Amendments to the Child and Youth Protection Law in Danger have been published today in the Official Gazette and will come into effect on Tuesday. These changes allow family members and adoption candidates to become foster families and strengthen the rights of children and young people in foster care.
In terms of rights for these children and young people, it is established that they are entitled to a therapist provided by the Ministry of Health and assured access to the nearest daycare or school to their foster home.
An environment free from discrimination, mistreatment, violence, or any type of exploitation is ensured, with accessible, independent, and effective channels for reporting and support. These children also have a right to positive differentiation in all applicable public measures.
“For young people enrolled in higher education with success, they are entitled to a monthly scholarship provided by the ISS, IP, covering tuition, materials, equipment essential for their studies, transportation, and accommodation if necessary, with the foster home covering sustenance expenses,” the law states.
Additionally, children and young people have the right to maintain contact with the foster family after the measure ends, if it aligns with the child’s best interest.
The National Advisory Council for Fostered Youth must also be consulted annually by the Assembly of the Republic regarding the implementation of the current regime.
With the changes published today, adopting families and individuals may also become foster families, following approval by all parliamentary parties on March 14.
The Child and Youth Protection Law in Danger is thus amended to prioritize foster care “as the preferential measure in cases where foster placement is necessary.”
The law also revokes “the impossibility of having familial ties and an adoption application for foster care eligibility criteria.”
This means that both family members of a child or young person requiring removal from the biological family, as well as individuals or households serving as foster families, can apply to adopt the child or young person in their care.
Previously, the legislation did not allow foster families to adopt the child they looked after, as this could be perceived as a way to bypass adoption waiting lists.
