Take in foster kids, folk urged

SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman had urged qualified families and individuals to provide temporary care to children who cannot live with their parents due to neglect, abuse or a family crisis, under the Foster Care Act of 2012.

Soliman made the appeal during the signing of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the new foster care law at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in Quezon City on Friday.

Foster care is an alternative to institutional care for abandoned, neglected and orphaned children and others with special needs, she said.

The Foster Care Act of 2012 mandates the state to provide every child who is neglected, abused, surrendered, dependent, abandoned, suffering from sociocultural difficulties or otherwise has special needs with an alternative family that will provide love and care as well as opportunities for growth and development.

The state recognizes that in most cases, a child will benefit more from foster care than institutional care, Soliman said.

“This law supports the DSWD policy on de-institutionalization of children, wherein children from institutions are immediately transferred to an alternative family,” Soliman said. Independent living is also encouraged.

The law provides assistance to foster parents and entitles them to personal tax exemptions and additional exemptions for dependents.

Under the law, those who wish to become a foster parent must secure a foster care license from the DSWD.