The NFCA will be participating in the consultiations for the creation of a new, unified financial standard for the foster care service. The standard will determine the amount of funds allocated to the provision of foster care in the country and their distribution. The Social Assistance Agency called together a task force, chaired by its deputy executive director and with the participation of experts from the agency, as well as representatives from the “I Have a Family Too” project (a project aimed at improving the quality of foster care and increasing the number of  foster families in Bulgaria). The civil society sector is represented by the National Foster Care Association, The International Social Service Bulgaria, The Social Activities and Practices Institute, For Our Children Foundation and SOS Children’s Villages.

The deadline for the completion of the unified financial standard is November 20, 2014 and the first meeting will take place on October 10.

The participants in the working group have been acquainted with a report, put together by Аssoc Prof Milena Yogova and Assoc Prof Sonya Budeva, who describe the funds necessary for the care of 10 children, placed in foster families, served by one social worker for a period of a year. The sum, suggested by the experts is 115 645,44 BGN per annum, with the costs for a single case being around 11 563,44 BGN.

The experts suggest that the expenditures in the standard be distributed as follows: the expenses, directly connected to a specific client - 69,2%; for support of the placed child – 23,6%, indirect staff costs – 4,8%, administrative expenses – 2,4%.

The National Foster Care Association will carefully acquaint itself with the standard  and state a formal position.