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Support For Foster Parents

Our foster parents are never alone in their fostering journey.

We are committed to ensure that both you and your foster child receive the best support possible. Here are some forms of support you can receive as foster parents:

 

Financial Support

To assist foster parents to defray the costs of supporting a foster child, MSF provides the following: 

  1. Fostering Allowance - A monthly allowance of $1,100 is provided for every foster child under your care. For a foster child with special needs, the allowance is $1,500 monthly. The allowance will help to defray the expenses of caring for the foster child, such as for food, clothing, education, tuition, transport.

  2. Childcare Subsidies - Foster parents who wish to enrol your foster child in a student, child or infant care centre will only pay a maximum of $200.

  3. Medical Subsidies - Every foster child will be provided with a Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC) to cover all medical expenses at polyclinics and Government hospitals.

 

Support from a Foster Care Worker

A Foster Care Worker will be attached to every foster parent to provide guidance and support. The officer will maintain contact with you and your foster child through regular phone calls and home visits. Where needed, other professionals such as psychologists, counsellors, medical and educational professionals, may also be brought in to support the child.

 

Training Courses by Social Service Institute

New foster parents are required to complete foundation and intermediate training courses, designed to equip you with basic knowledge and skills, such as understanding the role of a foster parent and the trauma that foster children may have gone through.

Curriculum for the Foundation Training Course

  • Foster Care in Context

  • Bonding and Attachment

  • Grief and Loss

  • Abuse and Trauma

  • Identity and Birth Family Contact (Access)

  • Managing Challenging Situations

  • Teamwork

  • Managing Closure


Besides the foundation and intermediate training courses, there are also specialised courses such as Positive Parenting Programme and elective courses that you can sign up for. Elective courses teach additional skills in areas such as parenting teenagers, working with birth parents and achieving cyber-wellness.

Trainings are usually held on Saturday mornings.

 

Emergency Hotline

In case of emergency, you can obtain immediate support via an emergency hotline available 24/7.

 

Support Groups

These platforms allow foster parents to share tips and offer encouragement to one another. There are two types of support groups:

  1. Foster Parent Buddy Programme - In this programme, new foster parents are paired with more experienced foster parents who can offer advice and support.

  2. Resource Foster Parents - Foster parents caring for children with similar profiles, such as young children or teenagers, are linked up to provide support for each other.

 

Respite Care

Foster parents unable to care for their foster child for brief periods of time (e.g. when on overseas trips) may request for respite care from another foster parent during that period. 

 

Childcare Leave Benefits 

Foster parents enjoy childcare leave benefits, just as birth parents do under the Child Development Co-Savings Act and Employment Act. Foster parents who work can utilise the leave to care of your foster child, for example to take them to a doctor when they are ill.

Please refer to the following websites for more details on childcare leave schemes:

  1. Government-Paid Leave Website

  2. Ministry of Manpower website