Children's (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 937).

The Act amends several sections of the Children's Act, 1998; these include meaning of care and protection (18), a temporary place of safety for the child during Department investigation (19) and during Family Tribunal’s orders (20). Amendments are also made to parentage (40) and the duty of maintaining a child is not anymore limited to “basic education”. Section 112, 123 and 124 are also amended.
Part IV of the Children’s Act 1998 is entirely replaced by “Part IV - Foster-Care and Adoption”; this new section lists some guiding principles and recognises that the financial and material poverty of a family shall not be a justification for placing or receiving a child in alternative care, but shall be seen as a signal to provide appropriate support to the family. The new Part also provides for the establishment of a Foster-Care Placement Committee under each region with the following functions: (a) recommend the suitability of an eligible foster-parent to foster a child; (b) determine the eligibility of a child to be placed in fostercare; (c) match and place a child with a suitable foster-parent; (d) terminate foster -care placement; (e) recommend a child in foster-care for adoption; and (f) address issues related to the foster-care placemen. The Act also rules as well that the Department shall have a Foster-Care Services Unit at the national level, a Foster-Care Fund and Register. New adoption restrictions, conditions and increased child protection is made under this new Part and it is established a Central Adoption Authority that has as objects and functions: (a) to provide for the conduct of all adoptions in the country in a manner that promotes the well being and best interest of the child; and (b) to support efficient and accountable practice in the delivery of adoption services in accordance with this Act and relevant laws on adoption including the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, 1993.