Procedure of the application process

Would you like to give a child or young person a loving new home and are thinking about becoming a foster parent? In this article, you will learn step by step how the application process for foster parents works - from the initial contact with a placement agency to the preparation period and the advice, guidance and support from qualified professionals. Explained clearly and with a focus on what is really important: the welfare of the child and your personal decision.

The path to foster parenthood begins with the question: "Can we give a child with a special life story a safe, new home?" If you are serious about this idea, the first step is to contact the local youth welfare office or a recognized independent youth welfare organization without obligation.

In an initial meeting, you will receive basic information, can ask questions and discuss initial considerations regarding personal suitability and motivation. Many organizations also offer regular information evenings or online events where you can get an overview of what it means to become a foster parent. The article "Becoming a foster parent - what does it mean?" here on Familienportal.NRW provides an initial overview.

If you decide to take the next step, you will be accompanied by experienced professionals from the youth welfare office or independent youth welfare organization and prepared for the responsible task of becoming a foster family. This includes personal interviews, home visits and targeted preparatory seminars to ensure that the foster parents are suitable to take in a child. This step does not yet involve a specific child.

Technical staff from the youth welfare office or the independent organization would like to get to know you personally and visit you in your home environment. They will get an idea of your everyday family life, your living situation and how your family lives together.

In one-to-one and couples meetings, they will discuss these and similar topics:

• Your idea of life with a foster child
• Your motivation for taking in a foster child
• Your resilience and available time resources
• Your previous experiences in dealing with children
• Possible effects on everyday life to date and the changes in family dynamics after taking in a foster child
• Your attitude to dealing with the biological family

In the interviews, you and the professionals will gain an assessment, whether foster parenting is suitable for you and in what form.

In order to best prepare yourself for your future life with a foster child, you will take part in training and preparation courses. These regional courses are usually offered as evening or weekend events.

In these seminars, you will be intensively prepared for your future role by experienced professionals. The preparatory seminars have, among other things the following content:

• Providing basic knowledge
• Roles, roles, tasks and challenges as a foster family
• Rights and duties of foster families
• Collaboration with the youth welfare office or independent agency
• Collaboration with the biological family
• Attachment theory and attachment behavior
• Dealing with psychological stress and trauma in foster children
• . of foster children
• Integration of foster children into the foster family
• Self-reflection as a basis for personal decision-making
• Organizing the settling-in phase
• Exchanging experiences with other applicants

The preparatory seminars are designed to help prepare future foster parents well for the challenges and special characteristics that a foster child can bring with them.

During the preparation phase, some proof and formal documents must be submitted:

• Submission of an extended certificate of good conduct for the foster parents
• Medical certificate of good health for the foster parents
• Proof of a secure income (this is to ensure that the child's livelihood is guaranteed and that financial aspects do not play a role in taking in the child)
• Proof that sufficient living space is available
• If necessary. CV/life report and/or a personal statement

Pedagogical training of the foster parents is not a prerequisite for taking in a foster child.

On the basis of the interviews, home visits, documents and seminar participation, the specialists will draw up a professional assessment of your suitability as a foster family. If this assessment is positive, you can be officially accepted as a suitable foster parent in the regional foster parent pool. From then on, it's all about waiting for the right child. Because not every foster child fits into every foster family - the so-called matching process takes into account both the needs of the child and your possibilities and resources as a foster family. However, the basic rule is: a suitable foster family is sought for the child and not the other way around.

Foster families receive ongoing and continuous advice - even after the placement and settling-in phase. After taking in a foster child, the qualified specialists from the youth welfare office or the independent organization will continue to provide you with advice and support. You can contact them at any time. Particularly in difficult phases, in the event of conflicts or in dealing with the biological family, the professional experts help with the aim of promoting the relationship with the foster child and positive development.