As of January 2024, only 1,610 children are in foster care. While 34,988 families seek adoption, just 2,159 children are available. Becoming a foster parent in India helps children in need and changes lives forever. In this blog, we will understand what foster parents mean, its types, and the difference between foster care and adoption. You’ll also learn about training needs and what to expect in your first month as a foster parent.
What Does Foster Parent Mean?
As a foster parent, you bring a child into your home temporarily. You provide daily care and safety without becoming their legal parent. The child becomes your foster child during this stay. Foster parenting isn’t permanent but varies in length. Your main role is to offer protection and stability until they can return to their birth family or find a lasting home through adoption.
Types of Foster Parenting
You can choose from several foster care types, each serving unique needs:
Short-Term Foster Care
You take care of children for a brief time when their families face temporary problems. This might happen during illness, crisis, or family emergencies. The children usually return home once the situation improves. Short-term care typically lasts from a few days to several months depending on family circumstances.
Long-Term Foster Care
You provide a stable home for children who cannot return to their birth families quickly. These placements last months or years while family issues get resolved. Long-term care offers children consistency and security. You become an important part of their growth during this extended period away from home.
Group Foster Care
This places children in specialised settings with trained caregivers rather than individual families. Group homes work well for older children who need peer support. They also help sibling groups stay together. Professional staff provide structured care and guidance in these residential settings for multiple children.
Special Needs Foster Care
You care for children with disabilities or those needing extra medical support. Many experienced foster parents find this type of care meaningful, as these children require specialised attention for physical, emotional, or developmental challenges. Special training helps you meet their unique needs. This type of fostering demands patience and dedication but offers deeply rewarding experiences for committed caregivers.
Differences Between Foster Care and Adoption
| Aspect | Foster Care | Adoption |
| Duration | Creates a temporary home for the child. This can last weeks to years. The goal is to reunite the child with their birth family when safe. | Forms a permanent legal bond forever. Once you adopt, they become your child with no plan to return elsewhere. |
| Legal Status | Gives you guardianship but not full parental rights. You make daily decisions, but major ones need approval from social workers. | Makes you the complete legal parent. You have all rights and responsibilities as if the child was born to you. |
| Family Reunion | Allows the child to return to their birth family when problems are solved. Most foster children do return home eventually. | Brings the child into your family forever. The child takes your family name and becomes a permanent family member. |
| Ongoing Support | Offers ongoing support from government agencies. You receive training, counseling, and financial assistance throughout the placement. | Provides less support after completion. You parent independently like any biological parent would. |
| Birth Parent Rights | Lets birth parents keep some rights. They may have scheduled visits and work on solving problems to get their child back. | Transfers all parental rights to you. Birth parents give up all legal rights and cannot make decisions about the child. |
How To Become a Foster Parent
To become a foster parent in India, you must follow these rules set by the Juvenile Justice Act and The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA):
Eligibility
You can apply if you are married for at least two years or single between 35-60 years old. Single women can foster any child regardless of gender. Single men can only foster boys due to safety guidelines.
Health and Background Checks
Your entire family needs medical tests to check for communicable diseases like tuberculosis. You cannot have any criminal records or history of child abuse. All household members must pass background screening successfully.
Financial Stability
You need a steady monthly income to meet the child’s daily needs and expenses. Your home must be safe, clean, and suitable for children. Government officials will carefully review your financial records and housing conditions.
Application Process
You must submit completed forms to your District Child Protection Unit or through your state’s foster care program. The Child Welfare Committee will check your suitability, conduct home visits, and help match you with an appropriate child.
Consent and Matching
The child’s opinion and preferences matter significantly in all placement decisions made by authorities. The committee carefully ensures you and the child are emotionally compatible before finalising any foster care arrangement between all parties.
Financial Support
You may receive monthly financial assistance under government programs like Mission Vatsalya for child welfare. These support funds go into special joint accounts that are specifically designated for meeting the foster child’s educational and daily needs.
Training Programme To Become an Effective Foster Parent
India now requires mandatory training before you can become a foster parent. You must complete at least 20 hours of structured training organised by the Department of Women and Child Development. The core training topics include:
Understanding Trauma and Child Behavior
You learn about the psychological trauma foster children face from family separation or abuse. Training teaches you to recognise trauma symptoms and respond with empathy and patience.
Child Development and Emotional Needs
Sessions focus on child development stages and emotional milestones you should understand. You learn to support children’s mental health and handle attachment issues from disrupted family environments.
Managing Transitions and Building Trust
You are taught strategies for helping children adjust to new environments, routines, and relationships in your home. Building trust becomes a gradual process, especially for children experiencing instability.
Maintaining Connections With Birth Families
Training highlights supporting the child’s relationship with their biological family when appropriate and safe. You learn about managing supervised visits and understand most foster placements are temporary.
First 30 Days as a New Foster Parent
Your first month as a foster parent means adjustment for you and the child. Expect the following:
Orientation and Bonding: Take time to know the child personally and understand their likes and dislikes. Build trust slowly and create daily routines together. This helps both of you feel more comfortable.
Support and Supervision: Social workers and counselors will check on you often during this period. They will offer guidance and help with any issues that arise. Don’t hesitate to ask questions.
School and Health: Make sure the child attends school regularly and gets all needed medical check-ups scheduled. Keep track of their educational progress and any health concerns that may develop.
Documentation: Keep detailed records of the child’s daily progress, health updates, and any behavioral problems you face. This documentation helps social workers understand how the placement is working.
Conclusion
Becoming a foster parent rewards you in many ways. It needs commitment, empathy, and willingness to learn. When you follow the guidelines, complete training, and work with child welfare officials, you provide a safe home for a child in need. The journey may be challenging, but connecting with other foster parents through support groups can provide valuable guidance. Whether you foster for a short time or consider adoption later, your role makes a huge impact on a child’s life and your community.
FAQ
How to become a foster parent?
Meet the basic requirements (age, marital status, health, finances), apply through your district’s child protection unit, pass background checks, complete training, and get approval from the Child Welfare Committee.
What do I need to become a foster parent?
You need Indian citizenship, good health, financial stability, a supportive home, and no criminal record. Training and following foster care rules are also needed.
Can foster parents claim child dependent?
In India, you don’t have the same legal rights as adoptive parents. You usually can’t claim a foster child as a dependent for tax purposes unless special government programs allow it.
Who is a foster parent?
You become a foster parent when you temporarily care for a child who can’t live with their birth family. You provide safety and care without becoming their legal parent.
Can foster parents adopt the children they’re caring for?
Under current rules, you can adopt your foster child after they’ve lived with you for at least two years if you meet all legal requirements.
Is foster the same as adopted?
No. When you foster, you create a temporary home. When you adopt, you form a permanent legal bond that gives you all parental rights.
What is the oldest age you can foster?
Single people can foster up to the age of 60. For married couples, your combined ages must fit the criteria for the child’s age group. No strict maximum exists, but officials judge each case individually.
Do foster parents get paid in India?
Yes, you may receive financial help through government programs like Mission Vatsalya. The money typically goes into a joint account for the child’s benefit.