A draft paper outlining plans to give foster parents more independence to deal with the children in their care has been issued for public consultation.
Minister for Families and Communities, Jennifer Rankine said a key proposal was to explore the option of transferring guardianship to the carer in cases where children could not be returned to their birth parents.
Ms Rankine said this would occur following a robust assessment concluding that the care giver had the capacity to provide a high level of care for the child, and that they had sufficient personal and professional support to provide care for the child into the future.
Call for comment on proposals
Carer families would be required to commit to the child maintaining a connection to their family of origin, community and culture, and also make a lifelong commitment to the child.
There would also have to be a preferential relationship between the child and the carer.
Ms Rankine said changes outlined in the draft paper, Directions for Alternative Care in South Australia, would build on work already underway to increase the range of care options available and improve the lives of young people.
“We know that many wonderful carers build lifelong commitments to the children in their care and these changes will make their life easier,” Ms Rankine said.
“These changes mean a carer could apply through the Youth Court to have full guardianship and therefore have greater say in the health, education and life choices of these young children.
She said alternative care services aimed to provide care in a family environment, while keeping the existing ties that children and young people have with their families and communities, so long as it is safe to do so.
She said under the proposed changes, access arrangements with parents would continue where appropriate, but where it was not, children would be able to experience a sense of belonging with another family instead.
The Minister said FamiliesSA would consult with the sector on Directions for Alternative Care in South Australia.
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