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With the Kahramanmaraş earthquake of 6 February 2023, many of our citizens unfortunately lost their lives, and many others have had to continue their lives under difficult conditions. Unfortunately, those who suffered the most from this disaster were children. For the sake of these children, families all over the country have taken a step for the children's future and announced that they wish to become foster families. In this article, we address topics such as how the procedure works for those who wish to become a foster family and what the required conditions are.
With the Kahramanmaraş earthquake of 6 February 2023, many of our citizens unfortunately lost their lives, and many others have had to continue their lives under difficult conditions. Unfortunately, those who suffered the most from this disaster were children. For the sake of these children, families all over the country have taken a step for the children's future and announced that they wish to become foster families. In this article, we will address topics such as how the procedure works for those who wish to become a foster family,
what the required conditions are.
What Is a Foster Family? What Are the Conditions for a Foster Family? What Is the Difference Between a Foster Family and Adoption?
It would be appropriate to begin with the definition of a foster family. A foster family means that children between the ages of 0 and 18 who are unable to stay with their biological family for a period of time and who live in institutions under state protection are placed with a family that meets the necessary conditions, where they will experience family love and a family environment in place of an institution and where their social development can be ensured in order to minimise the psychological problems that may arise in their future. It should be understood that those who wish to undertake foster care for children affected by the earthquake, who, if they have reached a certain age, will need a certain amount of time to overcome the trauma they are experiencing now and will experience in the future because of what they have seen and felt, are taking on a difficult task.
The biggest difference between becoming a foster family and adopting a child is that the biological family of the child for whom you wish to become a foster family is alive and that parental custody of the child remains with the biological family. Because of the earthquake, many young children, since they must continue their development and education even if some of their family members are
still alive, and in order to minimise the adverse psychological
effects, until their biological families put their lives back in order, these children,
who have a need for protection and care, are taken from them and
placed with foster families. Those who wish to become a foster family are not required to be married.
The conditions that must be met by those who wish to become a foster family are as follows;
? Being a citizen of the Republic of Türkiye
? Permanently residing in Türkiye
? Being between 25 and 65 years of age
? Being at least a primary school graduate
? Having a regular income
First of all, an offer to become a foster family is made to relatives, or to those among close-circle families with whom a parent-child relationship has been established for some time,
who are suitable. If
these persons wish to become a foster family, then, according to the result of the social investigation to be carried out, if
the Commission deems them suitable, the age and education requirements are not sought.
When the age of foster family candidates is assessed, the principles of the ability to behave in a manner appropriate to the child's age period and the
establishment of a one-to-one parent-child relationship with the child
are taken into consideration. It is necessary to be within the age range
stated above as of the date of application and the date on which the child is placed with the family. In determining this, if the age
difference between the spouses is ten years or less, the age of the younger spouse is taken as the basis; in other
cases, the average age of the spouses is taken as the basis. The age difference between the child and the
younger of the spouses who will become the foster family cannot be less than 18 years.
How Is an Application to Become a Foster Family Made? How Are Applications Examined and
Evaluated?
You may make your applications to become a foster family in person to the Provincial and District
Directorates of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies, and you may also submit your applications through e-Devlet and the website of the Ministry of Family and Social
Policies. During your application, an initial interview is held, in which the persons concerned
provide information about the principles and operation of the service and the characteristics of the children to be placed;
the initial interview form is completed with the person or spouses deemed suitable, and
a written application is taken and certain information and documents are requested to be completed within one month at the latest. The
documents in question are as follows;
? Declaration of the Turkish Republic Identity Number (T.C. Kimlik No.)
? One passport-size photograph
? Certified copy of the document showing educational status
? Certified copy of the document showing employment, income and social security status
? A certificate showing that the person has not been convicted of an intentionally committed offence with a term of imprisonment of one year or longer or, even if
pardoned, of offences against the nation and the state, offences against society, offences against
persons and international crimes, or of abuse offences committed against children,
namely, a criminal record certificate.
? Certified copy of the foster family first-level training certificate, the foster family second-level training certificate or the basic
family training certificate, or of these certificates, if any.
? Other documents that will be needed in order to get to know the foster family in relation to the circumstances identified during
the social investigation process.
? A doctor's report showing that the persons who will become the foster family and, if any, the persons living with them
have no physical disability, mental disorder or contagious disease that would affect the child's care, psycho-social development and education
or cause harm to the child, obtained
from the relevant departments of State or university hospitals,
and, where deemed necessary, a detailed report on the person's health,
ongoing illness or addiction.
