Out-of-family care, guardianship and foster families

A child is primarily ensured the opportunity to grow up with a guardian or in a foster family. According to the Law on Social Services and Social Assistance, Section 4, orphans and children left without parental care shall be provided with care in a family-like environment – foster family, with a guardian – and only if this is not possible, care is provided at a long-term social care and social rehabilitation institution.

The ‘number of children in long-term social care and rehabilitation institutions’ is compiled by the State Inspectorate for Protection of Children’s Rights (SIPCR), and the ‘number of children in social care centres’ by the Ministry of Welfare (MW). SIPCR bases its figures on decisions of the Orphan's and Custody Courts regarding the placement of children in long-term social care and rehabilitation institutions, while MW uses data from reports submitted by social care centres. The MW figure is usually higher than the SIPCR figure, as a child may be placed in a social care centre without an Orphan's and Custody Court decision (e.g., based on an application submitted by parents).