7 thousand PLN and indexation. The government is announcing big changes for foster families

There are approximately 80,000 people in foster care. children, which means that every hundredth child in Poland goes to a foster family or a care and educational facility – said Aleksandra Gajewska, Deputy Minister of Family. She recalled that work on reforming the system was ongoing.

In the Sejm, Left MPs asked representatives of the Ministry of Family about work on the reform of the foster care system, proposals to support family forms of care and plans to increase the number of places and improve the situation of children placed in care.

Every hundredth child has no biological family

Deputy Minister Gajewska emphasized that there are approximately 80,000 people in foster care. kids.

– This means that every hundredth child in Poland ends up in a foster family or a care and education facility. 15 thousand per year children are sent to foster care. These are children who are victims of violence, neglect and parenting failure of their parents, she said.

She pointed out that the system of working with family no longer responds to contemporary challenges.

– Currently, the foster care system consists of 36.5 thousand people. foster families, nearly a thousand family orphanages and 1,300 care and educational facilities. Despite such great commitment, we are still unable to respond to these needs. We have established crisis teams that work in voivodeships in cooperation with local governments, Gajewska said.

She added that 1,680 minor children were waiting for a place in care. In turn, the number of children who, as a result of working with families, return to their biological parents is only 4.5 thousand.

Higher salaries, internship allowances and a new form of contracts

The deputy head of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy reminded that the ministry had submitted a draft amendment to the Act on family support and the foster care system for consultation. The consultations will last until May 15.

She indicated that the project proposed, among others, modification of the rules for concluding contracts and functioning of professional families by introducing a foster parenting contract.

Foster families deserve stable employment and this new form of contract will guarantee this to parents, she emphasized.

She noted that the project also assumes an increase in minimum wages for professional foster families and those running family orphanages.

– This is a minimum of PLN 6,160 for professional foster families and a minimum of PLN 7,260 for specialist foster families.emergency services and family orphanages – said the deputy minister.

She added that a monthly internship allowance will be introduced, as well as an annual indexation of benefits and remuneration under the Act.

Large Family Card and a doctor without queuing

– We are introducing the possibility of obtaining a Large Family Card for every family, regardless of how many children are under their care. We give children from foster and adoptive families, apart from adoption by a spouse, the right to use access to public health services out of turn, Gajewska mentioned.

After the changes – as she said – the organizer of family foster care will be obliged to provide a place for children to meet their biological family. The provisions regarding the guardian's ability to make decisions regarding the child will also be changed.

– We will now no longer have to wait for the biological parent to consent to diagnosing the child's needs, she said.

Changes for foster families. It's easier to become independent

A new care family formula will also be introduced. Professionally, it will provide care to people who have been in family care, are over 25 years of age and are unable to live independently.and the process of their independence did not take place.

– These people actually remained dependent on their families, and the families did not receive support to help them continue to function. We are introducing an earlier start of the process of independence, not at the age of 18, but from the age of 16, so that young people leaving the care system have real tools to lead an independent life. We are increasing the benefit for continuing education for emancipated pupils to PLN 1,300, she emphasized.

She announced that the project would be submitted to the Standing Committee of the Council of Ministers by the end of the second quarter. (PAP)

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