World Vision Taiwan to end foster services

‘CHALLENGING’: The organization said that its decision was primarily a result of a shortage of social workers and difficulties in recruiting families to foster children

World Vision Taiwan on Tuesday said that it would cease providing foster care services on behalf of local governments after 33 years.

World Vision Taiwan’s decision to pull out of the sector comes amid scrutiny over the death of a one-year-old boy in December last year.

The boy was placed by the Child Welfare League Foundation — which was seeking an adoptive family for him — into the temporary care of a licensed at-home childcare provider in September last year after his mother was sent to prison.

The foundation learned of the boy’s death — allegedly as the result of long-term abuse by the caregiver — in December.

The caregiver, surnamed Liu (劉), and her younger sister have been detained by prosecutors in connection with the case, but have not yet been charged.

However, World Vision Taiwan said that its decision to end its foster care services was mainly a result of a shortage of social workers and difficulties in recruiting foster families.

Wang Yi-wen (王怡雯), a brand management executive for the organization, said that foster care arrangements have become more challenging.

Additionally, many children in need of foster care have special needs, requiring more professional support, Wang said.

World Vision Taiwan hopes to channel resources into other areas, such as the welfare of teenagers, who have traditionally received less attention, she said.

The organization is in the process of communicating with local governments regarding the termination of partnerships, which began in 1991, she said.

The organization provides foster care services for the governments of Taipei, New Taipei City, Kaohsiung and Pingtung County, she said.

Its contract with New Taipei City ceases at the end of next month, while the partnerships with the other three local governments would cease at the end of this year, Wang said.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Social and Family Affairs Administration said it has asked local governments to transfer foster care management and introduction tasks to other organizations.

Separately, Child Welfare League Foundation chairman Lin Jih-jia (林志嘉) and other foundation officials apologized again to the public for its handling of the case of the deceased child.

The foundation will continue to improve its foster care services and supervision of social workers, they said.