How do I become a Temporary Safety Parent?

Give a Child a Family Africa (GCF) firmly believes that children thrive best within the warmth of families rather than in institutional settings (children’s homes), which research shows to have an enduring negative impact lasting a lifetime. Therefore, we are actively in search of individuals with a genuine passion for children’s well-being to join us as temporary safety parents, offering care to children in urgent need of care and protection for durations ranging from an overnight stay to six months. All under the careful supervision of a social worker.
Being a safety parent involves both challenges and stress for you and your family, carrying significant responsibilities. If you are in a stable phase of life, prepared to commit to providing a safe and loving haven for a child coming straight from a traumatic situation and have the resilience it takes, we encourage you to consider this. Our operations are centred in the UGU District, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. If you are interested but reside outside our region, please reach out to your local social work office.

The process of becoming a temporary safety parent with GCF:


1. Interviews: Our temporary safe care team conducts thorough interviews with everyone in your household to understand your family dynamics and ensure that a potential child’s needs will be met.

2. Home visits: We assess your living environment through home visits to ensure it is safe and suitable for a child.

6. Documentation: Various documents are required to ensure the child’s safety, including Name Clearance from your local police station and an outcome of a Form 30 application establishing if your name is on the National Child Protection Register. The mentioned documents are for all members of your household above the age of 18.

3. Approval and database: Once you successfully complete all necessary steps, your family will be considered for inclusion in GCF’s Temporary Safe Care Database.

4. Matching: When a child’s social worker contacts GCF, we carefully consider your family’s profile to find the best match for the specific child. The placement is formalised by a court order.

5. Form 39: The child’s social worker assists you in receiving approval from the Department of Social Development for providing temporary safe care, ensuring the child can legally stay with you.

6. Placement: On short notice, a child may be placed with you based on a court order.

For more information, contact us at fostercare@gcf.org.za or phone 039 317 2761.

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