HFG Chit Chat Corner – Educational Journey for Foster Children with Special Needs. In February, a few foster parents within the HFG community had an informal chat with veteran foster parent, Linda, who is currently fostering two youth with special needs. She has fostered and provided respite care to many foster children over the years. Here’s some highlights from our chat which we hope will encourage others who are on similar journeys. 1) Build Strong Bond First Linda and her husband, Robin, started their fostering journey since 2003. Upon the arrival of Adam* and John* into their home, they decided to focus on building strong bonds with the boys. Both came to their families when they were babies. She feels that it is important for foster parents to show affection and love to their foster children. 2) Trust in God After Adam was diagnosed with Global Developmental Delay, the professionals recommended for him to be enrolled in a special education (SPED) school. When asked if she had an...

  Awesome Northeast HFG family day today! 8 foster families who live in the North-east region gathered for a time of fun, food and sharing. Games were organized for all to participate, parents definitely had as much fun as the children! The host also surprised each child with a bag filled with personalized gifts! From the host: It was good to hear the foster parents share what they are grateful for in their fostering journey and how our foster children blesses us so much! Majority of the children have special needs (various spectrum), yet we are impressed how they got along and played well. Really impressed that foster parents came despite possibly thinking it would be such a challenge in a big crowd. Yeah, just so happy basically. God blessed us so much through today’s event. From one of the families who attended: My husband was so impressed how the host’s foster children co-host the gathering…they were helpful and spontaneous!

  HFG-SG recently partnered with churches and SSAs in the Safe and Sound Sleeping Places (S3P), to bless the rough sleepers. A coordinator was urgently needed. We thank God that Sandy, a HFG foster parent stepped up to volunteer! Below is her reflection. We thank God for those who volunteered and donated generously! <How we started> During the circuit breaker period, rough sleepers needed to get off the streets for their own safety. Many members of HFG and friends stepped forward to offer donations. <Dare to say “Yes”> Indeed, if you’re only looking for God in the spectacular, you’ll miss the supernatural every time. If God sent you to a mission, we need to trust that He will put all the necessary help in place for you. You only need to be still and trust! <Shops closed but God provides> Shops were closed during the circuit breaker period but the effort to source for the supplies were surprisingly smooth anyway. We even have suppliers approaching us to sell us a...

HFG foster parents, Mark Lim and Sue Lim held a special training session for HFG foster parents last Saturday in Agape Baptist Church . Mark and Sue are trainers for special needs and have a heart for children with special needs. It was such a blessing! Joyce Too Yip and her husband, Teh Hsin Too are foster parents who attended and were greatly blessed. You can read Joyce's account below: <We can see her pain now!> My husband and I have been struggling with parenting one of our foster child who was diagnosed with Global Development Delay. Although she is 13, she is unable to do basic things confidently such as daily brushing of her teeth, getting the correct change when buying food, reading time and distinguishing between AM and PM. She also has trouble managing her emotions. Her occasional outbursts which involve crying, screaming and shouting on top of her lungs at home, in school or at public places has demoralised her and affected her ability to make friends. Fostering...

This morning, hundreds of children did not wake up in their own beds within a family setting in Singapore. There are currently 1166 children in care, of which 535 are in foster homes. The remaining 631 are still in residential care. (Statistics from MSF website as of December 2018.) Choa-Tan Ai Cheng and Joyce Too Yip were invited by Ai Lin Lim to speak to her students from the Raffles Community Leadership and Citizenry Program in August. Ai Cheng shared about the work and need of child protection and foster care in Singapore. She explained how having a primary care giver for every child in a home setting is fundamental to the healthy growth of every child. Joyce shared examples how Dora (not her real name) a very sick child and assumed to be developmentally affected, has grown to the bubbly and cheerful preschooler she is today. She also highlighted how her special needs foster child could learn to identify and differentiate her own emotions and feel safe in a home environment. The...

Hfg foster parent Audrie Siew and her 16 year old son, Timothy, did a sharing at College of Alice and Peter, National University of Singapore yesterday! Audrie shared about how it was so heartening that their normal family could make a difference to a foster child. Timothy shared on how he came to see the power of fostering himself even though he found it hard to adjust at first. Audrie shared stories of how her village helped “Ellie” her 8 year old foster girl to learn to overcome her fear of failure, discouragement and frustration to finally learn to read for the first time in her life. It was amazing to see how fostering can really change the future for Ellie! The sharing was a secular one. It was great to see so many young people being open make a difference to those in need! Thank you very much, CAPT for supporting the cause of fostering over the years! (Photo credit - Audrie and Sue)

6 families from HFG’s Central 1 Group finally met up at Gay Teck/ Sau Han Cheong ’s place. Kids had fun swimming & making chicken rice balls while we parents chatted. What joy & relief to share our burdens & to pray for one another!! It helps us realize we are not alone in our struggles. More than one reflected that this Fostering journey has helped us understand better the Father Heart of God. How difficult it is for us to show unconditional love given our human frailty. But how great is the Father’s love for us even in our weakness....

  Wonderful time of food, fellowship and prayer for the 6 foster families who could make it to Joanna and Peter's home. - 2 newly approved foster families; - 3 foster families awaiting placements - 20 kids between us (not all present) with 2 out of 4 foster kids at the dinner. Hope more families can come for the next one!! Good chance to swop stories, get support, solicit helpful advice etc.....