Hong Kong foster care shake-up calls for total support
- More financial and structural backing is proposed for Hong Kong families who foster children in a home setting following cases of ill-treatment at residential institutions
It is difficult for those raised in a family to imagine passing early childhood years in care institutions. It is a case of out of sight, out of mind until a reminder jolts society’s conscience.
An example is the emergence of video evidence of ill-treatment of youngsters at the city’s residential childcare institutions, including a centre run by the Society for the Protection of Children. As a result, the authorities set up a committee that has just issued a report calling for 39 measures, including better cash and structural support for families to foster children in a home setting.
The test for society will be how words are converted into actions, or how it cares for its weakest and most vulnerable members. It is important that it responds decisively. The committee expects the problem to appear worse before it gets better, because the incidence of recorded abuse will rise as reporting becomes mandatory.
The committee urged the government to boost support for foster care services currently provided by more than 900 families, and to encourage more families to take part. This includes larger cash incentives and educational support.
The committee said the foster system was faster and more flexible for children in need. To encourage more residents to foster children, the committee called for a campaign spanning business, religious institutions and parent and teacher associations to raise awareness; for regular feedback to ensure officials carry out follow-ups; and a review of foster-care application criteria to speed the process.