Diverse foster families open homes to children in need across Taiwan

Taiwan's foster care system embraces a diverse range of families, including dedicated indigenous mothers and individuals holding professional caregiver qualifications. These foster parents open their homes to children experiencing significant family disruptions, abuse, or inadequate care, providing a nurturing environment for their growth.

One such dedicated foster mother, Xiuhao, who is 65 years old and holds a caregiver qualification, has been a foster parent for 19 years. She has cared for over a dozen children. Her experience includes patiently supporting a child with developmental delays and emotional challenges for five years before the child was adopted into a family in Sweden. She also cared for a four-year-old girl whose young parents were unable to provide care; the child, who initially did not speak, made significant progress in verbal expression and cognitive skills through weekly early intervention classes and home-based play.

Another foster parent, Cheng-chen, with a background in childcare, decided to become a foster parent after hearing about the program. With her own children grown, she and her family have cared for three special needs children over the past four years. They lovingly cared for an infant girl, who was initially very fussy and prone to spitting up, for over two years before she was happily adopted into a new family. The entire family is now committed to caring for foster children.

Foster parents often describe their experience as enriching, despite the challenges. To support these families, the Southern Taiwan Foster Care Center offers respite services, early intervention programs, counseling, and educational assistance. These services aim to help foster families manage the complexities of caring for children, ensuring the children receive the best possible care and support during their time in foster placement.