| (1) | A children's court may, despite the provisions of section 159(1)(a) regarding the duration of a court order, after a child has been in foster care with a person other than a family member for more than two years and after having considered the need for creating stability in the child's life, order that— |
| (a) | no further social worker supervision is required for that placement; |
| (b) | no further social worker reports are required in respect of that placement; and |
| (c) | the foster care placement subsists until the child turns 18 years, unless otherwise directed. |
| (1A) | Despite the provisions of subsection (1), a children’s court may deem it necessary to order further supervision services as contemplated in section 65(2)(a)(ii). |
[Section 186(1A) inserted by section 14(a) of the Children's Amendment Act, 2022, Notice No. 1543, GG47828, dated 5 January 2023 - effective 8 November 2023 per Proclamation 142, GG49615 dated 8 November 2023]
| (2) | A children’s court may, despite the provisions of section 159(1)(a) regarding the duration of a court order and after having considered the need for creating stability in the child’s life, place a child in foster care with a family member and order that the foster care placement subsists until the child turns 18 years,, if— |
[Words preceding section 186(2)(a) substituted by section 14(b) of the Children's Amendment Act, 2022, Notice No. 1543, GG47828, dated 5 January 2023 - effective 8 November 2023 per Proclamation 142, GG49615 dated 8 November 2023]
| (a) | the child has been abandoned by the biological parents; or |
| (b) | the child's biological parents are deceased; or |
| (c) | there is for any other reason no purpose in attempting reunification between the child and the child's biological parents; and |
| (d) | it is in the best interest of the child. |
| (3) | Despite the provisions of subsections (1) and (2), a social service practitioner must visit a child in foster care at least annually to monitor and evaluate the placement. |
[Section 186(3) substituted by section 14(c) of the Children's Amendment Act, 2022, Notice No. 1543, GG47828, dated 5 January 2023 - effective 8 November 2023 per Proclamation 142, GG49615 dated 8 November 2023]
| (4) | This section does not apply to a cluster foster care scheme contemplated in section 183. |
[Section 186(4) inserted by section 14(d) of the Children's Amendment Act, 2022, Notice No. 1543, GG47828, dated 5 January 2023 - effective 8 November 2023 per Proclamation 142, GG49615 dated 8 November 2023]
