Guardian for Children and Young People Amanda Shaw warns it is “increasingly difficult” to find foster families for children removed from unsafe parents
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy who has been living in emergency accommodation for five years is among about 200 children who will reside in rental units, caravans or hotel rooms during this festive period.
- At least 100 children languished in emergency accommodation for more than 100 days
- Hundreds of kids spending months in emergency care, including hotels
- SA’s disturbing history of child protection and abuse inquiries and royal commissions
A 12-YEAR-OLD boy who has been living in emergency accommodation for five years is among about 200 children who will reside in rental units, caravans or hotel rooms during this festive period.
The young boy’s case, described as “diabolical”, is highlighted in a disturbing new report by the Guardian for children in state care.
It warns more and more young people are languishing in “inappropriate” placements because of a foster carer shortage or the lack of relatives able to take at-risk children into their homes.
Latest figures — taken on the night of November 31 — show there were 193 children in expensive and undesirable emergency accommodation, with a further 331 in state-run homes under paid carers’ supervision.
The State Government and welfare groups have organised Christmas parties for the children and many will have the chance to visit family or birth parents.
But, sadly, a departmental spokeswoman said most would “spend Christmas celebrating with staff”.
Guardian Amanda Shaw’s report warns that the number of children able to live in stable, long-term placements — such as with foster parents or extended family — is falling, while “inappropriate” placements — such as in rented apartments or with incapable foster parents — are rising.
Child protection authorities review the circumstances of children in long-term state care each year.
Ms Shaw’s office audited the reviews of 152 children last financial year and produced a report showing a “significant” number spent time in foster families or state-run homes during their childhood.
About 72 per cent were now in long-term stable placements, a drop from 86 per cent in 2011-12.
A further 7 per cent were in placements considered “inappropriate”, including one young person described as homeless.
One nine-year-old girl had run away from state care to be with her mother, who was not considered to be a safe parent, and another youngster decided to move in with an adult male despite “different understandings regarding the nature of the relationship”.
A young man was released from juvenile detention into emergency accommodation, such as a rented apartment or hotel room.
Ms Shaw’s report reveals that a 12-year-old boy went through a series of extended family and foster care placements before spending the past five years in emergency accommodation under the supervision of paid carers working rotating shifts.
“It was sadly noted that it was the most stable environment he had experienced,” the report states. “The only (other) option reportedly available was a residential care placement (in a state-run home).”
Earlier this year, Child Development Minister Susan Close confirmed that the average time vulnerable children stayed in emergency accommodation was 157 days.
The State Government has committed $9 million to recruit an extra 130 foster carers, in a bid to place more children with families and fewer in emergency housing.
It has sparked a 57 per cent increase in foster carer inquiries since September.
A spokeswoman for the Child Protection Department said it was “developing ways’’ to increase the option.
“We are also developing ways to reduce the (wait) time between inquiring to become a foster carer and being approved to have a child placed with the applicant,” she said.
The spokeswoman reiterated that 85 per cent of children in state care live in placements with relatives or foster families, as opposed to staff working in shifts.
However, this rate is below that in other states.
Opposition child protection spokeswoman Rachel Sanderson said it was “diabolical” that a child had been living in so-called emergency accommodation for five years.
“We know that a stable home environment is extremely important for the wellbeing and future prospects of any child, let alone a child that has endured conditions so bad they had to be removed from their family,” she said.
Ms Shaw has warned that it was “increasingly difficult” to find family placements for children removed from unsafe parents and “not necessarily just for those with a history of placement instability or complex needs”.
This had led to children being housed in state-run homes at a younger age, remaining in emergency accommodation for long periods, or country children being forced to live in the city.
“Additionally, there were no plans to change placements that were considered far from ideal because of a real, or perceived, lack of alternative family-based placement options,” Ms Shaw’s report says.