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Description
Through working with the biological parents of children placed in foster care, we strive to empower this disadvantaged group to reintegrate into society, defend their parental rights and actively promote their legitimate interests. It includes supporting the competencies of foster children so that they can actively defend their needs, opinions and wishes. Attention is also paid to foster parents in order to increase their competencies in relation to the topic of the child''s biological family. We will also focus on strengthening the organization''s internal capacities through strategic planning.
Many foster parents perceive the obligation to make contact between the children and their biological parents as the most difficult task of foster care. A questionnaire survey we conducted in 2021 showed that 35 % of foster parents (total of 93) need help with the coordination of children''s contacts with biological parents.
Only sporadically does the legislation help the parents whose child has been placed in foster care. Although the foster parent has a legal obligation to maintain and deepen the contact of the entrusted child with the parents, the practice in reality is problematic. Biological parents remain in a weakened position. Without targeted support, they do not have the strength to work on the relationship with their children.
The aim of the project is:
-to prepare 17 biological parents for a safe and continuous contact with the child and building a mutual relationship
-to have 40 children be able to communicate their wishes and needs related to biological parents adequately to their age
-to have 30 foster parents understand the importance of contact between children and their biological parents
-the existence of a strategic plan involving all 15 internal employees.
Summary of project results
During the implementation of the project, three online meetings were held with the foreign partner. The meetings provided us information about the foster care system in Norway, mutual sharing of experiences, and discussions on professional practices in each country (Norway, Czech Republic). Due to information about foster care policy in Norway, we realized the significance of the perspective from which we view foster care. In Norway, the current goal of care is "reunion," meaning the return of the child to the biological family. Foster parents are always informed about this goal, and the courts also pay considerable attention to this aspect. Biological parents receive help and support immediately when the child is taken away, with the aim of successful restoration of the biological family. The courts always determine the intensity of contact between the child and the biological parent. However, we also mentioned shortcomings of the approach, such as the goal (reunion) sometimes does not consider the child''s opinions. Inspiration also comes from, for example, Family Centers, which provide a stay of 3-6 months to biological families to teach them parenting skills.
Through working with the biological parents of children placed in foster care, we strived to empower this disadvantaged group to reintegrate into society, defend their parental rights and actively promote their legitimate interests. It included supporting the competencies of foster children so that they can actively defend their needs, opinions and wishes. Attention was also paid to foster parents in order to increase their competencies in relation to the topic of the child''s biological family.
Many foster parents perceive the obligation to make contact between the children and their biological parents as the most difficult task of foster care. A questionnaire survey we conducted in 2021 showed that 35 % of foster parents (total of 93) need help with the coordination of children''s contacts with biological parents.
Only sporadically does the legislation help the parents whose child has been placed in foster care. Although the foster parent has a legal obligation to maintain and deepen the contact of the entrusted child with the parents, the practice in reality is problematic. Biological parents remain in a weakened position. Without targeted support, they do not have the strength to work on the relationship with their children.
The challenge was also to develop processes inside the organisation in order to provide quality services and be a competitive organisation.
Within the framework of increasing the capacity and development of the organization, 4 strategic planning meetings took place in the scope of 20 hours. In addition to redefining the vision, mission and values of the organization, strategic goals and objectives for the period 2024-2026 were named and the organization is gradually focusing on them.
An organization-wide staff meeting was held in September 2023. The intention was also to link the cooperation of the different services and to strengthen the motivation of the staff in the sense of a strong united team.
Direct work with the biological parents of children placed in foster care – during the project, support was provided to 18 biological parents and 2 siblings of children placed in foster care, allowing them to meet with their children/siblings through assisted or other contacts (if not contrary to the child''s interests) to strengthen, maintain, or restore mutual relationships and bonds. We have managed to define several pillars of coordinating child-parent contact, which significantly impact the quality of this contact. These are: the time spent preparing the parent for the contact, work on the quality of the mutual relationship between the foster parent and the biological parent, awareness of the different preparation paces of the contact participants, and persistent reflection on the work within the team focusing on the neutrality of the workers.
Preparation and implementation of an educational weekend stay for foster parents and entrusted children – an educational module includes lectures, consultations, interactive activities, and sharing aimed at increasing foster parents'' competencies regarding the biological family of the children and supporting children in their rights. As part of the project, two educational weekend stays were held.
Impact measurement - the project developed impact measurement tools and produced an impact measurement report as an integral part of the project.
Summary of bilateral results
The project partnership consisted of 3 online meetings with a partner organisation dedicated to foster care in Norway. The aim was mainly to learn about the foster care system in Norway, the status of foster families and biological parents there. We were also interested in the form of support provided to the target groups. This cooperation was the first foreign cooperation for our organisation. The partnership within the project brought new impulses in our view of foster care. It was an inspiration and motivation for the team accompanying the foster families. There was an exchange of experience and know-how in the field of foster parents'' preparation, support and support of biological parents. We realized that it is desirable to strive for a new paradigm, a different culture in the field of foster care.We have gained motivation for further work - i.e. to focus on selected areas that are not treated in the Czech Republic. For example:insufficient preparation of kinship foster carers for child careinsufficient care support for biological parents who have been removed from their childrensystemically, foster care is not perceived as an institution for a temporary period, although it should be, etc.Getting to know each other''s foster care system in each country.Discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of each system in order to eliminate the negativesInspiring and motivating the team through new suggestionsPlans to continue the bilateral cooperation.The partnership cooperation within our project has achieved its stated objectives. Also, in view of the fact that our cooperating foreign colleague is no longer working in the partner organisation and the cooperation with other staff has not been developed, we have decided not to continue this particular bilateral cooperation at the moment.At the same time, we would like to explore other foster care services and practices in different countries so that we can continue to improve our services.