Parents talk about their foster children with special needs
The Ministry of Social and Family Development is encouraging more to foster children with special needs. Foster parents share their experiences
Housewife fosters four children, three of whom have special needs
Fifteen-year-old Fazly would spew vulgarities. Aqib, 13, would scream for no reason. Eli, 10, would wander around and run wild in a mall or supermarket.
All three have learning or behavioural problems and need special care.
But to Madam Norli Fargi, 51, they are perfect just the way they are.
"They are good children but there are times I wonder where they come from and feel that they need to change," she said, referring to her foster children's family background.
"If you give them love, if you care for them, if you talk to them nicely, surely they will change."
Madam Norli fosters Fazly, Aqib, Eli and a girl, Siti, 16. Their names have been changed and we are not naming their specific conditions to protect their identities.
Children who are placed on the fostering scheme lack alternative kinship care arrangements due to various reasons. Their parents could have a physical or mental illness and are unable to care for them, or they could be victims of neglect or abuse.
Contrary to popular belief, the needs of children with learning or behavioural challenges do not differ much from other children their age.
Th!nk Psychological Services' clinical psychologist Matilda Chew said: "While these children may indeed require more care, particularly if they are not catching up with their peers in terms of development and learning, children with special needs flourish in a consistently nurturing and structured environment - just like typically developing children."
Madam Norli agreed: "I don't see them as any different from other kids. I treat them all the same way. We just have to know how to tackle them."
She has to slowly repeat herself several times before her three special needs foster children can understand her.
Fazly, who goes to a mainstream school, used to stammer and had difficulty understanding his teachers. For a period of time, he even hid his homework from Madam Norli because he did not know how to complete it.
TEACHERS
An exasperated Madam Norli found out only when she spoke to his teachers. From then on, she kept in close contact with his teachers, who would visit her five-room flat in the north-western part of Singapore whenever there is homework for Fazly.
He now goes for reading and speech therapy classes and is "almost like a normal kid", Madam Norli said with pride.
Eli, who has delayed learning abilities, tends to wander around whenever she is in a mall or a supermarket.
"I make her push a trolley so that she can't run," said Madam Norli.
Aqib, who joined his siblings Fazly and Siti at Madam Norli's home two years ago, knew nothing about social norms. He would speak loudly, scream or throw tantrums.
"When he first arrived, he would get frustrated very quickly. Then he would bang on something with his fists," said Madam Norli.
Aqib also seemed unable to do things children his age could, like taking the MRT.
"He would ask questions like 'Why is the MRT crowded?' or 'Why is this round?'" said Madam Norli.
"He doesn't know a lot of things that may seem normal to us. But it's good that he likes to ask questions."
She talks to Aqib about cars, which he is fond of, to motivate him to learn and ask more questions.
Madam Norli's two biological daughters, Nur Hidayah, 12, and Nur Khairunnisa, 19, get along well with their foster siblings.
The family of eight depend on what Madam Norli's husband, Jafri Mohd Yusof, 51, earns as a warehouse assistant and a monthly fostering allowance provided by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).
The allowance pays for the foster children's needs, like food, clothing, transport and school fees.
For every foster child, a foster parent gets $936 every month, and $1,114 if the child has special needs.
SUBSIDIES
Foster families also enjoy childcare subsidies and exemption from medical fees.
Since she started fostering in 2003, Madam Norli has parted with four foster children who stayed with her for weeks or months before they returned to their families.
"Of course I felt sad," she said.
"But my husband gives me emotional support. He always says that when one goes, there are more out there who need us."
The heartwarming moments, to Madam Norli, are the most rewarding part of fostering.
"Sometimes, when I feel sick, they ask me, 'Mummy, how are you today?'
"You see, it's very touching. They even plan surprises with my husband for my birthday.
"As long as I am healthy and have the support of my family and MSF, I'll do it."
As long as I am healthy and have the support of my family and MSF, I'll do it.
- Madam Norli Fargi, who has two daughters of her own
More foster parents needed
Some foster parents may think that children with special needs are more difficult to handle.
These children have problems in their development, or have a learning or behavioural difficulty or both.
But that may not be the case, said Ms Norkhairaha Mohd Taha, a foster care officer with the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF).
Ms Norkhairaha, 33, said: "Families tend to prefer to foster younger children as they are perceived to be easier to care for.
"So there is a need for more foster parents to care for older children, specifically seven years old and above, and those with special needs."
Children may be placed under the fostering scheme because their parents have died or are in jail, their parents or families are unable to care for them, or they are victims of neglect, abandonment or abuse.
Most of the time, fostering is only a temporary arrangement to meet the emergency care needs of a child.
The ultimate goal is to reintegrate these children with their natural families.
"These children yearn for the same things as their peers: a nurturing and safe home environment that will provide them with the love and care that they need," said Ms Norkhairaha.
ABUSE
Th!nk Psychological Services' clinical psychologist Matilda Chew agreed: "It is important to remember that most children requiring foster care placement have experienced life circumstances that other children from typical families do not, such as a dysfunctional family background or abuse .
"This consequently places them at risk for neglect, malnutrition, modelling inappropriate behaviours and having attachment difficulties.
"In this respect, regardless of whether or not a child has special needs, he or she would require similar childhood needs to be met."
These include good nutrition, learning appropriate behaviour, receiving and giving love in age-appropriate ways, self-care and self-protection, as well as "the understanding that what happened to them is not their fault".
There were 355 foster parents as of last December, but MSF hopes to grow the pool to 500 in the next five years.
Foster care officers mentor and coach foster parents on trauma-informed care and help them understand the reasons behind the children's behavioural issues.
To find out more about fostering, call 6354-8799 or go to the MSF website at www.msf.gov.sg/fostering
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