Foster parents report: New life for children in the Main-Kinzig district!

In the Main-Kinzig district, the number of children and adolescents who have to be taken from their families of origin has increased. In order to counter this growing need, the responsible authorities are increasingly relying on foster families. This initiative shows positive examples of how the East family in Freichtgericht, which recently recorded a foster child.

In the summer of 2023, the seven -month -old Lisa (name changed) came to the East family. Lisa got used to it well and will soon celebrate her second birthday. The acclimatization took only a few weeks. Melanie and Markus Ost are parents of a nine -year -old daughter who is happy to be a "big sister". The couple had originally thought about adoption and attended an information event that finally led them to the decision to become foster parents.

experiences and support for foster parents

The family bond with foster children can be limited, which is why the needs of the family of origin must be taken into account. Contacts with Lisa's biological mother and her older sister have already been organized. Markus Ost describes the challenges associated with this special parenthood as understandable, but not problematic. The couple emphasizes the importance of openness about the differences to their own children.

The youth welfare office offers advice and support for foster families. Nevertheless, foster parents have to master many challenges independently. So far, the East family has not experienced major hurdles and watches Lisa's positive development with pleasure. In order to be able to devote himself more intensively to the family, Melanie Ost has taken a professional break. Regular meetings with other foster families in the Main-Kinzig district promote exchange and create normality in this special life situation. The couple expresses the desire that more families take the step into the foster parents.

Citizens from the Main-Kinzig-Kreis have the opportunity to request information about foster children, as reported by the website of the Main-Kinzig-Kreis. First of all, interested parties receive a “short information” with the essential requirements and are then invited to detailed information discussions in the youth welfare office. These conversations deal with processes and personal burdens that may experience foster parents.

After the information talks, interested parties can choose an applicant seminar that takes place in groups over several evenings in the Main-Kinzig-Forum in Gelnhausen. Contents of the seminar include psychological, legal and formal aspects as well as information from other departments of the youth welfare office and experienced foster families. After completing the seminar, an individual final discussion will be made in the youth welfare office to determine the aptitude profile of interested parties.

For the application phase, different documents such as an application sheet, a life report and a certificate of good conduct must be submitted. A final home visit checks the spatial conditions and the life situation of the foster family. In the event of a positive suitability, the families finally have the opportunity to accept a foster child.