As is known, children partially or completely deprived of parental care are directed by the family court to care and education facilities or foster families.
The most appropriate form of care for a child in such situations is a foster family. However, it is increasingly apparent that foster families related to the child—for example, grandparents, aunts and uncles, or siblings—do not adequately fulfil their care and educational function toward the children placed with them. Therefore, the court asks the Centre to identify unrelated foster families qualified to provide foster care.
There are three families in Powiat Bolesławiecki prepared to fulfil this role, but the needs in this area are much greater.
Currently, four children are waiting to be placed with unrelated foster families. If none are available, the children will be placed in care and education facilities.
A foster family may be formed by both a married couple and single people who are not married, provided they meet the following conditions:
- they have suitable housing conditions
- they have a permanent source of income and a permanent place of residence in the territory of the Republic of Poland
- they enjoy full civil and civic rights
- they have not been deprived of parental authority and are not restricted in or suspended from exercising parental authority
- they have a medical certificate confirming good health
- guaranteeing that they can care for a child
- they fulfil their obligation to provide for a close relative or another person when such an obligation arises by law or court ruling,
- they do not suffer from an illness preventing proper care of a child.
Candidates meeting the above conditions will be referred by the Centre to the Adoption and Care Centre for training for foster families. After completing the training and obtaining a qualification certificate, the foster family will be presented to the court, which will issue a decision placing the child with that family.
From the moment a child is accepted by a foster family, the family is entitled to monthly financial assistance to partially cover the child’s maintenance costs. The assistance is provided from the budget of Powiat Bolesławiecki. It amounts to between PLN 648.40 and PLN 1,296.80 and depends on the child’s age, health condition, and income.
People interested in providing foster care who meet the above conditions are asked to submit applications to the Powiat Family Support Centre in Bolesławiec at 9 Zwycięstwa Street, room 36, or to call (0-75) 735 30 50.