What is a foster family
In Belarus, as in any other state, there are children whose parents have died, abandoned them, or deprived of parental rights in relation to them.
The foster family is one of the forms of placement of orphans and children left without parental care.
Unlike adoption, where kinship relations arise between the adopter and the adopted child, kinship relations do not arise between foster parents and children brought up in foster families. Moreover, foster parents are obliged to assist children in communicating with natural parents, if any.
Legal basis for a foster family
A foster family arises on the basis of a decision of the education department of the district administration, an agreement on the upbringing of children and an employment contract concluded with foster parents.
Thus, the performance of the functions of a foster parent is similar to the performance of the labor function of raising children, since foster parents do not support children, but receive maintenance from the state.
Selection of candidates for foster parents and the creation of a foster family
The Department of Education and other authorized bodies keep records of persons wishing to become foster parents. To do this, they organize lectures, seminars, training courses dedicated to the upbringing of children.
If the spouses wish to become foster parents, they must submit the following package of documents to the education department of the district administration:
– a copy of the certificate of ownership of the premises;
– information about the state of fire safety of the dwelling;
– a certificate of no criminal record;
– certificate of employment and income;
– information about whether they were deprived of parental rights, whether they were removed from raising children, whether their children were recognized as in need of state protection.
Authorized persons of the Department of Education conduct a survey of the housing conditions of candidates for foster parents, on the basis of which they draw up an act on the compliance of the living quarters with the conditions where children can live and be brought up.
If the candidates meet all the requirements for adoptive parents, then they are sent to training courses, after which two contracts are concluded with them:
– an agreement on the upbringing of children;
– labor contract.
At the same time, the education department makes a decision on the creation of a foster family.
Transfer of children to foster care
One child, as well as two, three or four, but not more than four children, can be transferred to a foster family for upbringing. It must be taken into account that brothers and sisters are transferred to the same family.
For the placement of a child aged 10 years or older in a foster family, his consent is required. If there is no such consent, then transfer to a foster family is not possible.
Rights and obligations of adoptive parents
Adoptive parents must:
– live with foster children;
– provide children with a room for living and learning (a room or part of a room, a separate bed, a workplace and a place to play);
– look after and supervise children;
– assist children in getting an education;
– comply with all necessary medical prescriptions.
Foster parents should take care of the physical and spiritual development of children.
Foster parents have the right to choose a pre-school institution and an institution of general education and submit documents for enrolling foster children in these institutions.
It is important to note that foster parents receive monthly funds from the state for the maintenance of children. Education departments control the spending of funds received by foster parents.
