Income and Social Grants - Foster Child Grants
Income and Social Grants - Foster Child Grants
Author/s:  Katharine Hall
Date: July 2010
Definition
This indicator shows the number of children whose caregivers  are accessing the Foster Child Grant (FCG) in South Africa, as recorded in the SOCPEN administrative data system of the South African Social Security Agency.
Data
Data Source

South African Social Security Agency (2005; 2006; 2007; 2008; 2009) SOCPEN database. Pretoria: SASSA.

Notes
  1. SOCPEN figures are taken from mid-year (June/July), to coincide with data collection for the annual General Household Survey
  2. For trends from 1998 to 2009 (April figures), see the Social Grants link on the home page
What do the numbers tell us?
The Foster Child Grant is available to foster parents who have a child placed in their care by an order of the court. It is a non-contributory cash grant valued at R710 per child per month in April 2010. The grant was initially intended as financial support for children removed from their families of origin and placed in foster care for protection against situations of abuse or neglect. However, it is increasingly used to provide financial support to the caregivers of children who have lost their biological parents because of the HIV/AIDS pandemic or other causes. The appropriateness and effectiveness of this approach has been questioned.1

At the end of July 2009, caregivers of over 500,000 children were receiving a FCG, then valued at R680 per month. The number of grants has doubled since 2004, with figures increasing by more than 100% in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West provinces. Take-up of the FCG varies substantially between provinces, and nearly half of all grants go to just two provinces: KwaZulu-Natal (137.463 grants) and Eastern Cape (86,176 grants).

It is not possible to calculate a take-up rate for the FCG as there is no accurate record of how many children are eligible for placement in foster care.

Technical notes
SOCPEN (the administrative database of the Department of Social Development) records the Foster Child Grants paid out per month according to the number of children and their caregivers (beneficiaries). Figures are taken from the daily report on the last working day in July.
Strengths and limitations of the data
There has never been a published review of the SOCPEN database, and the extent of the limitations of validity or reliability of the data has not been quantified. However, it is regularly used by the Department of Social Development and other government bodies to monitor grant take-up.
References and Related Links
1 Meintjes H, Budlender D, Giese S & Johnson L (2003) Children 'in need of care' or in need of cash? Questioning social security provisions for orphans in the context of the South African AIDS pandemic. Joint working paper of the Children's Institute and the Centre for Actuarial Research, University of Cape Town. Available:www.ci.org.za/depts/ci/pubs/pdf/hiv/workp/fostercare/foster_care.pdf
Author: Katharine Hall

Definition
This indicator shows the number of children whose caregivers  are accessing the Foster Child Grant (FCG) in South Africa, as recorded in the SOCPEN administrative data system of the South African Social Security Agency.
Commentary
The Foster Child Grant is available to foster parents who have a child placed in their care by an order of the court. It is a non-contributory cash grant valued at R710 per child per month in April 2010. The grant was initially intended as financial support for children removed from their families of origin and placed in foster care for protection against situations of abuse or neglect. However, it is increasingly used to provide financial support to the caregivers of children who have lost their biological parents because of the HIV/AIDS pandemic or other causes. The appropriateness and effectiveness of this approach has been questioned.1

At the end of July 2009, caregivers of over 500,000 children were receiving a FCG, then valued at R680 per month. The number of grants has doubled since 2004, with figures increasing by more than 100% in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and North West provinces. Take-up of the FCG varies substantially between provinces, and nearly half of all grants go to just two provinces: KwaZulu-Natal (137.463 grants) and Eastern Cape (86,176 grants).

It is not possible to calculate a take-up rate for the FCG as there is no accurate record of how many children are eligible for placement in foster care.

Strengths and limitations of the data
There has never been a published review of the SOCPEN database, and the extent of the limitations of validity or reliability of the data has not been quantified. However, it is regularly used by the Department of Social Development and other government bodies to monitor grant take-up.
Technical notes
SOCPEN (the administrative database of the Department of Social Development) records the Foster Child Grants paid out per month according to the number of children and their caregivers (beneficiaries). Figures are taken from the daily report on the last working day in July.
References
1 Meintjes H, Budlender D, Giese S & Johnson L (2003) Children 'in need of care' or in need of cash? Questioning social security provisions for orphans in the context of the South African AIDS pandemic. Joint working paper of the Children's Institute and the Centre for Actuarial Research, University of Cape Town. Available:www.ci.org.za/depts/ci/pubs/pdf/hiv/workp/fostercare/foster_care.pdf
Department of International Development UK Children's Institute