Summer Festival for Foster Families: A Look at Their Irreplaceable Role!

Summer Festival for Foster Families: A Look at Their Irreplaceable Role!

The summer festival at the Kolpinghütte was a lively expression of the community in the Ostalbkreis, where many foster families and their children came together last weekend. This festive gathering highlighted the essential role that foster families play for 250 children in the Ostalbkreis. Jutta Funk, head of the youth and family division, used this opportunity to make it clear how important stable relationships with adults are for children's trust in the world. Often the life circumstances of the biological parents, such as illness, addiction or separation, bring the kids into such families where they can get a new chance for healthy development.

According to current figures, 180 families are registered as foster families in the Ostalbkreis. These families have the opportunity to offer both short-term care and on-call care. Short-term care offers children a temporary haven until a long-term solution is found. The youth welfare office plays an important role here by checking the living conditions of the foster parents before a child is placed. In addition, the foster parents are prepared for the responsibilities in an individual process and are allowed to get to know the child and its biological parents before handing them over.

Important requirements for foster parents

To be considered as foster parents, couples and families must meet certain requirements. This includes experience and joy in dealing with children, a lot of empathy, assertiveness and sufficient time and energy for the foster child. An openness to contact with the family of origin and a willingness to cooperate with the youth welfare office are also essential. The Youth Welfare Office’s “Foster Child Service” always encourages applications and offers comprehensive support and advice.

In addition to individual discussions in the applicant's household, preparatory seminars entitled “Courage to Care” are regularly offered. These consist of four evenings and are intended to prepare the future foster parents for their task. Even after the placement, foster parents can look forward to a lively exchange, various training opportunities and regular information evenings, which are announced in the local press.

The real challenge

Parents who choose to care for a child know that the challenge these children bring cannot be underestimated. Their life stories are often marked by difficulties, which means that foster families have to show a lot of patience and understanding. For many of these children who currently live in one of the five children's homes in the Ostalb district, the provision of a loving foster family can make all the difference. There are currently around 132 children and young people living in such facilities, and the youth welfare office is constantly looking for new foster families.

The summer festival not only raised awareness of the importance of foster care, but also strengthened the community. The youth welfare office and everyone involved agree that any support, be it through new foster parents or through solidarity from society, contributes to improving the living situation of these children. If you are interested in making a contribution, you can find further information on Gmünder Tagespost and on the website of Ostalbkreis.