Deinstitutionalization and the prevention of institutionalization are fundamental prerequisites for protecting the rights of every child. At the heart of this effort is foster care, which gives children the opportunity to grow up in a safe and supportive family environment rather than in an institution.<\/p>\n
Foster Care in Greece<\/strong><\/h4>\nFollowing Presidential Decree 86\/2009 on the \u201cOrganization and Operation of Foster Care for Minors\u201d, Greece established an innovative legal framework for child protection through Law 4538\/2018.<\/p>\n
Law 4538\/2018 (Government Gazette A\u2019 85\/2018) defines the framework for foster care and adoption in Greece. Its primary objective is to promote alternative family-based care for children, in accordance with Article 20 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, as an alternative to institutional care.
\nThe law sets out the requirements, criteria, and procedures for becoming a foster or adoptive parent, while also establishing a framework for supervision and support for children, foster parents, and adoptive families.<\/p>\n
Recognizing the significant impact of foster care on child and social well-being, the European Union has called on Member States to implement reforms in their welfare systems through the creation of unified electronic systems, the mapping of child protection services, and the reduction of the time children spend in institutional care (European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2023).<\/p>\n<\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/tandem-org.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/IMG_20220421_194808_WebP-1024x576.webp\" "\\"IMG_20220421_194808_WebP\\"")
<\/span><\/div>What is Professional Foster Care?<\/strong><\/h4>\nProfessional foster care is a specialized form of foster care that primarily concerns children with increased support needs, such as disabled children or children with complex care requirements.<\/p>\n
Professional foster parents receive training, certification, and ongoing support to ensure they can provide children with a stable family environment characterized by care, security, and emotional support.<\/p>\n
Professional foster care is a critical tool for deinstitutionalization, as it enables children who might otherwise grow up in institutions to live within a family setting, develop meaningful relationships, experience everyday family life, and receive individualized care.<\/p>\n
Myths and Reality About Professional Foster Care<\/h4>\n\n\u201cTo care for a disabled child, I need medical knowledge.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nCaring for a disabled child is often associated with the belief that specialized medical training is required. In reality, foster parents do not need to be healthcare professionals or have previous medical experience.
\nWhat is essential is training, support, and a willingness to build a caring and trusting relationship with the child.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAll disabled children use wheelchairs.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nA child\u2019s impairment may be intellectual, sensory, or physical, and no two children are the same. Many children may have invisible impairments or different levels of functioning and independence.
\nNot all children require the same accommodations or support in their daily lives. Each child’s needs are unique and shaped by their personality, abilities, and environment.
\nAs a result, home adaptations may not always be necessary for foster families.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI can\u2019t communicate with an autistic child or a child with a mental health condition .\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nAll children communicate \u2014 just not always in the same way.
\nSome children use spoken language, while others express themselves through movements, pictures, gestures, sign language, or body language. Even when children experience difficulties with eye contact or are sensitive to touch, they can still build relationships and express their needs, feelings, and wishes.
\nWhat matters most is gradually developing a relationship that sees the child first \u2014 not the impairment or diagnosis.<\/p>\n
\n
\nThe law sets out the requirements, criteria, and procedures for becoming a foster or adoptive parent, while also establishing a framework for supervision and support for children, foster parents, and adoptive families.<\/p>\n
<\/span><\/div>What is Professional Foster Care?<\/strong><\/h4>\nProfessional foster care is a specialized form of foster care that primarily concerns children with increased support needs, such as disabled children or children with complex care requirements.<\/p>\n
Professional foster parents receive training, certification, and ongoing support to ensure they can provide children with a stable family environment characterized by care, security, and emotional support.<\/p>\n
Professional foster care is a critical tool for deinstitutionalization, as it enables children who might otherwise grow up in institutions to live within a family setting, develop meaningful relationships, experience everyday family life, and receive individualized care.<\/p>\n
Myths and Reality About Professional Foster Care<\/h4>\n\n\u201cTo care for a disabled child, I need medical knowledge.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nCaring for a disabled child is often associated with the belief that specialized medical training is required. In reality, foster parents do not need to be healthcare professionals or have previous medical experience.
\nWhat is essential is training, support, and a willingness to build a caring and trusting relationship with the child.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cAll disabled children use wheelchairs.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nA child\u2019s impairment may be intellectual, sensory, or physical, and no two children are the same. Many children may have invisible impairments or different levels of functioning and independence.
\nNot all children require the same accommodations or support in their daily lives. Each child’s needs are unique and shaped by their personality, abilities, and environment.
\nAs a result, home adaptations may not always be necessary for foster families.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cI can\u2019t communicate with an autistic child or a child with a mental health condition .\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nAll children communicate \u2014 just not always in the same way.
\nSome children use spoken language, while others express themselves through movements, pictures, gestures, sign language, or body language. Even when children experience difficulties with eye contact or are sensitive to touch, they can still build relationships and express their needs, feelings, and wishes.
\nWhat matters most is gradually developing a relationship that sees the child first \u2014 not the impairment or diagnosis.<\/p>\n
\n
\n\u201cTo care for a disabled child, I need medical knowledge.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Caring for a disabled child is often associated with the belief that specialized medical training is required. In reality, foster parents do not need to be healthcare professionals or have previous medical experience.
\nWhat is essential is training, support, and a willingness to build a caring and trusting relationship with the child.<\/p>\n\n\u201cAll disabled children use wheelchairs.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
A child\u2019s impairment may be intellectual, sensory, or physical, and no two children are the same. Many children may have invisible impairments or different levels of functioning and independence.
\nNot all children require the same accommodations or support in their daily lives. Each child’s needs are unique and shaped by their personality, abilities, and environment.
\nAs a result, home adaptations may not always be necessary for foster families.<\/p>\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t communicate with an autistic child or a child with a mental health condition .\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
All children communicate \u2014 just not always in the same way.
\nSome children use spoken language, while others express themselves through movements, pictures, gestures, sign language, or body language. Even when children experience difficulties with eye contact or are sensitive to touch, they can still build relationships and express their needs, feelings, and wishes.
\nWhat matters most is gradually developing a relationship that sees the child first \u2014 not the impairment or diagnosis.<\/p>\n\n