Foster families
In foster families, parents undertake to care for children over a longer or shorter period, depending on the circumstances of the children.
Generally, the reasons for children being placed in foster care are: the social circumstances of the parents; poor financial situation; illness; or any form of neglect.
There are three kinds of foster care:
temporary foster care,
financially supported foster care,
permanent foster care.
Child-welfare committees may by law take over the custody or the care of a child with the parents' consent.
Child-welfare committees arrange the selection of foster parents for children, and assist the foster parents and prepare them for the role. Information and advice can also be obtained from the Government Agency for Child Protection.
If a child is younger than 8 years at the time of permanent fostering, an entitlement to maternal/paternal leave and parental leave forms when the child enters the home.
Parents must notify the child-welfare committee when a child is placed with other people and the stay is expected to last more than six months. If a child is staying with its relatives, no notification need be made of this arrangement, unless the stay lasts for one year or longer.
Links of interest
Laws and regulations
Service provider
The National Agency for Children and Families