site.bta315 Foster Families Have No Children Placed with Them, Revealing “Significant Unused Capacity” within System

A total of 315 foster families currently have no children placed with them, revealing significant unused capacity within the system, said Alexander Milanov from the National Association for Foster Care (NAFC) at a conference marking the Day of Foster Care and Foster Parents (October 25). The event was organized by the NAFC.

In some regions of the country, almost 40% of foster families have no children placed with them, Milanov added. According to him, there are also cities where the number of foster families is insufficient. For example, in Sofia there are 29 families, while around 400 are needed, Milanov noted. In his view, this shows a territorial imbalance. There is a cumbersome procedure for transferring children from one region to another, he added.

Across the country, there are a total of 1,582 foster parents, of whom 1,578 are professional and four are voluntary, Milanov further pointed out. He also cited data indicating that 15% of Bulgarians would consider becoming foster parents, 68% are firmly opposed, and 40% said they would entrust their child to foster care if something were to happen to them, Milanov said.

At present, around 4,000 children in Bulgaria are deprived of parental care, said Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Policy Ivan Krastev. Of these, only 850 have been approved for full adoption, Krastev said, adding that nearly 1,500 children find support and love in foster families. Another 4,000 children are cared for by relatives or extended family, he noted.

“We must think about how every child can grow up in a family and work towards that goal. This is the shared understanding among all institutions in the system, so that every child can find love and care,” Krastev said.

In less than 20 years, Bulgaria has made huge progress in child care, but this should not make us complacent, the Deputy Minister emphasized. He also announced the start of a campaign to inspire new people to become foster parents. “This is the only way to continue deinstitutionalization and ensure that no child grows up outside a family environment,” Krastev said.

Not only the foster family but also the child must be carefully prepared for what lies ahead, in order to shorten the period of difficulty and adaptation, said Eva Zhecheva from the Ombudsman’s Office. In her view, families must have a supportive environment that understands and responds to the child’s needs while protecting their rights and interests.

“Foster care is the first form of protection, but it must be temporary,” said Mariana Krasteva from the Bulgarian Association of Adopters. “The goal is for children to find their permanent home, one that supports them and gives them the stability they need to grow and develop,” Krasteva added.