On the first meeting of Sofia’s foster parents it was pointed out that different sections of Child protection services on the territory of the capital don’t have the needed coordination and effective communication between one another.

Parents participating in this meeting promised that it won’t be their last and to make it a tradition. The chairman of the National association of foster care Miroslav Dolapchiev and the members of the board Maria Blagoeva and Alexander Milanov were also attending. Mr Dolapchiev thanked the Regional direction of social support for the willingness to help and organize this first foster parents’ meeting.

Statistics showed that even though foster parenting is getting more familiar as a tool for the child care there are just above 50 foster parents inSofiawhich is not enough.

The discussion showed that there is vulnerability for foster parents coming from not knowing the parenting rights.

Foster care in the country is developing in fear and administratively aggressive environment from the social workers’ attitude.”- said Alexander Milanov from NAFC.

Another important thing discussed was to try and keep the foster parents anonymous giving examples of biological parents finding them resulting in negative experiences for both sides.  Foster parents also want from the Agency for social support to give exact directions on how and where to meet with biological parents and candidates for adoption.

“The lack of rules, standards and endless power of the social services often is an obstacle to the dialogue between foster parents and the system of child protection.” – summarized Maria Blagoeva, foster parent from Sofia. Questions were raised such as who decides how many children can be taken care of from one family and why there isn’t a way to care for disability children. 

Recommendations to the social services will be delivered to the Regional direction of social support from NAFC.