Foster families bring hope to shattered lives

By Danielle Campbell

Six-year-old Shanae Trim hops onto the comforting lap of her mother and beams adoringly at the woman.
The doting mother embraces Shanae and whispers into one of the child’s ears, indicating that the two share a very close rapport. At first glance, one would assume that Shanae and her mom are a happy duo in their average single-parent family.
But Shanae lost her mother to childbirth complications and later made the discovery that her dad could no longer care for her, owing to his intolerable alcohol dependence.
Like her, little Feona was taken to hospital by a strange man a few hours after she was born, with a piece of string tied to her umbilical cord. The infant was immediately surrounded by a throng of healthcare professionals, who all expressed a familiar disgust at the manner in which she was abandoned. It is because of this trend that Guyana has seen the need for a foster care programme.

Love and care
According to psychologists, children who are raised in an environment where love, care and attention are abundant, grow up to become well adjusted, secure adults. It is just one of the many facts of life.
However, such a sense of belonging is not systemically inherent in the fabric of orphanages and other childcare institutions. With the ever increasing rise in terminal illnesses, neglect and inconducive homes, many children are thrust into situations of homelessness. So what can society do for the thousands of children who are separated from their families through tragedy, abandonment or death?
Feona’s mom, Lorna sat down to an exclusive interview and told how her daughter’s sad discovery was a blessing in disguise. Lorna had always wanted a child of her own, but with gestational complications and insensitive taunts from callous neighbours, she knew foster care would be the way to conquer both evils.
So when she learnt that a baby was abandoned at the hospital, Lorna, a professional hairstylist, journeyed to the city to claim her bundle of joy. She was soon to discover that the Human Services Ministry was not aware of the situation and certain procedures would have to be followed.
According to Lorna, she contacted the ministry and hoped in eager anticipation that her wait would pay off.
“A lot of people tried to discourage me… They kept saying that plenty people had already filled applications for the child, but I was going ahead with an effort of getting her,” Lorna recalled.
Meanwhile, little Feona was undergoing a series of medical tests and her gene pool was being analysed for traces of mental retardation or chronic diseases. Lorna recollected fondly, seven months later, when she was summoned by officials to uplift her most prized possession.
“It took exactly seven months and two weeks before I could take her home,” Lorna said with extreme pride in her voice.
As if reliving the moment afresh, she detailed that it was a bitter-sweet moment; explaining that she was torn between emotions of joy and sadness. “I was delighted when they called me, but I was crying inside. I had this fear that something was wrong with the child since she had one last test to complete,” Lorna told.

Beyond comprehension
According to her, it was beyond her comprehension that a mother could simply discard a newborn baby who had a clean bill of health. For almost a year, Lorna would live with the haunting reality that she could eventually lose the child she had grown to love to some mysterious illness or death.
However, when Feona was 18 months old, the final medical test results proved that she was in excellent physical condition.
Today, Lorna has no regrets opening her home to Feona, who is now five years old. And anyone would be surprised to learn that the two are not blood relatives since according to Lorna, Feona has drawn a resemblance to her.
“I have no regrets whatsoever, my whole life has changed and she looks just like me,” Lorna said glancing at Feona, who had expertly undressed the Barbie doll she was cuddling. “I would encourage anyone to foster a child… I am so very happy now. She has cut me out from all my football and sports and partying, but I don’t mind one bit.”
Lorna, who describes her daughter as brilliant and very loving, believes there is nothing worse than being endowed and failing to share that with someone in need. For her, the home and love she shares with Feona is incomparable owing to the pleasure and peace of mind she has gained in return.
According to statistics from the Human Services Ministry, there are 600 children in 23 orphanages across Guyana. Of these, 65 per cent or more than 400 of these children are eligible for the foster care programme.

Care plan
For the past two years, the ministry has been developing a care plan for each child based on a professional opinion of what is in the child’s best interest.
The ministry is also at the stage where it is waiting for Guyana’s judicial body to sanction several applications in order to legalise the union between child and family.
Government has been tangibly demonstrating an interest in taking care of children, especially those who find themselves without proper parental support.
To this end, a host of legislation has been drafted and passed aimed at caring for and protecting children. The ministry is also committed to ensuring every agency and service provider, tasked with enforcing these pieces of foster care legislation, is aware of its role.
In addition to legislation, the ministry recognises that best practices are of equal significance.

Best interest
Research across the world has shown that institutionalising children may not be in their best interest.  They may not develop as rapidly or wholesomely as they would if they were in a family environment. In this regard, whenever children are under the ministry’s care, the first option is arranging a reintegration with their immediate family.
In instances where reintegration with a child’s family is not appropriate, the ministry explores the possibility of having that child reside with his/her extended family.
Child Care and Protection Agency Director Ann Greene said that the agency is tasked with screening individuals who have applied to become foster parents.
Also petitioning for potential parents, Greene said, “It’s a rewarding and satisfying job. You are making a difference in a child’s life by offering to take a child, who may have been badly abused, into your home… and it can mean the difference between life and death.”
She emphasised that such contributions in a foster child’s life can live on with them forever, and is never a waste as some may have construed. As Greene puts it: “Help one child and you help a generation.”
She noted that screening is just to ensure that the parent is fit and healthy so they would be around to polish those diamonds in the rough.
* Persons’ names were changed to protect identity