Fostering Services

A family-based care service for vulnerable boys and girls

Overview

About our fostering service

In February 2015, Boys’ Town Fostering Services (BTFS) was appointed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) as one of the first two pilot Fostering Agencies in Singapore and commenced its operations in November 2015. In 2019, BTFS expanded its services to support children under kinship care. BTFS supports children in care to achieve their potential through a stable, safe family environment that meets their needs. These children are referred by MSF Child Protective services.

Fostering is a temporary care arrangement that provides children under 18 years of age in need of a safe, stable and nurturing home. Children are placed on the Fostering Scheme due to welfare reasons and a lack of alternative kinship care arrangements.

Foster parents will treat the foster children as their own during this period of time – ensuring that their physical and emotional needs are met, attending to their medical needs (if any) and providing adequate guidance and supervision to these young children. They are expected to support meetings between the foster children and their natural family as part of the plan to reintegrate the foster children with their natural parents. Training will be provided for the foster parents to support the foster placements.

狮城有约 | 避风港：寄养孩子也是我的孩子

不是每个孩童都那么幸运，能在父母的关爱下成长。这些孩童如何从寄养计划下，再次感受家的温暖？新系列《避风港》第一集带您聚焦其中一个寄养家庭，看寄养父母在照顾别人家的孩子时需要什么样的耐心和勇气？

"We are already cooking dinner and serving rice on our table, it’s just one more bowl for that child.” Meet Tiffany and Desmond as they share their journey fostering Carina* and why they decide to foster before having their own child.

*Not her real name

“I’m 12 years old but I feel like 100”, watch how foster family transformed the lives of Rizwan* and his sister.

*Not his real name

Jia Yi* used to hate reading as she could not read well. Watch how her foster family helped Jia Yi strengthen her reading skills while she looked forward to reuniting with her mummy!

*Not her real name

Our team of social workers work closely with MSF, foster families and foster children, kin carers and children placed in kinship care, to provide a conducive home environment for vulnerable children through the following services:

Bimonthly home visits
24-hr hotline support to our foster parents
Parenting advice
Training and information
Casework management for foster children
Referral for specialised services for foster child (if needed)
Support with financial subsidies
Subsidies for childcare
Childcare leave entitlements
Respite care arrangements
Programmes for foster parents and children

All our social workers and case workers are also equipped with knowledge on trauma-informed care to work with foster children with trauma background.

Be a foster parent

For children from disadvantaged backgrounds, foster care gives them a positive experience of family life, which they may not have had in their natural family setting. By fostering, you are enabling a child by not only providing the child with physical needs, but also meeting a child’s emotional needs so that the child can learn that he or she is worthy of love. Foster care also teaches them important lessons on how families show care and concern for one another.

Who can apply to be foster parents?

Check eligibility

Singaporean/PR or foreigner who can commit for at least 3 years
At least 25 years old
Married and apply together as a couple
Medically fit to care for children
Have a minimum monthly household income of S$2,000 and a PCI of at least $700*
Have attained secondary school education
Have experience caring for and living with children and/or exhibit strong parenting skills
Willing to provide and ensure a child-safe home environment for the foster child
Willing to work with MSF and other professionals for the child’s best interest

* PCI = Per Capita Income = (Total household income) / (Total number of people in the household)

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Apply to be a foster parent

FOSTER PARENTS APPLICATION FORM

If you are interested in being a foster parent or offering foster care, download the “Foster Parents Application Form” and email the completed form to fostering@boystown.org.sg or fill out the online inquiry form. We will get in touch with you within 3 working days of receiving your application form/inquiry form.

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Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and happy environment

Alternatively, you may drop us an email at: fostering@boystown.org.sg or reach us at: 6690 5420.

For enquiries on
Fostering Services

Open your heart and home to help vulnerable children. Register your interest to be a foster parent.