As the City of Salzgitter's foster care service, it is particularly important to us:

• The return of the child should always be sought
• Foster homes are complementary families - foster children grow up with two families
• The child and its needs are the focus
• That's why we look for the right family for the foster child (and not the other way around)

There are many reasons why children are temporarily unable to live with their parents. During this time, children need a safe place where they are accepted for who they are.

Foster children are not adopted children, even if they live permanently in another family. They retain their kinship ties to their family.

Foster children always remain the children of their biological parents.

The foster family provides support where the biological parents cannot ensure the upbringing and care of the child themselves.

The foster family must be prepared to work together with the biological parents, for example in order to maintain contact with them.

The placement of children/young people in a foster family should not last longer than necessary.

The city of Salzgitter recognizes this task financially and supports you with a monthly care allowance.

In addition, we are available to advise, accompany and support you.

In the following, we will give you a brief outline of the diverse tasks of educational assistance in accordance with the Eighth Social Code (SGB VIII) and our activities.

There are different forms of full-time care (according to § 33 SGB VIII.):

A brief overview is given here:

Residential care in a home is an emergency solution in the area of educational assistance in accordance with the German Social Code (SGB VIII): If, for example, the provision of basic care for the children in the family is no longer guaranteed; there is a possible risk to the child's welfare and/or no foster family can be found.

• Married couples, couples (including same-sex couples) and individuals who can offer the children a continuous relationship.
• It should be possible to reconcile the applicant's professional activity and the care of the children according to their age. Flexible solutions such as working from home and parental leave should be possible.
• Applicants should have a regular income and orderly financial circumstances; there must be no dependence on care allowance.
• The living conditions must offer sufficient space for the children to develop. Retreat options in the form of a separate room should be available.
• Applicants are prepared to cooperate openly with the specialist service for children, youth and family, other institutions involved and the family of origin.
• All family members and the social environment are positive about taking in a foster child.
• Sufficient mobility to be able to maintain contact with specialists, therapists, schools, institutions, contact with relatives, etc.
• Interest in specialist knowledge, willingness to undergo further training and supervision
• Completed qualification course

Same-sex couples as well as patchwork families, single people and single parents can take in a foster child. The same criteria are applied to all applicants.

The application procedure takes place in a cooperative, transparent consultation process. Several detailed interviews are held with the applicants.

To become a foster carer, you should fulfill the following requirements/submit the following documents. Forms for applying for the verification documents will be given to you by the team of the foster children's service during the first consultation.

• Completed qualification course (6-7 evenings of 3 hours each)
• Proof of income/financial independence
• Extended police clearance certificate for all people over 18 living in the household
• Medical examination by the local health authority
• Curriculum vitae in tabular form
• Detailed life report with photo
• Schufa credit report
• Declaration of consent to data collection, data transfer and release from confidentiality vis-à-vis other adoption/foster child placement agencies, youth welfare offices and the foster child services of independent organizations
• Various documents and forms
• Participation in a first aid course for children on or before taking in a child

As a rule, several home visits take place in which we engage in a transparent, cooperative discussion. This is usually carried out by two members of staff from the Foster Children's Service.

Note: All applicants have a right to be checked as a foster carer, but not to a foster child.