District Administrator Frank John and Cornelia Kazakob-Marsollek, Head of the Family and Youth Welfare Department, welcomed around one hundred guests of all ages to the foster family festival. The summer weather at Lebenshilfe's Kardinal Wendel House provided the perfect setting for a day of socialising, joy and recognition. Both honoured the valuable commitment of the foster parents.
"Our foster families provide support, warmth and confidence to the children and young people entrusted to them who, for a variety of reasons, cannot live with their parents. In contact with us, they lovingly accompany their protégés through important stages of their lives and give them the best chance for a good future,
emphasises Cornelia Kazakob-Marsollek,
There are currently 136 foster families in the Saarpfalz district. Not every child can grow up with their biological parents. In such cases, the Saarpfalz district's foster care service is looking for committed people who are willing to give a child a loving home.
"As a youth welfare organisation, it is very important to us to find suitable foster placements for young people. We look forward to hearing from committed families, couples or individuals who can imagine taking a child into their home for a shorter or longer period of time",
emphasises District Administrator Frank John.
The team from the Saarpfalz district's foster child test had come up with a colourful programme for all generations. The children in particular didn't miss out - they were able to let off steam creatively by painting cotton bags, making imaginative balloon animals or taking advantage of the many games on offer. One of the highlights of the day was the performance by magician Maxim Maurice, whose tricks brought a sparkle to the eyes and amazement to the faces of young and old alike. The foster family festival not only offered the families fun and games, but also the opportunity to talk to each other and exchange experiences.
In principle, foster families are not left to fend for themselves: they receive support, guidance and counselling from the youth welfare office as well as financial support in the form of care allowance. There are different models of foster family: full-time foster care offers children a long-term home in a foster family and standby foster care for a short-term and temporary stay.
Further information is available from the Youth Welfare Office's foster children service on the service telephone number 06841/104-7224 or on the website www.saarpfalz-kreis.de. Another contact is the email address [email protected].