1. FOSTER CARE SERVICE PRESENTATION April 2007

2. MISSION STATEMENT Our Mission is to provide a quality and enlightened experience for children in foster care placements. We seek to create opportunities for children to thrive and grow using community resources and our qualified staff. The primary goal is to have each child placed in a safe, nurturing family who will seek out a child's needs and fulfil them. Ultimately, we wish to facilitate the reunification of children with their natural families.

3. How it all started Ministry of Social PolicyMinistry of Social Policy Child & Family Department (CHS)Child & Family Department (CHS) Agenzija APPOGG (Then SWDP)Agenzija APPOGG (Then SWDP) Children’s HomesChildren’s Homes St.Patrick’s – Salesian OrderSt.Patrick’s – Salesian Order KANA MovementKANA Movement

5. THE TEAM Cassar Ruth – Full Timer Duca Glenda – Full Timer Mangion Erica – Full Timer Mizzi Andre’ – Full Timer Micallef Rita – Full Timer Role' John – Full Timer Service Area Leader Vella Maryanne – Full Timer Attard Amy – Part Timer Micallef Liliana – Part Timer Muscat Josephine– Part Timer Grima Maria – Contracted – Children Support Group Role’ Lina – Contracted - Children Support Group

6. Children in Need Traumatised ChildrenTraumatised Children Domestic violenceDomestic violence SeparationsSeparations Physical or mental healthPhysical or mental health Child abuseChild abuse Lack of educationLack of education Financial problemsFinancial problems Drug or alcohol abuse by parentsDrug or alcohol abuse by parents Parent/s in prisonParent/s in prison Children exhibiting uncontrollable behaviourChildren exhibiting uncontrollable behaviour Large familiesLarge families

7. IL-PRO~EDURA TAL-‘FOSTERING’ Becoming a Foster Carer Inquiry call – Registration form Home visit Pre-service training Assessment – Home study report Panel – Approval or Non approval Matching Process – Care Plan Monitoring – Supervision of placement Case reviews – Case Conferences Support Group – Ongoing training Termination – After Care

8. FOSTER CARE PLACEMENTS 1.R ESPITE FOSTERING 2.E MERGENCY FOSTERING 3.S HORT-TERM FOSTERING 4.I NTERDEMIATE FOSTERING 5.L ONG-TERM FOSTERING 6.N EXT OF KIN /PRIVATE FOSTERING

9. ROLE OF SOCIAL WORKERS The social worker from the foster care team has to keep a balance between meeting the needs of the child and that of the foster carer/s. S/he should be in constant contact with the LAC or CPS social workers and at intervals or if necessary make arrangements to visit the child at the foster home together with the LAC/CPS social worker.The social worker from the foster care team has to keep a balance between meeting the needs of the child and that of the foster carer/s. S/he should be in constant contact with the LAC or CPS social workers and at intervals or if necessary make arrangements to visit the child at the foster home together with the LAC/CPS social worker.

10. WORK BEING DONE Public AwarenessPublic Awareness Initial Inquiry Home VisitsInitial Inquiry Home Visits Pre-service Training – 5 per yearPre-service Training – 5 per year Assessments of prospective Foster Carers (40hrs each)Assessments of prospective Foster Carers (40hrs each) Approval of prospective foster family – Presentation of Case to Adoption & Fostering PanelApproval of prospective foster family – Presentation of Case to Adoption & Fostering Panel Matching of prospective foster families with childrenMatching of prospective foster families with children Monitoring, Support & Supervision of placementsMonitoring, Support & Supervision of placements

11. WORK BEING DONE Team and Supervision Meetings Data collection Case Conferences and Case Reviews Ongoing Training Facilitation of sibling meetings Application of Child in Care Benefit Support Groups – Foster Carers & Children

12. WORK BEING DONE Newsletter / Information Booklets / DVD’s / PublicationsNewsletter / Information Booklets / DVD’s / Publications Foster Carers AssociationFoster Carers Association Social Activities – Talent Show/BBQ/Christmas PartySocial Activities – Talent Show/BBQ/Christmas Party Inter & Intra ProtocolsInter & Intra Protocols Team PoliciesTeam Policies Local Foster Care Standards based on European Q4C Project.Local Foster Care Standards based on European Q4C Project. Contact with Foster Care Agencies from Abroad –IFCO – BAAF – Fostering Network, etc…Contact with Foster Care Agencies from Abroad –IFCO – BAAF – Fostering Network, etc… IFCO Conference in Malta Nov. 2007IFCO Conference in Malta Nov. 2007

13. Foster Care Placements YEAR Foster Carers Children Next of Kin Non Related TotalGirlsBoysTotal 199622527101929 199722527101929 199832730112233 199964349223152 200075057253762 200196473314576 20022280102365187 200346811276581146 200471811528097177 2005669315982103185 2006679215982104186

14. DIFFICULTIES Next of Kin unapproved foster carersNext of Kin unapproved foster carers Social ContactsSocial Contacts Child’s family background information – Data ProtectionChild’s family background information – Data Protection Lack of prospective foster carersLack of prospective foster carers Biological Parents right to choose Out of Home Care for their children – Residential Care vs Foster CareBiological Parents right to choose Out of Home Care for their children – Residential Care vs Foster Care Understanding Foster Carers Work (24hr job)Understanding Foster Carers Work (24hr job) Letting Go (Foster Carers)Letting Go (Foster Carers) Opportunities for these children to be adopted – Termination of Parental Rights.Opportunities for these children to be adopted – Termination of Parental Rights. Irregular EmigrantsIrregular Emigrants Children with very challenging behavioursChildren with very challenging behaviours

15. NEAR FUTURE PLANS Ongoing awareness campaign.Ongoing awareness campaign. More social workers within the foster care TeamMore social workers within the foster care Team Q4C – EU Out of Home standards. ( June 07 being presented in EU Parliament )Q4C – EU Out of Home standards. ( June 07 being presented in EU Parliament ) Foster Care Act 07 & ProceduresFoster Care Act 07 & Procedures Foster Carers Association – code of ethics.Foster Carers Association – code of ethics. Specialized fosteringSpecialized fostering On going trainingOn going training Foster Care ConferenceFoster Care Conference

16. Thank you For listening