After the appeal launched in December by the canton of Vaud, nearly 200 people attended information sessions on finding host families. Nineteen families applied, of which 5 are currently in the evaluation phase. In total, the canton is seeking to recruit 50 new families by the end of 2024.
“The process is long,” recognizes Manon Schick, director at the General Directorate of Children and Youth (DGEJ). “The figure of 50 new families is ambitious, this campaign represents a real marathon, but we are staying the course,” she tells Keystone-ATS.
Contacts in the network of current host families, information sessions, campaigns on social networks and in the media, the canton does everything possible to achieve its objectives. “At the start of the year, 15 children were waiting for a foster family. If we can find that many so that they can get out of emergency shelters, that would already be very good. Every new foster family counts” , continues Manon Schick.
88% of families accepted
In 2023, 15 candidate families were selected by the DGEJ, while one family gave up and one was refused. “This means that 88% of families who submitted an application were accepted,” notes Manon Schick.
This high percentage reflects the important information work done upstream. Indeed, welcoming a child cannot be improvised. In addition to providing a balanced family home, three fundamental criteria must be met: be over 25 years old, have a spare room and have time to look after the child. Once these conditions are met, the notion of “host family” is broad and can apply to families, couples or singles.
Revaluation of compensation
When a host family is selected, and a child is placed there, they benefit from support as well as monthly compensation depending on the age of the child. This should be increased this summer, while administrative obligations, particularly relating to the child’s expenses, should be reduced.
“These children have already suffered numerous ruptures in their lives. By welcoming them into a stable family environment, these families contribute to their well-being and provide a valuable service to society. We must make their lives easier,” believes Manon Schick. .
Last December, more than 190 Vaudois families welcomed around 200 children. However, the number of children, particularly babies and young children, in need of such care is increasing, while current foster families are aging. The next information session will take place on June 17 in Lausanne. Registrations on the intercantonal site are also open on the internet (devenir-famille-accueil.ch).
This article was automatically published. Source: ats
