Shortage of foster families for siblings who want to stay together

Shortage of foster families for siblings who want to stay together

There are too few foster families in Flanders that are willing or able to care for children who are closely related. That is what Foster Care Flanders says. In April, a bill was approved in our country, allowing, for example, brothers or sisters to stay together after the divorce of their parents. But it appears that childcare with a foster family is more difficult to organize for children who want to stay together.

Joppe Matyn

Fri 20 Aug 07:16

Pleegzorg Vlaanderen does not have figures about the shortage of foster families who want to take in children who are each other's brother or sister. "But we do see, for example, that in the province of Limburg there are currently six files where no shelter can be found for children who want to stay together," says Jan Brocatus of Pleegzorg Vlaanderen in "The morning" on Radio 1. "And we can. state that the situation is similar in every province.

"It is always better if brothers and sisters can grow up together. But unfortunately it is not always easy"

In April, a bill was approved in our country, allowing, for example, brothers or sisters to stay together after the divorce of their parents. "Being able to stay together has positive effects," says Brocatus. "For example, it has an impact on school results."

"We notice that many foster families are willing to take in one child, and later, for example, a brother or sister who is staying in a facility. But that happens step by step. The willingness to immediately take care of, for example, a brother and a sister is less big." Foster care therefore calls on candidate foster parents who want to take in siblings to come forward.