Foster children
A foster child is a child who does not live in his original family, but in another family, his foster family.
Foster children come into a foster family from very different backgrounds:
- Parents are unable to care for their children due to death, serious illness or accident
- Parents are in 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 to their children
Process flow
First of all, the competent body examines the possibility of supporting the family with the aim of being able to take care of the child again. These so-called family-supporting measures (e.g. social-educational family support) can also be offered over a longer period of time and are often successful precisely when external causes were responsible for the family crisis.
If the situation for the children or the child does not improve due to the outpatient help, the search for a suitable foster family may be suitable for averting a child's well-being. Especially for younger children who can no longer live with their parents, the foster family is in most cases the appropriate help.
If a child has to be taken directly and quickly from his family and taken "in care" for protection, he or she will first find accommodation in a nursing home or a home group. If the parents do not agree with the necessary help, the competent authority for the protection of the child must intervene in 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 every child who can no longer live in their own family, it is checked whether this is possible in a foster family. These are questions such as:
- Can it engage with people, can it tolerate closeness, does it want to live in a family?
- Will a return to the family of origin be unlikely?
- What are the needs of the child?
- Are there foster families that fit this child?
Who should I contact?
The responsibility lies with the district and the county-free city.
Further detailed information on the various basic and practical questions concerning the topic of "caring child" in Lower Saxony and Germany is also provided by PFAD-Niedersachsen e.V.
Which documents are required?
Documents may be required. Please contact the appropriate body.
What are the fees?
There are no charges.
What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?
Deadlines may have to be observed. Please contact the appropriate body.
Author
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
The text was automatically translated based on the German content.
