We are happy to partner Gracehaven Fostering ( The Salvation Army Singapore (TSA)) for our intro tea this morning! So blessed that we could have City Harvest Church host this round at Suntec City! Our very own ED, Kuan Ying, introduced HFG and also inspired with her own story of how she wanted to ensure her foster son did not feel that she would abandon him. We were so blessed that @Audrie Siew, one of our HFG Core Leaders as well as the Executive Director of Children and Youth Group in The Salvation Army, and her husband, Chune Keat could share about their journey in fostering. She shared that foster parents enter the lives of children at their darkest seasons when healing is most needed. Liliac, one of her foster girls, said that she told her there was no need to study for PSLE as she did not see any hope or future. She shared how just providing a safe and caring environment really can give hope and rebuild lives! Ellie, one of her foster girls, came to them unable to read or spe...

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...

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...

  Just completed a support session for foster parents today! It was so good to see everyone. We wanted to keep the group small so it was easier to talk and share. One of the topics was on how to support foster children who struggled with motivation for academic areas and learning difficulties . Joyce shared how the love and acceptance of the children were so important and this made it easier for her to help her foster child to learn . Audrie & Chune Keat shared about how celebrating small successes and focusing on effort instead of results helped their foster children. Liz shared how she used colour to help her foster child to learn as he was motivated by colour.

  Today, our P6 kids just completed their PSLE listening comprehension. Have you wondered what life is like for a foster parent during PSLE season? HFG foster parent, Audrie Siew, just told us an everyday fostering story that happened with her P6 foster child. Everyday Fostering : < “The House Ate Up My Glasses ” and “I have a MUM now!”> My foster child, Lilac* (not her name), is taking PSLE this year and on the way to being reunified with her natural family. As everyone with P6 children know, it’s a very stressful time for the children and their families. As part of her reunification plan, Lilac goes to her natural parents for overnight stays. It was all going well. With the many things to juggle however, she ended up leaving her spectacles in her mum’s place when she came back to me one week. She needed it urgently for school and I sent her back to find it. Her natural family was worried for her and searched high and low around the house. Somehow, the glasses had really...