APPOINTED Fostering Agencies

Previously, the Government had been the sole provider of fostering services for vulnerable children and children in need. To provide greater quality care to our foster families, we have established partnerships with Fostering Agencies (FAs) since 2015.

Fostering Agencies are Social Service Agencies (SSAs) that work together with MSF to provide fostering services to vulnerable children.

The FAs work with us to build fostering capabilities within the community by:

1. Broadening MSF’s foster family outreach and recruitment efforts

FAs organise outreach initiatives to raise awareness about the need for foster parents and actively recruit new foster parents through their extensive community networks.

2. Providing support to foster parents to extend better care for their foster children

FAs provide regular support to foster parents through:

• Counselling and parenting advice;
• Training; and
• Facilitating the integration of foster children into foster families.

MSF-Appointed Fostering Agencies

Five Social Service Agencies (SSAs) have been selected as Fostering Agencies (FAs), namely Epworth Community Services, Boys’ Town, Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS), The Salvation Army and Muhammadiyah Association.

Epworth Community Services helps at-risk children and youths from needy and disadvantaged families in their educational, social, emotional and moral development. Their passion and goal is to create a better world for children and youths so they can nurture and develop their potential.

Epworth Community Services is a non-profit organisation that supports disadvantaged children and youths. The Society is a full member of the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) and an Institution of a Public Character (IPC). 

Epworth Community Services was formerly known as MCYC Community Services Society. The Society was first instituted in 2001 as a joint project of Barker Road Methodist Church and the Methodist Welfare Services called Methodist Children and Youth Centre. It remains affliated to Barker Road Methodist Church.  

Visit their website at http://www.epworth.sg. You may email them at fostercare@epworth.sg or call their enquiry line at 9119-8711.

Boys’ Town

Boys’ Town is a charity founded by the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel in 1948. It first began as a residential care for war-torn orphans, imparting education to and providing shelter for them. Over the years, it has expanded to provide a continuum of services for children and youth in-need. Boys’ Town’s services now include residential care, fostering, respite care, youth outreach, clinical intervention and adventure therapy. Each year, Boys’ Town works with over 1,000 children and youths. Boys’ Town serves both boys and girls, from infants to young adults. It helps children and youths who come from disadvantaged and disengaged families who may have faced hardship resulting from difficult home situations, financial struggles, abandonment and abuse. With over 74 years dedicated to the social mission, Boys’ Town equips the children and youth in-need with the skills they need to become socially integrated, responsible and contributing members of society.

Visit their website at https://www.boystown.org.sg/fostering-services/ and like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/boystown.fosteringservices. You may also email them at fostering@boystown.org.sg or call their enquiry line at 9113-7612.

Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura (PPIS)

Founded in 1952, PPIS (Persatuan Pemudi Islam Singapura or Singapore Muslim Women's Association) is a non-profit organisation focused on community services. It is dedicated to working with women of all ages in carrying out their multiple roles in society. PPIS runs three core community services namely Family Services, Student Care and Early Childhood Education (ECE). With 16 centres island wide, the services work together to provide support as well as developmental programmes for women and their families. In 2009, it was also appointed as the Centre of Specialisation in working with Malay-Muslim families by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS). PPIS conducts training programmes and workshops for social service professionals to have a better understanding of their Malay-Muslim clients. PPIS's key services include:

• Family Service Centres
• Family therapy institute
• Marriage preparation and enrichment programmes
• Divorce Support Specialist Centre
• Student Care Centres
• Early childhood education
• Training and consultancy 

Visit their website at https://www.ppis.sg and like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ppisoasis. You may also email them at oasis@ppis.sg or call their enquiry line at 9855-1057.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army (TSA) was officially appointed in November 2017 as the 4^th FA to expand foster care in Singapore. TSA’s work in Singapore was established in 1935, to serve the underprivileged in the community. It runs a network of social services including youth and children services, family support services, services for families who are incarcerated, childcare and student care centres, a nursing home and day centres for seniors.

In their work with vulnerable children and families, TSA specialises in the running of residential services, as well as family reunification work. TSA will be taking further steps to secure commitment from various quarters of community to support their fostering work, such as reaching out to their strong volunteer base and a network of fathers support groups and corporate and community partners.

Tagline: Every Child Matters

Mission: To ensure a child safe and nurturing environment equipped towards maximising each young person's potential and holistic development

Vision: We exist for every child in our care and their future generations to be part of a supportive family that provides love, hope and faith

Visit their website at https://www.salvationarmy.org/singapore/. You may also email them at gracehaven_fostering@smm.salvationarmy.org or call their enquiry line at 8833-8173.

With over 60 years of service to the community through various activities in education, health, rehabilitation and community, Muhammadiyah Association (MA) has forged strong connections with groups of professionals and individuals in the Malay-Muslim community who share their values and beliefs. Since 1989, Muhammadiyah Welfare Home (an institution of MA) has been providing holistic rehabilitation programmes to reintegrate more than 1,000 children and youths at-risk back to their families and the community.

Project Sinar Ihsan reflects the commitment of MA to the belief that the best care for vulnerable children lies within a safe and stable family environment. Together with other community partners and MSF, MA hopes to bring the important message of the need for foster care to the community, and encourage more families to step forward to care for these children in need.

Visit their website at www.muhammadiyah.org.sg/fostering and like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ProjekSinarIhsan. You may also email them at sinar.ihsan@muhammadiyah.org.sg or call their enquiry line at 8408 4326.

Working with Fostering Agencies

MSF works closely with the appointed FAs by providing the following support services: