Number of and Reasons for Children Currently Under State Care

Mr Seah Kian Peng asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) how many children are currently under state care; (b) what are the reasons for such care; and (c) for those who cannot be reunited with their families, what options do these children have.

As at end-December 2020, there were about 1,100 children being cared for by foster families or in residential facilities. Such out-of-home care arrangements are made as a last resort when it is not safe for the children to continue to stay with their families, even with support from MSF and social service agencies.

MSF endeavours to keep families intact, with safety plans in place to minimise the risk of harm. However, in serious cases of abuse or neglect where the home environment remains unsafe, MSF’s Child Protective Service will remove the child and look for an alternative family-based environment for the child. MSF will first explore kinship care arrangements before finding a suitable foster family. If these options are not available, MSF places the child in residential care.

After out-of-home care arrangements have been made, MSF works with both the child and his or her family towards safe reunification wherever possible. MSF works together with community agencies to address the key concerns in the family that have led to the child’s removal, strengthen parent-child relationships through counselling and coaching on positive parenting, and psychological services to help the child heal from the abuse or neglect. We also arrange for the family to have supervised or unsupervised access to the child so that familial bonds are retained.

However, when reunification is not possible despite our best efforts or is not in the best interest of the child, alternative longer-term plans are put in place to provide safety, stability and certainty for the children.

Since 1 July 2020, the Court may grant Enhanced Care and Protection Orders, to enable caregivers such as foster parents to legally care for the children until they are 21 years old. Some children are eventually adopted by their foster parents or other couples who provide a supportive environment that enables the children to realise their full potential.

A small number of children remain in children homes, which prepare the children for independent living by providing guidance in key areas like education and employment, facilitating referrals to community agencies post-discharge and connecting them to rental or hostel options.