Caring for children in foster families in the red zone
The viewers of the last police call from Rostock received the most astonishing information in the credits: 850 children and young people from Germany are currently being housed in foster families abroad. Is that correct?
Berlin. More than seven million viewers watched the Rostock “Polizeiruf 110” on Sunday. The investigators' new case entitled "Child Welfare" was a tough one: it involved the murder of a private children's home operator and the placement of German foster children in EU countries such as Poland.
The astonishing information in the credits: 850 children and young people from Germany are currently being housed in foster families abroad.
Is that correct?
The Federal Ministry for Family Affairs confirms this number. “Almost fewer than 900 children and young people are currently staying with foster families abroad,” said a spokesman for the editorial network Germany (RND). “In 2017, 690 educational aids were carried out abroad. In 218 cases, educational assistance was started abroad in 2017.”
How many children are in foster care?
In total, according to the Federal Association of Foster and Adoptive Families (Pfad), almost 90,000 children are currently housed in foster families - and the trend is rising. The number of foster children is growing by around 2 to 3 percent every year, path advisor Carmen Thiele told the RND.
When are children placed in foster care?
Family judges can completely or partially withdraw parental responsibility from parents for reasons of caring for the children. This happened in 2017, the year the most current figures come from, nationwide in a total of 16,500 cases, particularly frequently in North Rhine-Westphalia (4,200 cases) and Bavaria (1,800).
The children are then placed in the care of municipal youth welfare offices, which in turn work with sponsoring associations that look after the children in their own facilities or through foster parents.
Are German children normal in foster families abroad?
In principle, educational assistance must be provided domestically, says the spokesman for the Ministry of Family Affairs. “The intensive educational assistance abroad is an exception to the standard youth welfare system and is granted and carried out in order to address a particular crisis situation in which the young person finds themselves. In particularly difficult cases, they can be a useful and necessary help in order to reach young people in special situations educationally.”
Are there other reasons too?
Yes, says Carmen Thiele from the Federal Association of Foster and Adoptive Parents. “The almost 900 cases also include foster families who move to a neighboring EU country with their foster child for job reasons.” This mostly affects France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland, Austria and the Czech Republic. “If the responsible youth welfare office is easy to reach, that can be very useful,” says Thiele.
And how is that going?
German courts can place children in other EU countries after a consultation process, according to a fact sheet from the Federal Office of Justice. The responsible authorities abroad must agree to this. This also applies to youth welfare services provided (e.g. help with education). These procedures can also be carried out later - in all but three countries - if the child is already abroad.
What are the requirements?
The qualifications of the supervisors that apply in Germany must be guaranteed contractually. The providers must guarantee that they comply with the legal regulations of the country of residence and cooperate with the authorities of the country of residence and the German representations abroad.
What is critical about the practice abroad?
In reality, there have only been a few cases in which private providers make money from problem young people who have been deported abroad, as described in the police call, says path officer Thiele. “But the danger increases due to the growing number of foster children and the shortage of staff in the controlling youth welfare offices,” explains the expert.
It is legally required that contact takes place once a month between guardians - youth welfare offices, sponsoring associations or individuals - and the child or young person. “Everywhere we are desperately looking for experts who can monitor things,” says Thiele. “Personnel have been working in the red zone for a long time.”
Are there any changes planned?
The accommodation of children and young people abroad is also the subject of the reform of the Social Security Code (SGB VIII), which is currently being prepared. In the coalition agreement, the CDU/CSU and SPD agreed to further develop child and youth welfare on the basis of the Child and Youth Strengthening Act (KJSG) and to improve child protection and support for families.
In advance of the planned legislative initiative, a dialogue was started with actors from science and practice in child and youth welfare as well as assistance for the disabled and the states and municipalities.
Here you will find more information
By Thoralf Cleven/RND