Public Perception of Cash Transfer to Older Adults Taking Care of Foster Children in an Informal Child Fostering Arrangement

In Nigeria, the informal fostering of children by older adults, particularly grandparents, is a common practice. These older adults often step in to care for their grandchildren or other children in their extended family, providing a vital safety net for vulnerable children. However, the challenges faced by these informal kinship carers, such as financial strain and a lack of support, are significant.This study aims at finding out the public perception of cash transfers to older adults taking care of foster children in an informal fostering arrangement. It employed a mixed method of research by conducting an in-depth interview (IDI) and distributing a questionnaire. The researcher made use of 10 participants for the IDI who are older adults taking care of foster children and 5 respondents for the quantitative study, which comprised older adults who are not taking care of foster children. The findings of this study show that the majority of the respondents (about 80%) have not benefited from cash transfer programs. The findings also show that the majority of the respondents are aware of social work practitioners and their roles with regards to foster care, as they recommend that workers should engage in enlightening the public on the available support services that have been put in place to cater for foster children across the nation, linking foster care homes and families to cash transfer programs, liaising with the government to create policies that ensure the wellness of foster children, and ensuring child welfare to promote awareness.