Dimapur, August 24 (MExN): The State Adoption Resource Agency (SARA), Social Welfare Department organized a one day consultation meet on Foster Care Guidelines 2016 at the Red Cross Building, Kohima.
The objective of the meet was to deliberate and adapt the Foster Care Guidelines 2016 to suit the economic and geographic needs of the state and to come up with our Nagaland state rules on foster care, informed a press release received here.
Secretary of Social Welfare Department, OT Chingmak Chang, IAS in his keynote address stated that the fundamental principle of foster care is to provide a family or a family like environment which is the most conducive for a child. Based on the concept of rehabilitation and reintegration of children who are in need of care and protection to ensure their right to grow up in a family, it is also conditional assistance to enable children who are at risk from being removed from school and sent for work, to continue their education.
Keweu Kenye, Additional Director, Social Welfare and former Society Director, ICPS gave a brief account as to how the ICPS came into being in Nagaland. She mentioned the struggles and problems faced in the initial years of setting up of ICPS in the State.
Renchumi Imti, Programme Manager State Adoption Resource Agency gave the introduction to Foster Care Guidelines 2016. Foster Care is arrangement whereby a child is placed for the purpose of alternate care in purpose of care and protection. The main purpose of foster care is to ensure best interests of the child, child’s safety and security respect view of the child in accordance with his age, to reunite the child with his biological family by strengthening families. She also highlighted on the rights of the child under foster care, the rights of foster family and the rights of the fit facility, the responsibilities of the caregivers of the fit facility.
Kekuolhuno Nakhro, Programme Officer State Adoption Resource Agency gave a brief overview on the monitoring and review of the tools required in foster care. She also highlighted the form and annexure of the Model guidelines 2016.
Khriehuzo Lohe, Chairperson Child Welfare Committee Kohima, spoke on the role Child Welfare Committee (CWC). He said that the CWC are the bench who protects the rights of children which we have been doing till now. Role of foster care has to be taken very seriously, in spite of all the orders the best interest of the child has to be kept in mind. He mentioned the important forms to be used. He suggested that a research or compilation of reports on various tribal practices be brought out as to ensure the success of the foster care rule in Nagaland.
Sevehu Chuzho, District Child Protection Officer Kiphire, spoke on the role of the District Child Protection Units, DCPOs and PO (NIC). The main aim of foster care is to eventually re-unite the child with his/her own family when the family circumstances improves, and thus prevent institutionalization of children in difficult circumstances. He mentioned three types of foster care namely short term foster care, long term foster care and Group foster care.
