The Community Development Authority (CDA) was founded by a decree of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai in July 2008. CDA is responsible for setting up and developing a framework for social development, and aims to achieve the goals outlined in the Dubai Strategic Plans.
Eligibility Criteria
Embrace Conditions according to federal law No. (1) of 2012 for families and single mother:
- Applicants should be an Emirati Muslim family residing in the UAE.
- Spouses should be at least 25 years old.
- Single mother should be at least 30 years of age.
- Spouses or the single mother should not previously been convicted in a crime against honor or trust.
- The applicants should be free from infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders that affect the child's health and safety, through a report issued by an official medical authority.
- Foster family/single mother should be able to financially support family members and the child
- Foster parents/single mother should lead a respectable lifestyle.
- Foster family should undertake to treat the child well, bring them up in a proper manner, take care of their health and protect them.
- Family/single mother should agree to enable CDA to follow up on the child.
The Community Development Authority (CDA) launched the Embrace service to foster the abandoned children. Believing in the importance of integrating children in the community and the positive role alternative families play in the life of these children.
CDA encourages Emirati families to enroll in the service to embrace a child with a caring and loving family as one of their own.
Fees and Payment
This service is free of charge.
Services Offered To: Adults Children
Languages: Arabic, English
Payment: Sliding Scale Pro-bono
Were You Able To Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.