Out-of-family care (foster family and specialised foster family: crisis foster family and foster family for a child with disabilities)

Published: 24.01.2021.

Price

Free

Execution deadline in working days

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Recipient

Individual person

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Receiving restrictions

Description:

An application shall be examined within a period of one month if, for objective reasons, the referred to time period cannot be observed, the Orphan's Court may extend it in accordance with the procedures specified in Section 64 of the Administrative Procedure Law (for a period not exceeding four months from the date of submission of the application, but in the case of a long-term establishment of facts - up to a year).

Description:

The status of a foster family may be granted to spouses (person), if at least one of the spouses (person) is a citizen of Latvia, a non-citizen or a foreigner who has the right to reside in the territory of Latvia certified with relevant documents not less than two years after the submission. Spouses (a person) shall be entitled to apply for the granting of the status of a foster family if at least one of the spouses (person) is aged between 25 and 60. Exceptionally, if it is in the interests of a child, spouses (a person) who does not conform to that age may apply for the granting of the status of a foster family. The status of a foster family shall not be granted if the following conditions have been applied in respect of one of the spouses (persons): 1. the rights of custody of the child have been suspended or withdrawn; 2. the court has applied the coercive measures of a medical nature specified in the Criminal Law; 3. a person has been convicted of criminal offences related to violence or threats of violence, irrespective of the deletion or removal of criminal records; 4. the person has been punished for crimes against morality and dzimumneaizskaramību, regardless of the deletion or removal of criminal records; 5. the person has been removed from the fulfilment of the duties of the guardian due to the disorderly performance of the duties of the guardian; 6. has withdrawn the status of a foster family or specialised foster family, or the status of a guest family, because the duties have not been fulfilled in accordance with the interests of the child. A foster family may become a crisis foster family, who has at least three years' experience in the care of children placed in a foster family and who may take a child at any time of the day. A family may become a foster family for a child with disabilities, in which at least one spouse (person) has at least 12 months of personal or professional experience in working with children with severe functional disabilities.

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Acquisition, withdrawal, termination of the status of a foster family/specialised foster family. Placement and termination of a child in a foster family/specialised foster family.
A foster family shall be a family or person who provides care for a child who has temporarily or permanently deprived of his or her family environment or, in the interests of which, staying in his or her family shall not be allowed until the child can return to his or her family or, if it is not possible, is adopted, has been established custody or placed in a child care institution.
A specialised foster family (crisis or child with disabilities) is a foster family, which provides care for a child of a specified target group who needs special care.

Process description
Related documents

Process description

Service requests
Acquisition, withdrawal, termination of the status of a foster family/specialised foster family. Placement and termination of a child in a foster family/specialised foster family.
A foster family shall be a family or person who provides care for a child who has temporarily or permanently deprived of his or her family environment or, in the interests of which, staying in his or her family shall not be allowed until the child can return to his or her family or, if it is not possible, is adopted, has been established custody or placed in a child care institution.
A specialised foster family (crisis or child with disabilities) is a foster family, which provides care for a child of a specified target group who needs special care.
In order to recognise persons as suitable for the performance of the duties of a foster family, the person shall present a personal identification document in the Orphan's Court of the declared place of residence, as well as submit the following documents:
1) an application (Form - Annex 1 to Cabinet Regulation No. 354 of 26 June 2018, Regulations of the Purfamily);
2) an opinion of a psychiatrist regarding the state of mental health of a person and an opinion of a narcotic practitioner regarding the person's dependence on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances or other addictive substances.

In order to recognise a foster family as suitable for the performance of the duties of a specialised foster family, the foster family shall present a personal identification document in the Orphan's Court of the declared place of residence, submit a submission indicating the type of specialisation desired, as well as submit evidence of experience in conformity with the selected specialisation.

1. The Orphan's Court, after receiving the necessary documents, shall evaluate them, as well as:
- assess the motivation of persons to become a foster family, mutual relations between family members,
- knowledge and skills in the care of the child;
- clarify the material status of the family;
- examine the living conditions of persons and draw up an act for the examination of living conditions;
- request information from the Penalties Register.

After ascertaining and evaluating all the necessary information, the Orphan's Court shall decide on the suitability of persons for the performance of the duties of a foster family.

2. When a foster family wishes to be recognised as a specialised foster family, the Orphan's court shall evaluate the documents of the foster family available to it, as well as in co-operation with the out-of-family care support centre in conformity with the specialisation chosen:
- evaluate the motivation of the foster family and the appropriateness of the living conditions;
- assess the possibilities of ensuring the availability of environmental, mobility and rehabilitation services;
- evaluating experience;
- assess the knowledge and skills of the child.

After ascertaining and evaluating all the necessary information, the Orphan's Court shall decide on the appropriateness of the foster family for the performance of the duties of the specialised foster family in the relevant specialisation.

3. After taking a decision regarding suitability for the status of a foster family or specialised foster family, the person must successfully acquire a training course upon receipt of a certificate and enter into an agreement with the non-family care support centre.
Documents may be submitted in person, sent electronically or sent by mail.
Receipt of services
Upon receiving a certificate regarding the acquisition of training courses, the Orphan's Court shall, upon receipt of a certificate regarding the qualification of persons for the specific status of the out-of-family care support centre, evaluate the received documents and decide on the granting of the status of a foster family.
The decision shall be taken at the meeting of the Orphan's Court and shall be notified to the parties.
The Orphan's Court shall draw up the decision in writing and send the transcript thereof to the participant in the administrative process within 10 working days after the taking of the decision. A true copy of the decision can also be received in person at the Riga Orphan's Court.
Similarly, a decision/reply can be sent to a person by post, to an e-mail address or to the electronically agreed national and municipal services portal www.latvija.gov.lv.