Sarkari Yojana
Foster Care Scheme (Vatsalaya)
About Foster Care Scheme (Vatsalaya)
The Department of Women & Child Development, Government of Goa, operates the Foster Care Scheme (Vatsalaya), offering temporary or substitute care to children in difficult situations whose parents cannot look after them because of illness, death, a parent’s desertion or an emotional crisis.
Awareness
Self-Help Groups, MahilaMandals, Child Development Project Officers, Village Child Committees, Anganwadi Workers, NGOs and the Media may be involved in spreading the word about the need for foster parents and families.
Placement Conditions
1. Before a child is placed in foster care, the following are considered, with due weight given to the age and sex of the foster applicants’/parents’ own children. 1. A foster family may take no more than two children, except where siblings need to be placed together in the same family. 1. Foster applicants are to receive counselling on behavioural issues. 1. The child’s emotional and psychological assessment is to be shared with the foster applicants so they can handle the child’s circumstances and reduce the risk of the placement ending early. 1. Wherever possible, the child’s own views are to be obtained before foster care procedures begin. 1. For a child in conflict with law, the Juvenile Justice Board may refer the child to the Child Welfare Committee to begin foster placement procedures.
Scheme Overview
State Government
The Child Welfare Committee Shall Be The Competent Authority Under The Juvenile Justice (Care And Protection Of Children) Act, 2000 For The Implementation Of The Scheme.
Individual
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Foster Care Scheme (Vatsalaya), applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
For Children A child must meet at least one of these conditions -
The child has been hit by family breakdown…
The child has been hit by family breakdown or conflict between the parents.
The child is going through upheaval due to…
The child is going through upheaval due to illness in the family, substance abuse or some other “crisis”.
The child's safety is “at risk”
The child's safety is “at risk”.
The child has suffered a natural or man-made…
The child has suffered a natural or man-made disaster.
The child is an orphan, or has been…
The child is an orphan, or has been surrendered/relinquished or abandoned.
The child cannot be placed for adoption for…
The child cannot be placed for adoption for one reason or another.
The child is in an institution and can…
The child is in an institution and can be “reinstated” or “restored” to a family.
The child is in conflict with the law
The child is in conflict with the law. For Foster Parents (in line with Section 35 of the Model Rules of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act)
The family must be emotionally stable and well…
The family must be emotionally stable and well adjusted.
The foster parents must earn enough to meet…
The foster parents must earn enough to meet the child's basic needs.
Medical reports must be obtained for every family…
Medical reports must be obtained for every family member living on the premises to confirm fitness, including tests for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis B.
The foster parents must have sufficient exposure, orientation…
The foster parents must have sufficient exposure, orientation and ability in childcare, and be able to provide good care.
The foster parents must be stable physically, mentally…
The foster parents must be stable physically, mentally and emotionally.
The foster home must have enough space and…
The foster home must have enough space and basic amenities.
The family must agree to follow the prescribed…
The family must agree to follow the prescribed rules, including taking the child regularly to a paediatrician, getting the child immunised,
and keeping the child's health records
and keeping the child's health records.
The family must agree to sign an agreement…
The family must agree to sign an agreement and to hand the child back to the Child Welfare Committee if the Committee so directs.
The foster parents must be ready to attend…
The foster parents must be ready to attend training or orientation on child care, health and related subjects.
The foster parents must encourage the child to…
The foster parents must encourage the child to study and be ready to send the child to regular school or vocational training. NOTE 1: Foster parents are not to be chosen or rejected on grounds of caste, religion, ethnic status, disability or health status; the child's best interests come first in every placement decision. Where possible, the foster family should come from a comparable socio-economic and cultural background. NOTE 2: The foster care maintenance allowance/assistance must not be the reason for caring for the child, nor should the family rely on it entirely. The CWC will judge whether the family's monthly income is enough to look after foster children.
Benefits Provided
Foster Care Scheme (Vatsalaya) provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
(paid to foster families according to the Child Care Coordinator's assessment) Foster Care Allowance ₹ 2,500/- per month. (Children who already benefit under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme cannot receive Foster Care Allowances) Maintenance Allowance
Age Group
Age Group: 0 to 6 years; Amount: ₹ 1,500/- per month
Age Group
Age Group: 6 to 14 years; Amount: ₹ 2,000/- per month
Age Group
Age Group: 14 to 18 years; Amount: ₹ 2,500/- per month
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
A valid document proving identity
A valid document proving identity
Evidence of residence
Evidence of residence
Certificate of employment
Certificate of employment
Medical reports of the family
Medical reports of the family
Certificate of income
Certificate of income
Certificates of birth
Certificates of birth
Certificates of marriage
Certificates of marriage
Certificates of death (where relevant)
Certificates of death (where relevant)
How to Apply
Offline Application
Applicants can apply for Foster Care Scheme (Vatsalaya) through the offline application process outlined below.
Go to the District Child Protection Society/ Child…
Go to the District Child Protection Society/ Child Welfare Committee and ask the Child Care Coordinator/ Concerned Authority for a printed proforma of the "Foster Care Scheme (Vatsalaya)" application form.
Complete every mandatory field, paste a passport-size photograph…
Complete every mandatory field, paste a passport-size photograph (signed across), and enclose copies of the required documents (self-attested where needed).
Hand the filled and signed form with its…
Hand the filled and signed form with its documents to the Child Care Coordinator/ Concerned Authority.
Collect a receipt/acknowledgement of submission from the District…
Collect a receipt/acknowledgement of submission from the District Child Protection Society/ Child Welfare Committee. Identification of Foster Families 1. Biological parents may suggest a relative or a likely caregiver living nearby. 2. Adoption agencies can draw up a list of couples who did not meet adoption criteria but are willing to foster, and send it to the Child Welfare Committee for the Child Care Coordinator to assess.
Exclusions / Who Is Not Eligible
The children who are Beneficiaries of the Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS) of the Directorate of Social Welfare, Government of Goa, shall not be eligible for Foster Care allowances under this scheme.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.