❓ This WA parliamentary question seeks data on children in foster care, permanent care arrangements, procedures for permanent care, and the role of courts in these processes. The answer provides statistics and clarifies the legal framework.
AnsweredQoN 5986Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many children are in foster care as at the end of February 2008?
(2) How many of these children are being fostered on a permanent care basis?
(3) If a child has been fostered on a permanent care basis, what is the procedure this takes as opposed to ordinary foster care?
(4) Are the courts involved in permanent care?
(2) How many of these children are being fostered on a permanent care basis?
(3) If a child has been fostered on a permanent care basis, what is the procedure this takes as opposed to ordinary foster care?
(4) Are the courts involved in permanent care?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
1 April 2008
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection
Response time
21 days
(1) There were 2,230 children in foster care as at 29 February 2008.
(2) Permanent care for children is provided through Protection Orders (Enduring Parental Responsibility). There were 51 children on Protection Orders (Enduring Parental Responsibility) at 29 February 2008. These children are no longer in foster care as their enduring parental carers now have parental responsibility, not the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Department for Child Protection. Therefore, the figure of 51 children is not included in the total number of 2,230 children in foster care in (1) above.
At 29 February 2008 there were also 921 children on Protection Orders (until 18) in foster care. Of these children, 297 were being fostered on a long-term ("permanent") care basis for 5 or more years by the same foster carer. (The remaining 624 children were being fostered by the same foster carer for varying periods up to 5 years.)
(3) Foster carers who have been fully assessed and had care of a child for some time are generally those who become enduring parental carers. Should a person who is not already an assessed foster carer be proposed as an enduring parental carer, the Department for Child Protection would ensure they are suitable and willing and able and would undertake a carer assessment.
(4) The Children's Court makes Protection Orders (Enduring Parental Responsibility) and must be satisfied that long-term arrangements are made for the wellbeing of the child and that the proposed carer/s are suitable and willing and able to provide such care. The application for a Protection Order (Enduring Parental Responsibility) can only be made by the CEO of the Department for Child Protection who must provide a written report to this effect.
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(2) Permanent care for children is provided through Protection Orders (Enduring Parental Responsibility). There were 51 children on Protection Orders (Enduring Parental Responsibility) at 29 February 2008. These children are no longer in foster care as their enduring parental carers now have parental responsibility, not the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Department for Child Protection. Therefore, the figure of 51 children is not included in the total number of 2,230 children in foster care in (1) above.
At 29 February 2008 there were also 921 children on Protection Orders (until 18) in foster care. Of these children, 297 were being fostered on a long-term ("permanent") care basis for 5 or more years by the same foster carer. (The remaining 624 children were being fostered by the same foster carer for varying periods up to 5 years.)
(3) Foster carers who have been fully assessed and had care of a child for some time are generally those who become enduring parental carers. Should a person who is not already an assessed foster carer be proposed as an enduring parental carer, the Department for Child Protection would ensure they are suitable and willing and able and would undertake a carer assessment.
(4) The Children's Court makes Protection Orders (Enduring Parental Responsibility) and must be satisfied that long-term arrangements are made for the wellbeing of the child and that the proposed carer/s are suitable and willing and able to provide such care. The application for a Protection Order (Enduring Parental Responsibility) can only be made by the CEO of the Department for Child Protection who must provide a written report to this effect.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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