The government will today announce a new programme for children in state care that will allow foster families to effectively adopt children.Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said the difference between adoption and Home for Life unveiled today was
The government will today announce a new programme for children in state care that will allow foster families to effectively adopt children.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett said the difference between adoption and Home for Life unveiled today was the legal definition.
"It is technically the same (as adoption)," she told TVNZ's Breakfast programme.
People could still progress on to adoption if they chose.
"There's 630 children at the moment who have been in state care for more than four and a half years –that's sad.
"That means they don't have a home, they don't have people who they know they're staying with for the rest of their lives."
The children need stability and there were people who wanted to look after them but the government had been making it difficult, Ms Bennett said.
There were about 5000 in state care at any time, including those in youth justice facilities.
Currently there were about 4300 children in foster care.
"If they're in state care it means they've come from a pretty troubled background, we don't take them without that and, as well as we try and do, stability, consistency, a home is what these children need," Ms Bennett said.
People can opt into Home for Life from October 1.
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