If the persons are married, all information and documents must be submitted
in respect of both spouses.
When your application is examined, the social investigation is carried out in general by taking into account the personality traits of the applicants, their marriage and
social relationships, whether they live alone, whether their way of life conforms to the generally accepted rules
and values of society, their competence in raising children, their ages, the views of other
family members on this matter, and their employment and economic conditions, namely the basic
professional assessment matters that are important in terms of the relations between the child and the foster family,
on the basis of which the social investigation is carried out.
If your application is not accepted, you are informed in writing by the Ministry. An
objection may be lodged against this decision by the person or family concerned with the provincial or
district directorate within fifteen days from the date of notification. The objection is
discussed, with the approval of the local civil authority, by another commission formed by the provincial directorate, other than the persons who gave the initial decision, and is decided within one
month at the latest. The decision is notified in writing to the person who objected.
After your request to become a foster family has been accepted, a child suitable to be
matched with you is found by the commission. Persons who wish to become a foster family may state their preference as to the child's age group and
gender, but the commission will still give certain guidance, taking into account the
family's situation. In this case, the opinion of the child is
also taken. Until the foster family agreement is signed, it is planned to provide an environment suitable for the child and the family to spend time
together, get to know each other and become accustomed to each other. In this
process, the child may be granted leave to the foster family first for hourly periods and then for daily, weekly and two-weekly periods, depending on the compatibility of the child with
the foster family, for a total not exceeding two months. If a
positive opinion is formed in the process and the child and the family also wish it,
the placement procedure is initiated. A maximum of 3 children may be placed with one foster family.
Where the children are siblings, this number may not be limited. The period for which the child will stay with you
varies in practice. After a certain period, the child may return to his or her biological family. In this
matter the child's decision is important. In practice, it is mostly
observed that children reach the age of majority with the foster family and continue to stay with the foster family
after reaching majority.
What Are the Duties and Responsibilities of Foster Families?
Foster families have certain principal duties and responsibilities. In general, these are
to provide and implement the conditions necessary for the child's healthy development, to fulfil, if any, the obligations relating to the child's
treatment, to make the necessary effort for the child's education
and training or acquisition of a profession to the extent permitted by the child's abilities and skills, and not
to make the child work in any way other than for protecting, educating and raising the child.
The foster family is responsible for arranging meetings between the child and his or her biological family and other relatives, unless the commission
deems otherwise, at appropriate intervals. These
meetings cannot be held without the knowledge of the provincial and district directorates. A child placed with the
foster family may, if this is found appropriate according to the file information and the social investigation carried out
and if the child so wishes, be granted leave to his or her biological family at intervals and for periods that will not affect his or her life, on holiday
days, for up to thirty days in total within the year.
Important decisions that will affect the child's life (such as the school he or she will attend) are taken together with the responsible social work
officer. Participating in the training and activities on foster care to be carried out by the provincial and district directorates
is also among the responsibilities of the family.
A monthly fee is paid to foster families for each child they look after, for the child's care, education and upbringing
expenses. This fee may vary according to the circumstances. At the beginning of each academic year,
the fee is paid increased threefold in order to cover education expenses. To cover clothing
expenses, this fee is also paid increased twofold twice a year. In addition, depending on age and
educational status, a certain amount of pocket money may be paid to the children themselves.
? The responsibilities mentioned above not being fulfilled,
? Healthy communication between the child and the foster family not being established or
maintained despite the professional work carried out,
? It being established that the child has been abused by the foster family,
? The foster family having engaged in attitudes and behaviour that would damage the child's relations with his or her
biological family and having made statements to that effect,
? The benefit expected from the service for the child not being realised,
? The reason for the child's placement with the foster family having ceased to exist,
? A change in the service model from which the child will benefit or the lifting of the
protection order,
? The foster family giving up providing the service for any reason; if situations such as these are
established, the child placed with the foster family is taken back.
We have tried to give brief information on what a foster family means, how the process works and the duties and
responsibilities of foster families. To obtain more detailed information, please
contact us, and let us carry out this process together in a safe manner. Finally, having regard to the best interests of the
child, we would like to state that, if all of the conditions are met, it would be sound for a foster family application
to be made. In such a difficult period, we wish all our children, above all the
children affected by the earthquake, a healthy
and happy life.
Trainee Attorney at Law Mehmet Emre Darıcı
