STREET CHILDREN: EXPLORING FOSTER CARE SERVICE OF BETHANY CHRISTIAN SERVICES IN ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study tries to show the overall fostering process in the case of Bethany Christian Services. The objectives of this research were broken down into specific research questions (RQs), which focus on the foster families and the overall process of the organization. The study targeted a total of 28 respondents. 28 of them were the foster families in the year 2020, and the other was a person representing the organization. A questioner was given for the foster families with only 20 response and the interview was done with the representative assigned from the organization. This contributed to 71.4% response rate. To accomplish the objectives, the study employed qualitative research approaches, descriptive and exploratory research design. Both primary and secondary data types were used to collect data. This study tried to see the gap in different interventions that has been introduced to reduce the number of street children and how foster care can be the next best step in child welfare. In conclusion the study supports foster care as prevention before children goes on the street. The study also does not imply that fostering is a final solution as that will also have another challenge that comes with it; it rather offers an alternative view of solution and a new policy framework that may need to be developed that can involve the citizens to participate and share responsibility with the government officially.