Experiences of Children Living in Foster Families in Kajiado County, Kenya
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Date
2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Youth Studies Tangaza University College
Abstract
Foster care is perceived as a viable alternative in the care for and protection of vulnerable
children particularly for those whose family situation is deemed as dysfunctional as to
present reasonable risk to their wellbeing. In the context of a governmental policy Kenya
that seeks to redirect foster care practices towards more use of family-based foster
care, this study was undertaken to seek a proximate appreciation of the experiences of
children whose lives now oscillate between two alternative care environments, namely,
foster family settings and Charitable Children Institutions (CCIs).
Kenya has a huge number of children that grow up in need of alternative care, with an
estimated 3.6 million of these being orphaned or classified as vulnerable (UNICEF, 2015).
The alternative care structures, while embedded in a rich national and international
legal framework, are not adequately implemented. Even basic registration of CCIs has
significant gaps (UNICEF, 2014).
Research from global to local sources shows the huge disadvantages for children
growing up in institutions other than families and give ample rationale for the move of
the Kenya Government to de-institutionalize as many children as possible by bringing
them into family-based care.
The study adopted the phenomenological research design, purposive sampling 26
preteens and teenagers living, during the school term, in a CCI that doubles up as their
School and then moving to live with foster families during the school holidays. The
latter was a recently introduced new move that enabled the CCI to comply with new
government directives.
Interview schedules were used to collect data which was then analysed using an
inductive thematic approach. The focal area of the field study were the experience in
the CCI, the transition to the foster families and the experience in the latter for each of
the interviewees.
Among important findings of the study includes an overall happy environment for the
children in the CCI, including a good variety in diet, and adequate sense of safety among
other key basic needs. The children present with a sense of security in the home as their
regular and predictable programme as well as well elaborated system of values this
CCI makes them feel clear of their way. Above all the children are confident of a great
education that they receive in the home, and this makes them very hopeful and even
resilient.
EXPERIENCES OF CHILDREN LIVING IN FOSTER FAMILIES IN KAJIADO COUNTY, KENYA 11
Transition to the foster family homes seems to be overall rather poorly managed due
perhaps to the lack of preparation of the staff for the role of assisting the children
to prepare for the transition. In particular, the children did not experience a sense of
choice in the transition matter. It was a decision communicated to them. This may not
have facilitated ease of transition, and indeed the some of the reports of the children
indicate some anxiety in the transition period. But in most cases the children had
positive experiences in the foster homes anyway. It may be observed that the fact that
most of the foster families were in relationship to the school as a faith affiliate may
have helped the children to make an easy transition to the family homes despite lack
of adequate preparation. Concerning the experience of reception in the foster family
majority of the children felt welcome, appreciated and accepted.
The findings of this study provide information that will be used to improve foster
care in Kenya. In particular, there is much to be learned from the positive experiences
accrued by the children while in the CCI. Among these is the security provided by a
strong institutional tradition and system of values. If in addition, the foster families to
which the children are sent share the same values, this can be an advantage for the
consistency of their upbringing and their psychological security.
The study also shows the dire need for ongoing training of care-givers throughout
the spectrum of foster care. Many of the successful experiences of the study point to
the importance of establishing traditions as those of the school, as well as predictable
systems. The gaps in the foster care system that this study unearthed are also clearly
gaps in the accompaniment processes, both in the CCI and in the foster families.
Life-skills training also needs to be increased for children in foster care. This can help
them build up resilience in the changing seasons of their lives and enable them to draw
more value from them. Their psychological experience and preparedness needs to be
taken on board in the decisions that affect them.
In all the study serves to confirm the adroitness of the policy direction taken by the
Government of Kenya regarding family-based foster care; it is a useful supplement to
CCI care when the latter is necessary.
Description
Keywords
Foster Care, Charitable Children Institutions