Sri Lanka child authority mulls introducing foster care system

Sri Lanka’s children welfare agency, the National Child Protection Authority (NCPA) says it is considering introducing the ‘Foster Care’ system in the country.

Minister of Women and Child Affairs Chandrani Bandara and NCPA Chairperson Marini de Livera recently attended the International Foster Care Organization’s 2017 World Conference in Malta.

The IFCO 2017 World Conference was held in Valetta, Malta from 1 to 4 November under the theme ‘Setting Sail from a Safe Port: Giving our children confidence to move forward with safe and permanent relationships’.

The NCPA is of the view that Sri Lanka needs to consider the concept of alternative family care and foster care as an alternative to the orphanages for orphaned children.

Upon learning about the foster care system implemented in other countries, the Minister is keen to introduce even in a small way Alternative Family and Foster Care system Sri Lanka. Under foster care, children, instead of being sent to orphanages, can live in open homes with a loving family living a happy and healthy life and have the chance to grow up to be good global citizens.

The Minister in collaboration with National Child Protection Authority hopes to launch a project in the former war zones and border villages where there is a large number of war widows and female headed households, who could be trained and supported as foster parents to give institutionalised children a loving and caring home.

The Minister has requested the National Child Protection Authority to start working with Children’s Emergency Relief, Asia to design a strategic approach to policy and practice applications of family based care at all levels of government to put the child and youth at the centre of its work in the best interest of the children.