The National Agency for Children and Families (BOFS) keeps up-to-date information about foster parents, both regarding competence and also the experience that is gained from foster parents through accommodation in their homes, e.g. through reports about foster care and in tips from child protection workers.

Description of the process

The child protection services submit an application for foster care to BOFS. The application contains the specific needs of the child, what is expected of the foster parents, and what is desired in the child's new environment, e.g. possibilities for schooling and leisure activities. Here you can find instructions on how to fill them out.

BOFS experts review applications and find suitable foster homes with regard to the needs and interests of the child. A suitable foster home is assessed based on information in the application and communication with the child protection officer who is in charge of the child's case. If the requested payment by the state is due to a significant behavioral problem of the child, it is assessed separately by the foster care team's experts.

When the desired foster home has been found, the foster care team specialist contacts the foster parents in order to check the situation in the home, and whether those foster parents can take on a foster child with the needs stated in the application for foster care. Without identifying the child, foster parents are given information about:

• Age and gender of child

• Duration of habitation

• Needs for daily care and support

• Key information on the health and behavior of the child

• Needs for healthcare

• School and learning needs

• Reasons for the placement of the child

• The child’s interests and strengths

• The main objectives of the foster care

A notification about foster parents who are ready to receive the child is sent to the child protection services. In the notice, experts from the foster care team have compiled information about foster parents, the current status of foster homes and whether all the needs and wishes of the child can be met.

The child protection service member considers the notification and contacts the relevant foster parents as soon as possible. The conversation between the child protection workers and foster parents is considered as part of preparation for the measure, as soon as the child protection workers have assessed whether the foster home is considered a desirable place for the child to live.

All who work in child protection shall take into consideration the best interests of the child, parents and others with whom the child has a relationship. Foster parents are also bound to confidentiality regarding information they receive from child protection services. Foster parents are required to sign a confidentiality oath when a decision has been made on foster care. During discussion between child protection staff and the foster parents, the child's personal interests and other matters that are considered relevant with regard to the objectives of foster care are brought up. They may include:

• Family circumstances and child’s parenting history

• Trauma issues

• Parents’ problems and their attitude towards foster care

• Accurate health history, including medication and treatment

• Medical evaluations currently available and in the process of being developed

• Further information about the child's interests, leisure and strengths

• Social and educational status of the child

• Support and other aspects concerning secure upbringing

• The parts of the foster care program that concern foster parents

• Other information that will be included in the foster contract

• Other things that matter for the success of the foster care

The child protection case officer will inform BOFS as soon as possible if the foster home indicated has been chosen, but it is the decision of the child protection services whether the child will be housed at the foster home. If the child protection service employee wants further information before a decision is made, it is possible to request an opinion on the competence of foster parents.

The child protection services send a notification of the conclusion of a foster contract to BOFS. In the case of a foster child for whom the state participates in payments because of a significant behavioral problem, a draft of the foster contract must be sent to BOFS for approval before the foster contract is signed and re-submitted to BOFS. This also applies to the extension of an foster contract.