Concerns have recently been raised regarding the challenges faced by foster families in Luxembourg, coupled with a lack of comprehensive statistics on placements.
Earlier this week, the Association of Foster Parents highlighted several critiques of the existing legal framework and proposed changes. Our colleagues from RTL Télé sought reactions from the Ministry of Education, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), and the Ombudsman for Children and Adolescents.
Presently, over 1,400 children are placed in either institutions or foster families in Luxembourg, with approximately 60% in children's homes and 40% in family settings. According to Charel Schmit, the Ombudsman for Children and Adolescents, without recent reforms, this figure would likely be significantly higher. Schmit views the planned reform of minor protection as an opportunity to amplify the voices of children and adolescents within the system.
Schmit emphasises that both foster families and residential care offer a mix of positive and negative experiences, underscoring the importance of adequate support for both. However, he notes that foster families provide a distinct array of benefits, possibly different from those offered in residential care.
Meanwhile, the opposition party LSAP advocates for an increase in efforts to recruit foster families and urges authorities to prioritise listening to the concerns of foster parents.
LSAP MP Francine Closener emphasises the unique bond and emotional stability provided by foster families, distinguishing them from institutional care settings. She stresses the importance of acknowledging and valuing the contributions of these families in the care and upbringing of children in need.
Both the LSAP MP and the Ombudsman are advocating for enhanced statistical data availability, emphasising the necessity of an evidence-based approach in fostering. Gilles Dahmen, First Advisor at the Ministry of Education, acknowledges the importance of such data but cautions against generalising individual cases.
Dahmen points out the myriad factors influencing a child's development, including the potential stabilisation of their biological family, developmental psychological aspects like puberty, and the possibility of placement changes. Consequently, he deems it challenging to prescribe generalised measures applicable to all cases.
Highlighting the ministry's strategy, Dahmen affirms their commitment to reducing placements, aiming to establish smaller, more supportive structures while bolstering foster families. On average, 15 to 17 new foster families are recruited each year.
Full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish)
