Being foster parents
What does it mean to be a foster parent?
Foster parents take on a special and responsible task: they take in children who, for various reasons, are temporarily or permanently unable to live with their biological parents. Foster parents offer these children a safe place where they can calm down, build trust and develop. It's not just about providing care and support - it's about relationships, affection, patience and understanding.
Seminars and exchange for foster parents
Foster parents often face particular challenges - emotional, legal, educational or family-related. In order to strengthen them in their important task, the City Youth Welfare Office regularly offers seminars and exchange opportunities.
The events are led by an experienced external psychologist who is familiar with the various facets of the fostering relationship and takes a practical approach. The topics are varied and orientated towards the needs and questions of foster families. These include, for example
- Attachment and relationship with the foster child
- Dealing with trauma and conspicuous behaviour
- Cooperation with the family of origin
- Setting boundaries and providing support
- Self-care in everyday foster care
In addition to professional input, the focus is also on the exchange between foster parents. In an atmosphere of trust, experiences can be shared, specific situations addressed and solutions developed together. Many foster parents find this exchange in particular a valuable relief - because here they meet people who have similar experiences.
The seminars offer
- in-depth knowledge through professional support
- Practical support for everyday life
- Space for questions and personal concerns
- Strengthening through a supportive network
Foster parents are not alone and they do not have to know or cope with everything on their own. The seminars are an important contribution to the quality of care and to their own stability in everyday life.
Biographical work and cooperation with the family of origin
Biography work helps foster children to categorise their origins, experiences and feelings in order to better understand their own lives and develop a stable personality. The foster parents have the task of working this out with the child.
Another component is co-operation with the family of origin. Even if the child lives with a foster family, the biological parents remain a part of their identity. Respectful, clear and child-centred cooperation is important for this. Foster parents promote contact, help the child to deal with conflicting feelings and work together with the youth welfare office and the biological parents without losing their own values or boundaries. Contact with the family of origin is often accompanied by a pedagogical specialist, especially at the beginning.
Cooperation with the Youth Welfare Office
Foster parents do not have to have an answer to everything. You are entitled to counselling and will be supported from the outset by the staff of the Hof City Youth Welfare Office's foster child service. You have a fixed contact person for questions relating to the foster child and all associated aspects.
We support you in working with the parents of your foster child, in everyday decisions and in crisis and conflict situations.
Difficult and stressful situations are inevitable, even if you have prepared yourself well for this task.
As a foster parent, you provide educational support in accordance with §33 SBG VIII. We will support you in preparing for the regular help planning meetings at the youth welfare office and in preparing the report you are required to draw up. We would like to work with you on a basis of trust in order to provide you with the best possible support in living together with your foster child.
Forms of care
As diverse as the children themselves
Not every fostering relationship is the same. Children have different needs and foster parents also have different requirements. This is why there are various forms of fostering that differ in terms of duration, objectives and requirements.
Here is an overview:
Full-time care
The most common form of fostering. The child lives in the foster family permanently or for a longer period of time. The aim is to provide the child with a stable home for as long as they are unable to live with their biological parents. In some cases, a return to the family of origin is planned, in others the child remains in the foster family until they reach the age of majority.
Suitable for: People with long-term prospects, time and emotional stability.
On-call foster care
This is a temporary placement, e.g. after an acute threat to a child's welfare or when it needs to be clarified where a child should live permanently. The foster family is available on a short-term basis and provides the child with protection and care during a transitional period. The stay lasts from a few days to several weeks.
Suitable for: People with flexibility, stability in everyday life and the ability to adapt well to new children - also with the willingness to let go.
Kinship care
When relatives - such as grandparents, aunts, uncles or adult siblings - take in a child from the family, this is known as kinship care. The children remain in their familiar family environment, which often has a stabilising effect. Here too, an assessment and support is provided by the foster care service.
Suitable for: Family members who are willing to take on responsibility - often in difficult situations. A good ability to reflect should be present in order to be able to deal well with role conflicts and disputes within the family.
Each form of care has its own special features, but they all have one thing in common:
They give a child protection, support and the chance of a new beginning.
