How to Help a Child Without Parental Care: Foster Care, Adoption, Guest Families and Guardianship

The Latvian SOS Children's Villages Association, which works in alternative child care, is urging anyone considering helping a child who cannot grow up in their biological family to begin by talking with specialists. The association stresses that a decision to take a child in permanently does not have to be made right away, as there are several different forms of support.

"Not everyone has the same opportunities, living circumstances and readiness to take on the care of a child," says Dace Dzedone, head of the association's alternative child care area. She emphasises that it is important to work out which option best suits a particular person and their family.

Four ways to help

Foster care gives a child temporary housing and care. Foster parents create a safe environment, provide daily care and help the child overcome difficulties. This care is temporary, lasting while the child's future situation is being resolved.

Adoption gives a child a permanent family. Legally, the same relationship arises between the child and the adoptive parents as between parents and their biological children.

A guest family hosts a child for a set period, such as weekends, holidays or school breaks, without taking on permanent care.

A guardian is responsible for the child's care, upbringing and representation of interests. This is often a relative, but a guardian can also be appointed by the orphan's court (bāriņtiesa, the local child-protection authority).

People can also help by becoming social mentors to young people, supporting them with daily skills, studies or career choices.

Support and the first step

The association's Family Support Centre "AIRI vecākiem" helps prospective families understand the requirements, prepare documents and develop the necessary skills. Foster parents and adopters can attend preparation courses before a child arrives; guardians receive training afterwards. Families can also get consultations with social workers, psychologists and other specialists, while financial support is provided by the state and local governments.

To become a foster family, adopter, guest family or guardian, a person must contact the orphan's court in their declared place of residence.

To encourage those who are interested, an online discussion on Zoom is planned for 29 October from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. An experienced foster family, centre specialists and orphan's court representatives will take part. More information and a self-reflection test are available at rindauzgimeni.lv.