Criteria for Selection for Families for Foster Care (Section 37 of the Juvenile Justice)

Legal provisions regarding criteria for Selection for families for foster care under Section 37 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000.

(1) In case of the children covered under Rule 34 of these rules, the following criteria shall apply for selection of families for foster care, namely:

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(i) Foster parents should have stable emotional adjustment within the family;

(ii) Foster parents should have an income in which they are able to meet the needs of the child and are not dependent on the foster care maintenance payment;

(iii) The monthly family income shall be adequate to take care of foster children and approved by the Committee;

(iv) medical reports of all the members of the family residing in the premises should be obtained including checks on Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (ТВ) and Hepatitis В to determine that they are medically fit;

(v) The foster parents should have experience in child caring and capacity to provide good child care;

(vi) The foster parents should be physically, mentally and emotionally stable;

(vii) The home should have adequate space and basic facilities;

(viii) The foster care family should be willing to follow rules laid down including regular visits to pediatrician, maintenance of child health and their records;

(ix) The family should be willing to sign an agreement and to return the child to the specialized adoption agency whenever called to do so;

(x) The foster parents should be willing to attend training or orientation programmes; and

(xi) The foster parents should be willing to take the child for regular (at least once a month in the case of infants) check-ups to a pediatrician approved by the agency;

(2) There shall be no discrimination in selection of foster parents on the basis of caste, religion, ethnic status, disability, or health status and the best interest of the child shall be paramount in deciding foster-care placement.

(3) The foster parents shall be declared ‘fit persons’ by the Committee before placing the child as per the provisions laid down in clause (i) of Section 2 of the Act after thorough assessment done by the Child Welfare Officer or Social Worker as per Form XVI.