Welcome the children into your family

You must personally pick up the child from their place of stay. The caregivers receive documents about each child:

• decision to place the child into the large foster family;
• child’s birth certificate;
• medical opinion on the child’s health and physical and mental development;
• document on the child’s education and development level;
• opinion on the complex psychological and pedagogical assessment of the child’s development issued by the inclusion resource centre (if any);
• decision of the guardianship and custody authority at the child’s place of origin on assignment of the child’s corresponding status, or documents on which the decision is based;
• statement of siblings or other close relatives, and their location;
• a pension certificate for the child, copy of the court ruling on collecting alimony;
• information on any property belonging to the child, including housing, and the persons keeping the property.

Outcome of Step:

The child becomes part of your life. The legal formalities of providing family-based care for the child are complete.

The process of consolidation and building attachment now begins, with the solid foundation for a warm, harmonious, loving family where the child can grow in harmony and heal from their experience.

Support the children’s adaptation into the home

The adaptation process can have unique challenges and peculiarities, as each child needs to adapt to living in the new family. Attachment and the feeling of safety and belonging can take a long time to develop, and require additional effort by parents. It can be a long, complex process that requires patience and the unconditional acceptance of each child.

The materials from the training course on care of children who are orphaned and deprived of parental care are helpful with adaptation. Communicate regularly with, and follow the recommendations of, the social worker or social work professional assigned to your large foster family. They are the principal contact for assistance as the child integrates into the home.

Outcome of Step:

Family routine and habits become more specific and stable over time. Family conflicts and misunderstandings are resolved in a constructive manner, which helps develop steady, healthy relationships in the large foster family.

Opportunities of post-placement support must be found and used during the course of adaptation.