and dedicated staff, who can perform the various functions and tasks related to foster care. There is also a need to provide adequate financial and material support, such as foster care allowances, health insurance, education scholarships, and other incentives, for the foster families, who often bear the additional burden and cost of caring for the children.
• Improve coordination and collaboration: There is a need to improve the coordination and collaboration among the stakeholders, such as the central and state governments, the CWCs, the DCPUs, the NGOs, and the foster families, to implement and support foster care efficiently and effectively. There is a need to define and assign clear roles and responsibilities, standard operating procedures, data management systems, and feedback mechanisms, among the stakeholders, which can ensure smooth and timely functioning of foster care. There is also a need to converge and integrate foster care with other schemes and programmes, such as the Integrated Child Development Services, the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram, and the National Rural Livelihood Mission, which can enhance the outcomes and sustainability of foster care.
• Generate evidence and research: There is a need to generate evidence and research on the impact and outcomes of foster care in India, which can inform and improve the policy and practice of foster care. There is a need to collect and analyse reliable and comprehensive data on the number, profile, and status of the children and the foster families involved in foster care, which can help in planning and monitoring foster care. There is also a need to conduct rigorous and systematic studies on the quality, effectiveness, and challenges of foster care, which can help in evaluating and strengthening foster care.