Children come into foster care as they have been abused, neglected or abandoned. These children therefore need a nurturing and safe home environment. Besides the basic necessities like food, clothing and shelter, foster families also provide them with love, care and nurturance.

Foster care also gives these children a positive experience on how families show care and concern for one another.

Our hope is for these children to benefit from a stable and nurturing home environment, to grow healthily and to fulfil their potential.

Fostering is a temporary care arrangement and our goal is to reunite the child with their natural parents. Foster children remain the legal children of their natural parents. Adoption, on the other hand, is a legal process where an adopted child assumes the rights of a natural child of the family.

Fostering is a temporary care arrangement and the ultimate goal is to reunite the child with their natural parents. However, the situation of some natural families may not improve and thus the children are unable to go back to their families. In such instances, if their foster parents are willing and assessed to be suitable to meet their lifelong needs, they may then adopt them.

The length of foster care can range from a few months to a few years, and varies from child to child depending on his / her family situation. The ultimate goal of fostering is to reunite children with their natural parents whenever possible.

MSF maintains a set of eligibility criteria for the selection of foster parents. The criteria was developed with the best interests of our foster children in mind. All applicants would undergo an assessment to ascertain if they are able to meet the needs of these children.

Applicants must fulfill the following basic eligibility criteria:

• Be married and apply together as a couple
• Be willing to ensure a child-safe home environment*
• At least 25 years old
• Have a minimum monthly household income of S$2, 000 and a PCI of at least $700*
• Be a resident of Singapore
• Be medically fit to care for children
• Have at least a secondary school education
• Have experience in caring for children

Following the submission of the application, applicants would be assessed by MSF on their suitability on a case-by-case basis.

* Examples of a child-safe home environment include refraining from the use of physical punishment and installing window grilles (for foster parents caring for foster children below the age of 13).

** Per Capita Income = (Total household income) / (Total number of people in the household)

Yes. However, to minimise disruption to a child’s stay with the foster family as much as possible, expatriates / foreigners who apply to be foster parents should be set to remain in Singapore for the next 3 years.

Yes, dual income families can also foster a child. There are subsidies for infant care, childcare and student care services to support foster families.

In addition, working foster parents caring for foster children enjoy childcare leave benefits for their foster children, just as natural parents do under the Child Development Co-Savings Act and Employment Act. 

Installing window grilles at home is one of our safety requirements if you are caring for foster children below 12 years of age. If there are no window grilles and you are not able to install any, MSF will only be able to place youths above 13 years old.

When submitting their application forms, foster parents applicants can state their preferences for the age group, gender and religion of the child(ren) that they would like to care for. Foster parents whose preferences most closely match the profile of the child in need of foster care would be contacted and given information regarding the child’s background and needs. The foster family is then encouraged to come to a decision on whether to foster this child after discussing with their family members.

Foster parents are required to meet the essential care needs of the foster children including love, shelter, food, education, security and an opportunity to play and interact with other children. As some foster children have been hurt by abuse or neglect, they may have more needs and thus require special attention in terms of coping with their feelings.

Foster parents are also expected to support the care plans of the foster child(ren) they are caring for such as contact with natural parents and reintegration plans. Foster parents should also be willing and able to provide a child-safe environment for the foster child. For example, foster parents who wish to care for foster children below 13 years old are required to install window grilles at their homes.

Our foster children have needs like any other children. They need love, shelter, food, education, security and an opportunity to play and interact with other children. As such, you must be committed to ensure that these needs are met. Qualities that make good parenting, such as patience, understanding, perseverance and firmness, will help to create a good foster care relationship with the child. 

As some children have been hurt by abuse or neglect, they may have more needs and thus require special attention in terms of coping with their feelings. Your patience, care and attention will help the child to cope and in time, heal and overcome their difficulties.

The limit on the number of foster children depends on the living space in the foster parent’s home and foster parents’ capacity to care for the foster children.

In fact, we have been inspired by foster parents who have been fostering children for more than 20 years! 

What is important is the foster parent’s dedication and desire to care for these vulnerable children, and we hope more people will open up their homes to care for these children.

Before applying as foster parents, applicants should have a discussion with their family members. It is important to obtain family members’ agreement and support on the idea of fostering.

The practical aspects for preparing for the placement subsequently would be to prepare basic needs such as a bed and age appropriate toys for the foster child. Foster parents should also check on safety measures such as ensuring that the window grilles are locked, using covers for sharp corners and gates for kitchen, to ensure a safe environment for the foster child.

Travel consent is subject to the approval of the natural parents. Should consent not be granted, the foster child would be placed in the care of another MSF-registered foster family or MSF-approved respite carer for the duration.

Physical punishment is not condoned. Instead, using positive parenting techniques such as setting boundaries, explaining consequences, time-out sessions and removing privileges would encourage good behaviour in the child.

Foster parents who have difficulties coping with the behaviour of their foster child may seek help and advice from their Foster Care Officers.

Foster parents may seek help from their Foster Care Officers should they face any difficulties in managing their foster child’s behaviour. Foster Care Officers would work closely with the child and the foster family to try and resolve the issues. Where needed, professionals such as psychologists and / or counsellors may also be brought in to support the child.

While the foster child is in care, we wish to minimise the placement changes they experience, so as to ensure the stability of care. However, if all else fails, alternative care arrangements would be made for the child if that is assessed to be the best option.

Being patient and caring towards the foster children is crucial in helping them to overcome their trauma and / or emotional problems. Spending time with the foster children and understanding why are behaving the way they are can help them feel safe and understood.

Training would be provided for foster parents on topics such as helping children with trauma and attachment issues, or with emotional and behavioural needs. If the foster child requires professional help, the Foster Care Officer would be able to refer them to a psychologist or counsellor at MSF or at a Social Service Agency.

During the time that foster parents care for their foster children, attachment and bonds would be formed. Some foster parents do feel a sense of loss when their foster child returns to their natural families. Our Foster Care Officers work closely with the foster parents by letting them know the reintegration plans for the child further in advance where possible, and provide counselling and emotional support for the foster parents during the transition period. Foster Care Officers would also journey alongside foster parents to support them through the adjustment after the foster child is reintegrated.