Youth exiting foster care system to get more support

They will each get an aftercare case worker who will guide them on living on their own

- Gabrielle Chan

He has never known his biological family, but Mr Hunter Tan found a forever home in the foster family that took him in when he was just a baby.

He grew up with three older sisters and two loving parents, who saw him through his school years and national service.

When he turned 21 in 2024, his social worker told him that he was “officially out of the system”.

Fostering is a temporary arrangement, and the aim is for the children to be reunited with their birth families.

The children grow out of the system when they turn 21, and for those staying in children’s homes, it means moving out.

When asked what his next steps were, Mr Tan said: “It was an easy choice, I will stay with my family. But I don’t know if other foster children are this lucky.”

To assist foster children like him, the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) on July 13 announced that more support including financial assistance will be given to those aged 17 to 21. It will cover housing and daily living expenses, among other things.

Mr Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Social and Family Development, said reunification with their families is not always possible.

The parents may be dead, mentally incapacitated, or in long-term incarceration.