Question

Which of the following statements are true with regard to 'Foster Care'?
A. It is a means of alternative care under the Juvenile Justice Act, other than the child's biological family.
B. It always precedes and leads to legal adoption.
C. It is keeping a child in need of care and protection in a family temporarily as identified by the District Child Protection Unit.
D. It may result in legal adoption.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

• A. A, C and D only
• B. A, B and C only
• C. A, B, C and D
• D. B, C and D only

Hint:

The key distinction to remember is: {Foster Care = Temporary}, {Adoption = Permanent}. Foster care is about providing temporary care, while adoption permanently severs the child's legal ties with the biological parents and creates new ones with the adoptive parents.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Foster Care, as defined under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015, is a system of non-institutional, family-based care for children in need of care and protection who are temporarily unable to live with their biological families.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Let's evaluate each statement:

A: This is true. Foster care is an arrangement for a child to live with a family other than their own, making it a form of alternative care.
B: This is false. Foster care is intended to be a temporary arrangement. While a foster child might eventually be adopted (by the foster family or another), it is not a mandatory prerequisite for adoption. Adoption is a permanent legal process, whereas foster care is temporary care.
C: This is true. The core idea of foster care is providing a temporary, safe family environment for a child, with the process being managed by official bodies like the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).
D: This is true. Although foster care itself is temporary, it is possible for the arrangement to lead to a legal adoption if the child is legally free for adoption and it is deemed to be in the child's best interest.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Statements A, C, and D are true, while statement B is false. Therefore, the correct option is A, C and D only.