According to Article 34 of the Law on Child Protection "Foster care is upbringing in a family of a child who is placed in a family of relatives or a foster family."

Types of Foster Care

Foster care can be voluntary or professional.

In voluntary foster care contract with approved foster family passed basic training. Family receives a monthly allowance and lump sum grants. In a voluntary foster care child receives a monthly allowance depending on aged.

E.g.:

• A child under 7 years receives three times the amount of GMI / GMI / - about 195 BGN;
• Children from 7 to 14 years receive 3.5-fold the amount of GMI - about 227.50 BGN;
• Child from 14 to 18 years receive 4 - fold the amount of GMI - about 260 BGN;
• All children in foster care are eligible for an annual lump-aid amounting to 325 BGN This amount is used to cover urgent needs for the children, birthday, or first day of school;
• For children with physical and mental disabilities, there is paid allowance amounting to 75% of GM, regardless of family income, about 48.75 BGN;

In professional foster care a contract is signed with one parent, the foster family has to undergone basic training and further training children education courses. Professional foster parent is remunerated with a monthly allowance, as well as one-time aid to accommodate the needs of the child.

Professional foster families receive a monthly salary:

• raising a child -130% of the minimum wage (about 312.00 BGN.)
• raising 2 children - 140% of the minimum wage (about 336.00BGN.)
• raising more children - 150% of the minimum wage (about 360.00BGN).

Priority in professional foster family stay:

•  Children under 3 years of age;
•  Children with disabilities;
•  Children - victims of violence or trafficking;
• Child to which is attached a "protective custody" measure or after the expiration of its term;
•  Children undergoing foster care replacement;

Professional foster care can help a lot of people who are out of work. it is perceived as an alternative form of employment.

In article. 3 of the Ordinance on the conditions and procedure for application, selection and approval of foster care and placement of children, the following types of accommodation in a host family:

• Short term;
• Long-term;
• Urgency;
• Replacement foster care.

Accommodation of a child in foster care shall be taken for up to one year to support parents / “carers” of the child and subsequent reintegration.

Long-term placement of a child in foster care is to be taken in cases where attempts to provide a secure family environment for the child (reintegration into the biological family or adoption) are unsuccessful within the short-term accommodation. Long-term placement in a foster family does not exclude the child from the adoption register or ceases work on reintegration.

Emergency placement of a child in foster care is taken when there is an imminent threat to the life or health of the child, destitute situation. This is done in several ways:

• A "protective custody" measure was taken after the child;
• Victims of violence and trafficking;
• Up to 3 years old;

When there is no emergency accommodation during the fitting and understanding between the child and the foster family or he is extremely short. All other steps and procedures are followed, with the exception of the sequence.
Emergency placement will be undertaken in approved foster family, the evaluation has shown the availability of capacity and willingness to accept emergency child at home.

Replacement foster care is provided to a child for a short period of time (may be provided periodically) to support their care or child support / training of the child in the following cases:

• ensure accrued annual leave of professional foster family in which there is accommodated a child;
• Support the families of relatives who have children placed with them;
• Illness of a member of the host family for the duration of sick leave, when another family member is unable to provide adequate care for the child;
• Children in specialized institutions in order to support their socialization;
• Parents who care for a child with a disability to provide support, in order to prevent institutionalization.