Over 100 children in state care placed with foster families
The ministry said it continues to monitor the wellbeing of children after they are placed with foster families.
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More than 100 children who were in state custody have been placed with families, the Ministry of Social and Family Development said on Monday.
Speaking at a press conference, the ministry said 110 children who had been taken into state care for various reasons and placed in children’s shelters across the Maldives have been handed over to families under foster care arrangements as of last month.
The placements were carried out under the “Family for Every Child” programme. The ministry said it continues to monitor the wellbeing of children after they are placed with foster families.
According to the ministry, there has been an increase in requests from families seeking to foster children. The ministry said families participating in the programme have been providing care and support to the children placed with them.
The ministry said it promotes family-based care, noting that children who grow up without a family environment may miss the opportunity to develop essential life skills.
The ministry called on members of the public to engage with the programme and work with the authorities. It also urged families facing difficulties in caring for children to contact the ministry for assistance.
Children are taken into state custody on a temporary basis in cases where family situations require intervention. In many cases, children are returned to their families once issues are resolved. However, some children remain in state care for extended periods due to circumstances that prevent reunification.
The ministry has previously said the aim of the “Family for Every Child” programme is to provide temporary or permanent family care for children who cannot remain with their birth families.
Under the programme, children placed in temporary foster care are returned after a specified period, such as two years. During this time, the ministry works to facilitate reunification with the birth family. If reunification is not possible, foster families may apply to provide permanent care or seek legal custody.
