An Appraisal of Foster Care Practice in Lagos State, South West Nigeria

Foster care represents an important child welfare mechanism through which children who cannot remain in their biological families receive temporary or long-term care within alternative family settings. This study appraises the practice of foster care in Lagos State, focusing on how the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development registers, supervises, and supports foster families. A descriptive survey design is adopted, with data gathered from 80 foster parents, social workers, and children in foster care through structured questionnaires and observation guides. Data are analysed using frequencies and simple percentages. The study finds that foster care placement in Lagos State is characterised by insufficient pre-placement assessment, irregular post-placement supervision, and inadequate financial support for foster families. Children placed in foster care frequently report emotional challenges arising from attachment disruption and uncertainty about permanency. Social workers handling foster care cases manage unmanageably high caseloads, limiting the quality of their supervision. The study recommends developing a formal foster care regulatory framework in Lagos State, training social workers specifically in placement decisions and post-placement support, and providing financial incentives to registered foster families to encourage retention. Keywords: foster care, child welfare, social work supervision, Lagos State, alternative care