Safety parents – charged with the temporary care of children in emergency cases – have called on the government for much-needed financial support.
The Department of Social Development said as many as 1 300 children had been placed in the care of safety parents in the province.
Children are placed with safety parents for a period not exceeding two years by social workers or the police when they are removed from abusive parents or guardians.
These safety parents receive a little over R30 per day for every child in their care, but some carers who have opened their homes claim this amount, which works out to R1 020 a month, was negligible and barely covered a child’s basic needs.
A safety parent may not care for more than six children at a time, except where the children are siblings.
A Mitchells Plain woman who has been a safety parent for the past four years said she was growing despondent over the lack of support provided.
“I’m (a) safe mom of children who were abandoned (or) are run-aways (and) were placed in my care by either the police or social workers.
“I was inspired by another activist who told me about missing children and I thought if we can look after these children there (might) be fewer cases of disappearances,” she said.
The 54-year-old said that while she loved what she was doing, making ends meet on a monthly basis was stressful. “We get just over R30 per day to see to the child. Now people may say that it’s enough, but you have to pay for the child’s (school) transport, clothes and toiletries.
“Then there is the long process of standing in a queue to apply for the money. Sometimes the system is off-line and you need to travel back again. That is why a lot of safety parents rather opt for donations because after you apply it is also a waiting game.”
She said she had opened a small business selling frozen foods and also received donations to supplement the grant money. “ Honestly, without donations I don’t think I would be able to cope,” she added.
body.copy...: More than money, psychological support was needed for the children.
“The only time you see that social worker is when the child is brought to you. There is no follow-up, nothing until the child’s two-year period is done or they have to appear in court. But what these people fail to understand is that the children need counselling because many of them experience trauma,” she said.
Another safety parent said the department needed to improve the support it provided.
“They are (quick in) placing a child but they lack (in) financial support because what the safety parent receives is not enough. (The department) provides a safety care kit (which includes toiletry samples and some food items) but this lasts for just 48 hours.
“I get donations from people when they hear what I’m doing, but there are people who are two-minded about helping. That’s (why) a lot of safety parents are closing their doors.”
The woman agreed that more emotional support should be provided for children placed in their care.
“When a safety parent tells the department the child needs to be assessed or go for evaluation they should assist, because emotionally a lot of our kids have scars because of what they’ve gone through.”
Social Development spokesperson Esther Lewis said: “When children are placed in the care of a safety parent,(social workers) should avail themselves to assist with follow-up issues, including the payment of safety parent fees and other support for the child.”
She said no law existed to deal with the payment of safety fees. It was the responsibility of a social worker to provide claims forms when placing children into the care of a safety parent.
“They also have to explain the submission process. The daily rate increased from R27 to R34.50 per day from April 1,” she said.
Lewis advised safety parents that if the claim was not paid in time, they could escalate the request to the social worker supervisor who would have to follow up and provide feedback.
There were 36 303 children in foster care in the Western Cape. An estimated 73% of children in foster care were placed with family members. Temporary safe care can be provided by registered safety parents, foster parents, or registered child and youth care centres.