Ministry seeks feedback on foster family regulations

A draft regulation on foster families was published online for public consultation by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Sunday, marking a new step for the nation toward more specific children's welfare.

The draft emphasized that children's welfare institutions should end the custodian rights of foster parents after the family was found to exploit the child as a way to raise money. Neither should foster families discriminate or abuse the child.

Applicants must have no history of mental or epidemic illness, a stable income and living conditions. Foster parents should be aged between 35 and 60 and with a minimum education background of junior high school, the draft states.

A foster family can accept no more than two children and the child's approval is also needed if he/she is older than 10.

Orphans younger than 18 who are looked after by civil affairs departments at or above county level can be allocated a foster family. Babies and children whose parents cannot be traced will also go to foster families. Seriously disabled children are not designated suitable for foster families.

The regulation opens for consultation until June 5.