Sharing To Help Those Considering Fostering (Kian Yong)


 "This is our 5th year into fostering and we are currently fostering our 4th foster son. Yesterday, our 3rd foster son visited us. We also have a boy whom we are helping with respite care for a few days. We did respite care for him last year too. Good to see that he is doing well. 😁. (HFG's response: haha no time or money). They have several WhatsApp chatgroups that provide support for foster parents and those interested in fostering. I have benefitted much from the chatgroup.

It took me sometime to consider if I should upload this posting, but I thought it may help those who may be considering taking up fostering.
Our fostering journey has seen many ups and downs - physically, mentally and emotionally. Our first 2 fostering did not go well and broke down prematurely. It was a terrible feeling. We tried our best to provide care for them but it didn’t turn out as we had planned. Sometime I even questioned God why such things have to happen.
We received a lot of support from MSF, Epworth Community Services and Home For Good - SG. HFG-SG is a Christian network that helps/supports foster parents and also aims to spread awareness of fostering, especially amongst the Christian community in Singapore. They conduct regular tea sessions for those who are keen in fostering. The sharing is usually done by foster parents.
If you would like to know more about fostering, you can visit their fb page and website http://www.homeforgood.sg. But I think the website may need some updating
Our 3rd and 4th fostering have turned out very well. Probably because we have gained much experience from our first 2. All 4 have given us much joy, but in their different ways. From what I understand, Singapore still needs more foster parents to come onboard, especially during this Covid19 times.
If you are keen in fostering, I may be able to help you liaise with Home for Good for their next tea session, which will be conducted virtually.
We notice something that is common amongst our foster sons. Most of them lack a father figure. For me, I try my best to provide that kind of support that they have been missing in their natural family.
Every child is important. If we can help, we help."
PTL for what you and Yan Shan are doing to care for foster kids who need a temp family to love them!!
Lifted from Seow Kian Yong's FB post (with his permission, and with v minimal edits)

Popular posts from this blog

Robin and Linda's Extraordinary Ordinary Lives

  Robin and Linda together with their own children and grandchildren   (FIRST PUBLISHED IN THE SOLID ROCK MAGAZINE, 2008) Of Such Is The Kingdom Of Heaven     It’s August 2008. Robin and Linda Lim, aged 56 and 52 respectively, share their five-room HDB flat with their three natural children and four foster children*: Terence (aged nine), Joshua (26 months old), Moses (20 months old) and Rebecca (15 months old). And there’s Oscar — a Siberian husky who started out as a temporary boarder and somehow ended up becoming part of the family as well. Take a peep into their extraordinarily ordinary lives.    Love Means Choosing To Sacrifice     Over the past five years, nine “special needs” children, ranging from newborns to teenagers, have been a part of the Lims’ family for between four months and five years. And though packed with four cots (one in the living room) and a double-decker bed, the Lims’ home is surprisingly uncluttered. Some of these children, Linda shared, have experienced negl
Read more

"A Cheerful Giver" (Michael & Irene)

3 foster children from HFG families received awards from MSF last weekend. Michael and Irene just shared with us what Nicole* (not her real name) did after the ceremony! Our hearts are so warm...Nicole, we are cheering you on! SHARING BY MICHAEL “So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV Today I (Michael) really saw what this verse truly meant. Nicole* received the MSF Academic Achievement Award. Along with it she was awarded a prize voucher. During our journey back from church, Nicole was quietly discussing something with her younger foster sister. Nicole than came excitedly to me saying; "Daddy, Daddy, you can use part of the money and go enjoy a meal with Mummy!" I looked at Nicole surprised: "Why?". Nicole replied with glee; "I want to treat you & Mummy to your your favourite chilli dish." (She knew I like spicy food.) I decided to pull her leg ,"
Read more

MSF Award Ceremony for Foster Children and Youth 2022 (Audrie)

It’s MSF Award Ceremony for Foster Children and Youth 2022! We are so happy to see that 3 HFG foster children got the MSF academic excellence awards from Minister for Social and Family Development, Mr Masagos Zulkifli! Today, we want to celebrate these children and wanted to find out their dreams! We were onsite and managed to collect some short snippets. MICHAEL, IRENE and NICOLE* (14 year-old foster girl). Nicole, got an award for her Sec 2 results. Michael and Irene shared that they felt so happy for Nicole because they saw her putting in a lot of effort. With the transition from primary school to Secondary school, Nicole had to juggle between her CCA, her studies, moving between the homes of her natural family and foster family. She rose above it all to focus and do well in her studies. Nicole was happy that she got an award as she didn’t expect to get it. She shared that her dream was to be a teacher when she grows up, one who is patient and will put in a lot of effort to help the
Read more

Fostering Tea Session April 2023 (Alan & Eliz) - Caring for a Foster Child with Neurodiversity

  One Day At A Time – Eliz and Alan’s Journey of caring for a foster child with neurodiversity   How It Started Eliz and Alan’s fostering journey started when Alan asked Eliz if she was keen to attend a fostering introduction session and she agreed without hesitating. Before they took the leap of faith, they were considering how their lifestyle would be changed with a foster child in the house. They had a carefree lifestyle and were able to have vacations during off-peak season. They were also concerned about whether they could manage the caregiving of their aged parents if they were also caring for a foster child.  The couple did not have their own children, and Eliz felt that the marriage was incomplete without a child. Eliz waited for 16 years for God to answer her prayer and He called her to be a foster mother.  Doubts to Reassurance  After they were approved as foster parents, they received a call from MSF about caring for a premature baby, Eugene*. Eliz was quite hesitant about c
Read more

Launch of Befrienders for Families with co-developer The Salvation Army

Being foster parents and journeying with fellow foster parents in the past 10 years, we are very thankful for UBS Optimus Foundation’s support in this new program - Befrienders for Families (BFF) - co-developed by both HFG-SG and The Salvation Army Singapore (TSA)! Supporting the natural families of the foster children is also important in the entire care continuum. Last Friday, the BFF program was officially launched at TSA’s Red Shield Appeal Event 2023. Here’s a few photos taken at the event. We were too busy meeting new and old friends, and eating, so here’s only 3 photos!
Read more