What Is Foster Care?
Foster care is a protection measure that is taken when a child, due to the circumstances, cannot be contained in the corresponding family environment. It basically consists of a temporary or permanent adoption in a foster family.
Unlike permanent or full adoption, in foster care the child can maintain the union with his biological family. The reason is that its main function is to provide the child with a substitute family nucleus that meets the ideal conditions for their development, but without completely separating them from their biological family.
In the different countries, the different state agencies are in charge of regulating and controlling the foster care processes. This measure is used as a way to contain children in situations of vulnerability without resorting to institutionalizing them, but rather maintaining their upbringing in a family environment.
What task does the host family fulfill?
The duty of these senior managers is to comply with the obligations that the upbringing of a child entails. This includes their academic training, their instruction in values and, which is very important in these cases, emotional support.
In addition, the State has the responsibility to provide the host family with financial assistance. Its purpose is none other than to allow and guarantee that the child has all the necessary resources for their healthy development; Aspects such as food, footwear and materials for their education are included.
Types of foster care
The classification of foster care can be given according to different factors. In the first place, foster care can take place in an extended family, that is, when it uses biological relatives other than the parents, or in an alien family. In the latter case, people who are not from the family nucleus are used.
On the other hand, according to the type of intervention, its purpose and duration, the following foster care models differ:
- Temporary: it is of a transitory nature; the child remains with the surrogate family until the situation for which he was separated from his biological parents is resolved.
- Definitive: in these cases, it is considered that the return of the child to his original family is not possible in the short or long term.
- Preadoptive: when the circumstances exist for the adoption of the minor to take place, preadoptive foster care can occur. It occurs while the judge analyzes the adoption demand, or as a trial period prior to it.
Likewise, foster care can be formalized administratively, which is when the biological parents and the state agency agree on the conditions of the relationship; or judicial, that is, when a judge makes the decision to specify this measure.
In which cases is foster care used?
Foster care is not, in most cases, an adoption process. Rather, it is a transitional stage, in which the boy is contained until the conditions of stability that allow him to return home are re-established.
Some cases in which this type of foster care may be necessary are the following:
- A situation of helplessness or risk for the minor.
- Inability of his parents to take care of him, due to disability, serious illnesses or addictions.
- Failures of adults in the education of their children, especially related to the lack of containment, affection, attention and the offer of conditions worthy of development.
- Abandonment or death of the child’s parents or guardians.
Those who embark on this loving act of solidarity are not alone. There are many associations that are dedicated to providing support, containment, and other assistance to foster parents. Therefore, these people can feel that they really have support before a company as important as the one they carry out.
This support not only comes from the public sphere, but also from other people who go through or were in the same situation. The act of solidarity and love that they carry out deserves all the support that can be offered.
