Racco-Davao seeks more qualified caregivers, particularly for children with special needs, to expand safe family-based care
DAVAO CITY (October 30) — Davao Region has 60 children under foster care but only 56 active licensed foster parents, prompting the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (Racco-Davao) to call for more families and qualified individuals willing to care for children who cannot safely live with their biological parents.
The figures highlight the need to expand family-based care for children who have experienced abandonment, neglect, abuse or exploitation, as well as those whose parents have died or are temporarily unable to provide adequate care.
Kenneth Joyce Cordova, a registered social worker and Social Welfare Officer I of Racco-Davao’s Family Development Section, disclosed the figures during the Davao City Disaster Radio’s “Serbisyo Dabawenyo” program on Oct. 26.
She said the office particularly needs more licensed foster parents willing to care for children with special needs.
The figures do not establish how many children are waiting for placement or whether all 56 foster parents are available to accept another child. However, they underscore the need to broaden the pool of qualified caregivers who can provide children with safe homes, individual attention and stability.
Family-based care before residential placement
Foster care provides temporary family-based care for minors who cannot safely remain with their parents or whose parents are temporarily unable to meet their needs.
These children range from newborns and foundlings to teenagers aged 17. Some may return to their biological families when it becomes safe and appropriate, while others may need alternative long-term care arrangements.
Cordova said Racco-Davao prioritizes placement with licensed foster families, turning to residential care facilities only when family-based placement is unavailable or inappropriate.
“Ang pinakauna i-tap ang mga license [foster] parents bago ang mga residential facilities,” she said.
The approach gives children an opportunity to receive individualized care in a family setting rather than relying immediately on institutional placement.
Foster care differs from adoption, which establishes a permanent parent-child relationship through a legal process. Foster placement is temporary and subject to assessment and monitoring by social workers.
Monthly subsidy covers children’s needs
To help foster families meet the needs of children in their care, the government provides a monthly subsidy of ₱8,000 for each child without special needs and ₱10,000 for a child with special needs or a disability. The higher amount also applies to babies, Cordova said.
The subsidy is deposited into the foster parent’s account and continues while the child remains in foster care, subject to program rules.
Foster parents must submit monthly liquidation reports documenting how the money was spent on the child’s needs.
“Every month naga-hatag jud sila og liquidation dito sa among opisina para proof nga nagamit gyud ang subsidy dito para sa panginahanglan sa bata,” Cordova said.
She stressed that the assistance is intended for the child, not as income for the foster family, because fostering is voluntary.
For children without special needs, the subsidy ends when they turn 18. Children with special needs may continue receiving assistance beyond that age, depending on the applicable rules and assessment.
Older children are prepared for independent living through counseling, skills training and scholarship opportunities, including programs offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Single applicants and LGBTQIA+ individuals may apply
Foster care is not limited to married couples. Cordova said single applicants and members of the LGBTQIA+ community may also apply, subject to licensing requirements and assessment.
Under the guidelines she outlined, foster parents generally must be at least 16 years older than the child, except in cases involving relatives. A foster parent or family may care for up to three foster children, although siblings may be placed together even when the number exceeds the usual limit, depending on a social worker’s assessment.
Applicants whose own children are aged 10 and above must also obtain their consent to the placement.
The Regional Child Placement Committee, composed of five independent professionals, assesses applicants and decides on matching children with foster families.
These safeguards are intended to ensure that placements are appropriate for each child’s circumstances and that foster families can meet the child’s needs.
How to become a licensed foster parent
Interested applicants must first attend an adoption and foster care forum organized by Racco-Davao. Cordova said in-person sessions are held every third Wednesday of the month, while online sessions take place every last Friday.
Registration details are available through the office’s official Facebook page.
Davao City residents may also seek assistance from the City Social Welfare and Development Office, while residents in other parts of the region may approach their respective local government units.
The program operates under Republic Act No. 10165, or the Foster Care Act of 2012.
For prospective foster parents, the first step is to understand the responsibilities involved, undergo the required assessment and determine whether they can provide a safe and supportive home.
The challenge for Davao Region is not simply to increase the number of licensed foster parents, but to ensure that more children who cannot remain with their biological families have access to safe, stable and appropriate family-based care.
With 60 children under foster care and 56 active licensed foster parents, Racco-Davao is urging more qualified individuals and families to consider fostering so that children in vulnerable situations have a better chance of growing up in a caring home.
