Assistance for Parents Following Return of a Child to Biological Family After Being Placed in Place of Safety or Foster Home

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Social and Family Development (a) what assistance is provided to parents following the return of a child to his or her family after being placed in a place of safety or foster home; and (b) for each year in the past five years, what is the median number of months such assistance is provided to these families.

As mentioned in responses to related Parliamentary Questions in October and November 2023, case officers work with community partners to provide support for the child and the child's family for 12 months or more after the child is returned to their family. The exact duration and type of support provided for each family would depend on the case circumstances and the needs of the family. In addition to regular safety checks and monitoring, families could be referred to community agencies for case management, counselling, parenting support and may receive financial and employment assistance.