Fitting Together the Pieces

Imagine trying to put together a 5000 piece puzzle without a picture to guide you. It would undoubtedly be a challenge and potentially a frustrating task. For those intimately involved in piecing together the Destiny House Children’s Ministries puzzle the last two years have been both a challenge and at times a frustration. While the overall vision is clear the way forward has been forged through often very murky waters.

 A commonly used strategy when piecing together a complicated puzzle is to first look for and then position the edge pieces. These pieces when correctly joined provide the outer boundary for the puzzle. All other pieces fit within this boundary. Possibly the most significant boundary laid down is the establishment phase of Destiny House Children’s Ministries has been the joining together in partnership of City Central Church, Albury and Grace Community Church, Mtuba. These churches are both committed to the vision of Destiny House Children’s Ministries and to the specific responsibilities that they are undertaking. These two churches are in effect, “joining their hands across the nations to proclaim that Jesus is Lord.”

 Another significant boundary is the location of Destiny House Children’s Ministries at Umfolozi just on the outskirts of Mtubatuba. The first house of Destiny is located on this property. The site and house have been made available though the generosity of a local Christian couple.

 Possibly the greatest challenge to date has been navigating through the very murky waters of government red tape as it relates to the welfare of children. It is unlikely that any welfare system in any country could successfully, efficiently or expeditiously deal with the incredible escalation in the number of children needing care as has been experienced over recent years in South Africa. Social workers are inundated with case loads while the court system struggles to process the legal requirements necessary for placement of children into care. It is therefore not uncommon for young children to be eventually placed in overcrowded care facilities or to be left in the care of older siblings out in the community.

 The needs are clear and our willingness to provide long term care for these vulnerable children evident. So what has been the stumbling block? The answer is convoluted but involves government red tape combined with community reluctance.

 Firstly it is government policy that orphaned children are to be accommodated within their own community, usually with an extended family member. Secondly the availability of government grants for foster children mans that some children are taken into care solely for the financial benefit they bring to what is often an impoverished family unit. This grant money is often the only money available to the family and so the welfare of the individual child is of minor importance.

 We at Destiny House Children’s Ministries concur that the best place for a child is within the family context. We however recognize that for some children their family no longer exists. They have either been abandoned or orphaned and have no-one to care for them. Thankfully changes in government thinking now recognize that for some children there is no safe place for them within the community. Therefore the concept of Cluster Foster Homes has been embraced by the South African government as a viable alternative.

 Destiny House Children’s Ministries is therefore embracing the idea of Foster Cluster care. This “edge” piece provides the framework around which the ministry of Destiny House Children’s Ministries can grow.

 Foster Cluster Care

 Foster: As the name suggests children are placed in the foster care of either a couple or as is more likely the case a sole parent/mother. Six children can legally be placed into the foster care of any particular parent/s. The duration of each child’s stay is determined by the circumstances behind their placement in care. Since Destiny House Children’s Ministries intentionally affords care on a long term basis it is envisaged that a family unit will grow and develop over time thus giving the children a sense of belonging. The role of foster parent is therefore one that requires a sense of calling – it is not merely a job rather a life time commitment to these children.

 In order to be considered as viable candidate/s for the privilege of being a foster parent/s it is necessary to be screened by a social worker. A circumstances report is compiled by the social worker and submitted to court when a child needs care. A foster placement is initially for a period of two years. During this time supervision is rendered by the social worker. At the end of the two years the same social worker then presents a report to the court at which time a decision is made as to whether to allow long term fostering or whether to continue with another 2 year placement.

 At Destiny House Children’s Ministries we envisage taking care of children who have no living known relative so it is our expectation that these children will be long term residents. We are therefore committed to choosing foster parents very carefully and prayerfully.

 Cluster: The word cluster implies a grouping together of individual foster homes to form a community. Many non profit organizations are currently operating Foster Cluster Homes throughout South Africa. Each foster home comes under the umbrella of an organization even though the legal responsibility for the children is given to the foster parent. Recent changes in government policy will allow for the payment of foster care grants directly to the non profit organization instead of to the foster parent as is currently the case. Grant monies constitute a small portion of the overall costs of caring for children but this change recognizes that the organizations are carrying the cost and will help to facilitate better accounting practices.

 It has always been the intention of Destiny House Children’s Ministries to support children in a family setting. It has also been our intention to operate legally in all that we do. The Foster Cluster scenario helps us to achieve both of these intentions. Over time we envisage several foster homes forming the Destiny House Children’s Ministries - Foster Cluster.