“I have this job there.” Soraya points to her stomach. Her guts. A thousand miles from the negative resonance that news stories about host families sometimes have. Moreover, the Six-Fournaise widens her eyes when we talk about the prejudices that can stick to his profession.The people around me only give me good feedback“, she sweeps away.
If it does not avoid the difficulties that welcoming a child placed by the courts can represent –”as for a transplant, it takes or not“–, Soraya especially remembers the richness of her profession and the support she receives to do it as it should be done. In 2017, this 45-year-old former hairdresser converted to a family assistant. Since then, she has supported Jessica from the age of 10 to 17, then little Manon, 8 years old, who arrived at her home last year.
A new turn in his professional life that makes sense. At Soraya, we are a host family from mother to daughter. “My parents were there for 25 years. With my two sisters, we are a very close-knit family and for a very long time, there have been children in our home.“Take over,”it's always been somewhere in [son] esprit“, assures the quadra. One day, the moment simply arrived: “I felt ready.“
File, approval, diploma…
However, you don't become a family assistant by snapping your fingers. The entry point, explains Soraya, is an information meeting on the profession, led by Child Welfare. “We come out with a file that we choose to fill out or not..” After sending hers, this Var resident began the process of obtaining approval issued by Maternal and Child Protection (PMI) for the reception of a child. “Four intense months“, she remembers, after which she was finally able to apply as a family assistant. It was the Association La Sauvegarde (ADSEAAV) which recruited her and allowed her to follow the sixty hours of essential training. Later, Soraya also obtained her state diploma (DE) as a family assistant, for the moment not obligatory (1).
1. As part of the reform of the family assistant profession, the DE should soon become compulsory, its number of training hours greatly increased.
Add more value to recruit more
“It's a real family project that everyone must agree with“, specifies Soraya, ensuring that her son, aged 18, immediately joined.
What does she get out of it? Soraya thought for a long time. “It's something I feel. A recognition. Even if there are constraints, I am delighted to help these children.“
She blurted out: “You know, we don't do this job for the money.“Because if, as it is indeed a profession, it is paid, Soraya reminds us that”it's a constant job“Medical appointments, with parents, visits from social workers to the home, in addition to everyday life, add to the schedule.”seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day.” “People who would only do this for money, I don't know any!“Soraya believes, on the contrary, that there would be more candidates for this profession if it were better valued.
“It is a profession of giving and sharing, underlines the family assistant. You need it to create connections.” Bonds which are never intended to replace those established with parents: “You have to find your right place.”
