Foster children
A foster child is a child who does not live in his family of origin, but in another family, his foster family.
Foster children come into a foster family with very different backgrounds:
- Parents can no longer care for their children due to death, serious illness or accident
- Parents get into a serious crisis due to external circumstances such as unemployment or separation and divorce
- Parents are overwhelmed with everyday life, are too busy with themselves and cannot be reliable parents for their children
Process flow
First of all, the competent authority examines support options for the family with the aim of being able to take care of the child again. These so-called family support measures (e.g. socio-educational family assistance) can also be offered over a longer period of time and are often successful when external causes were responsible for the family crisis.
If the situation for the children or the child does not improve as a result of the outpatient assistance, the search for a suitable foster family may be suitable to avert a child endangerment. Especially for younger children who can no longer live with their parents, the foster family is the appropriate help in most cases.
If a child has to be taken directly and quickly from his family and taken "into care" for his protection, he or she first finds accommodation in an on-call foster home or a home group. If the parents do not agree with the necessary assistance, the competent authority for the protection of the child must contact the family court. This can then arrange for the child to be placed in a foster family.
Children have a right to grow up in a family. Therefore, for each child who can no longer live in their own family, it is checked whether this is possible in a foster family. This involves questions such as:
- Can it get involved with people, can it tolerate closeness, does it want to live in a family?
- Will the return to the family of origin be unlikely?
- What needs does the child have?
- Are there foster families that suit this child?
Who should I contact?
The responsibility lies with the district and the district-free city.
Further detailed information on the various fundamental and practical questions around the topic of "foster child" in Lower Saxony and in Germany is also available from PFAD-Niedersachsen e.V.
Information on foster children on the website of PFAD-Niedersachsen e.V.
Which documents are required?
Documents may be required. Please contact the competent authority.
What are the fees?
There are no fees.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
Deadlines may have to be observed. Please contact the competent authority.
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
