The view of foster parents' on the adequacy of foster care grant in meeting the needs of recipients in Amathole District, South Africa

Abstract

Initially, foster care grant were intended to assist children removed from their families of origin and placed in alternative care due to their vulnerability, neglect and abuse. Foster care grant forms part of the child protection system, and is issued to children who require care and protection and are deprived of proper upkeep. The aim of the study was to explore the view of foster parents on the sufficiency of the child support grant in meeting the basic needs of recipients. The study adopted a qualitative research approach. In-depth interviews were used to collect data with purposively selected participants. The finding of this study revealed that the grant is sufficient in providing for the nutritional, educational and sartorial needs of beneficiaries. The study sample consisted of 25 participants. The study concluded that the grant is sufficient but could be increased to provide funds for some additional needs such as savings policies, which is essential for securing a decent future for children.