Family happiness with obstacles: This is how foster parenting becomes an adventure!

Family happiness with obstacles: This is how foster parenting becomes an adventure!

Luisa and Michael, a couple from the region, began a very special journey with the decision to take in a foster child. Not only are they the proud parents of four children of their own, but they have also experienced that becoming a foster parent is a true calling. Inspired by a role model in their neighborhood, they went through an application process that included an information weekend and a home visit from the district youth welfare office. For both of them, the decision to take in a foster child was a matter of the heart and their own children were included in the decision from the start.

After half a year of waiting, the phone finally rang and they received a call for a week-old boy who they picked up two days later. “The beginning was stressful,” admits Luisa. “I was more anxious than with my own children, but I quickly found my rhythm.” Despite occasional jealousy between the siblings, which is completely normal, dealing with the foster child goes better than expected. The boy had less stressful experiences as a baby, and so the new family members were able to be integrated relatively quickly.

The situation of foster families

There are currently 91 foster families living in the district, with many foster parents leaving the service for reasons of age. Despite the successful placement of 95% of the foster children, the situation is becoming increasingly critical. Just one and a half years after their first admission, Luisa and Michael received a request for another foster child. "We know how important love and empathy are. Without a warm home, we can't really help the children," emphasizes Luisa.

Contact with the foster children's birth parents is regulated by the authorities or judges, and Luisa and Michael attach great importance to including the birth parents in the integration process. The uncertainty about how long the foster children would stay was initially stressful, but these worries have subsided over time. There are currently no repatriation plans for the two foster children.

Financial support for foster families

In order to support families in this responsible role, there are various state benefits that foster parents can take advantage of. The Familienportal.de provides information about important aspects such as advice and support from the youth welfare office, which is available before and during care. Foster parents usually conclude a written foster contract that is intended to ensure the well-being of the foster child. The care allowance, which ranges between 700 and 900 euros per month, depends on the age and needs of the child and helps to cover everyday costs such as food, clothing and leisure activities.

There will be an increase in foster care allowance in 2024, the first since 2017. These adjustments are intended to reduce the financial burden on foster families and optimize the care of children. From January 2024, the care allowance will be increased automatically, and a further adjustment of 4.5 percent is planned for 2025. Hiskol has published an overview of new rates and regulations that are important for foster families.

In summary, it shows that the decision to take in foster children enriches not only the lives of the children, but also those of the parents. Luisa and Michael experience many beautiful moments with their foster children and find the experience overall positive. Your commitment is a call to other families to also take this step and offer love and security for children in need.