WHILE the economic climate remains dire with a large percentage of South Africans living under the breadline, KZN NGOs, especially those caring for women, children and the elderly, battle brutal budget cuts and shortages of screened foster parents.
The newly elected Richards Bay Family Care committee, headed by Ayanda Dumisa, resolved at its annual general meeting to prioritise securing and screening willing foster parents to cope with more and more children who must be removed weekly from their homes owing to neglect, poverty or abuse.
The committee requested potential foster parents to contact the organisation urgently to start legal screening processes, which include police clearance, home visits and interviews with social workers to determine suitability.
Foster parents often do not know what process to follow to become involved, while welfare organisations have no effective way of identifying or contacting families who are willing to take children in.
A foster mother, who wished to remain anonymous to protect the identity of her foster child, says foster care is a serious responsibility which must be carefully considered and monitored at all times to ensure stability and safety.
‘It is a decision which effects the family and requires support, professional help where needed and mostly passion for vulnerable children.’
Child welfare service is one of the most hard-hit NGOs in KZN.
Although the KZN MECs for finance and social development earlier the year said grants would not be reduced, NGOs are struggling from one day to the next with shortages of finances to cover operational costs.
While tasked with providing essential services not catered for by government, their service delivery is hampered because they are also tasked with supplementing their government grants through fund-raising initiatives.
One of the city’s stalwarts says though many businesses have always been willing to support local organisations where they can, many attach conditions to funding, which mostly exclude running costs.
‘Everybody is willing to finance projects, but nobody wants to pay transport, salaries, phones and electricity.
‘Without operational costs, there cannot be projects.’
The Richards Bay Family Care committee appeals to the public, businesses and prospective foster care parents to contacts their offices at 035 7892640.
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