FAMILY SERVICES DIVISION CALLS FOR MORE FOSTER PARENTS

Acting Director for Family and Social Services Feona Charles- Richards says this country needs more foster parents.

Foster care is a service whereby The State places children and teens in temporary homes because of abuse or neglect.

Charles- Richards says because Antigua and Barbuda does not have a care and protection facility for boys, it relies heavily on foster families to fill this gap.

However, there are currently only 25 foster parents when the optimal number is 65.

Foster care usually lasts between 1 and 2 years while efforts are made to reintegrate a ward back into his/her home.

However, when reintegration isn’t possible, the child may be available for adoption.