As vacation foster care resumes in Ernakulam, children all eager but not many families sign up

Programme was suspended in 2020 following pandemic outbreak

Attribute it to the loneliness and monotony of the pandemic years, the resumption of vacation foster care (VFC) has received immense response from the children residing in 75 child care homes across the district.

Unfortunately, the number of applicant families for the programme was far too low compared to the number of children vying to experience family atmosphere even for a short duration of two months, leaving most of them back at the child care homes. The district child protection unit (DCPU) had suspended VFC since 2020 owing to the outbreak of the pandemic.

“Children in need of care and protection, who cannot afford to go back to their families even during the vacation, are considered for VFC. This time we received unprecedented response from children with the lists from almost every child care home figuring multiple names willing to be part of the programme,” said Sini K.S, the District Child Protection Officer.

The lukewarm response to the programme is being attributed either to persisting anxieties about the pandemic or families being unware about the reintroduction of the programme. The deadline for applications ended on March 31. For, during the pre-pandemic years, the programme used to evoke very enthusiastic response. There had been instances when the DCPU received as many as 160 enquiries on a single day.

“We have completed the home study of the few applicants, looking into, among other things, their family atmosphere, financial background and their ability in general to ensure the well-being of the child. We have forwarded our recommendations to the Child Welfare Committee, which will take a call on sending out children under VFC. We will be following up the situation of children during the course of the foster care period and reserve the right to recall the children if they are found not to be taken care of properly,” said Ms. Sini.

While VFC is limited to the vacation period, the foster families have the option to convert it into general foster care beyond vacation, subjected to the approval of the foster care approval committee.