Campaign in deep-frying must help tackle the problem of waiting list foster care

In Flanders, no less than 1000 children, young people or adults with a disability are looking for a new or temporary home. That is almost twice as many as four years ago. The waiting list is getting longer.

“Unfortunately, there are also many children in West Flanders waiting for a place in a warm family. At the moment there are just over two hundred. So we are certainly still looking for people with a place in their hearts and in their home “, says Nelle Devisscher of Pleegzorg Vlaanderen.

Various reasons

About fifty West Flemish chip shops are participating in the new campaign of Pleegzorg Vlaanderen. “With the promotion, foster families receive free family fries, which is a nice promotion. So if we can participate in that as a chip shop, that’s great,” says Chrissy De Reuse of Frituur ‘t Hazegras in Ostend, who is also the foster care from her brother.

Like Chrissy, family members or people in the network of a child or young person often take on the care. “They can also rely on foster care for this, but many do not know that,” says Nelle.

There are also many other reasons for foster care. “I couldn’t get pregnant myself,” says Inge Beydts, who has been a foster mom for six years. “There are still so many children here who need help, but they are often not talked about. Of course they are children with a backpack, but it is so nice to see how happy you can make them.”

“Even on holidays or weekends”

There is still a lot of ignorance about foster care. “Many think that it often concerns foreign children, but foster care is not the same as adoption,” says Inge. However, you can also apply to become a foster parent of an unaccompanied minor refugee.

“Foster care does not have to be forever, on the contrary. It is usually temporary care,” explains Nelle. “That can range from a few days, over a few weeks or months, to years or, in some cases, lifelong.”

If you apply as a foster parent, you can choose which category you want to enter. “Many also choose to only provide crisis care, which is then a few days or weeks. In the meantime, look for long-term care. Or you can also decide to only take care of a child during weekends or holidays.”

If you are interested, you can follow a digital information session via the foster care website.