Service Target
Foster Care Service provides out-of-home family care for children aged under 18 years who cannot receive adequate care from their original families. Children are placed under the care of foster families and continue to enjoy safe family life until they can return home, live independently or are being adopted.
Foster Care (Emergency) Service provides out-of-home family care for children who require immediate or short term residential service due to emergency or crisis situations in their families. Children are placed under the care of foster families and continue to enjoy family life and happiness for at most six weeks until they can return home or secure a long-term residential placement.
Service Objectives
- To establish children's welfare plans according to their individual needs, and to ensure children enjoy stable family life and receive adequate care in foster families.
- To protect and promote children's health and welfare, and to work on children's holistic growth and development.
Service Capacity
Foster Care Service is 45
Foster Care (Emergency) Service is 25
Service Content
- Matching foster children with suitable foster families to ensure stable living and growth environment for the children.
- Supervision, training and support for foster families to ensure adequate care, teachings, educational assistance and holistic development are given to foster children.
- Counseling is provided to foster children through regular visits. Welfare plans are developed based on the foster children's individual needs and family status.
Charges
Free food and accommodation, but parents and guardians are responsible for the child’s personal expenses.
Admission & Discharge
- All applications are referred by social workers from Social Welfare Department or NGOs to St. Christopher’s Home via the Central Foster Care Unit of the Social Welfare Department. For Foster Care (Emergency) Service Referral, please contact St. Christopher’s Home from referring workers.
- Generally speaking, children discharged from the service will go through the joint discussion of the Referring Officer, Foster Care Worker and the child's parents / guardians.
Becoming Foster Parents
Anyone who is interested in becoming a foster parent is welcome to contact our Foster Care Service Unit on 3583 0411.
Leaflets of Foster Care Service
(Chinese only)
Newsletter
https://www.skhsch.org.hk/en/information/other_info/
(Chinese only)
Agency-based Enhancement of Clinical Psychological Support Services for Children under Foster Care
(Chinese only)