The government has proposed that children under 7 years old in Poland will no longer be placed in orphanages.

Under sevens deprived of their parent's care will no longer be placed in orphanages, but directly in foster care. The Labour and Social Policy Ministry wants to propose this solution in a new bill on supporting the family and the foster care system.

Press officer for the ministry, Bożena Diaby emphasized that families who cannot cope with bringing up children, will be offered the help of a family assistant. This is supposed to prevent difficult families from being deprived of parental rights.

'This person's only job will be to help families. If she figures out that this family cannot cope with life, that they have given up, she can direct them to a job training or a therapist. The assistant should decide that,' said Diaby.

She added that Poland needs more foster care families. New regulations are supposed to make foster parenting a full time job, with all the welfare and pensions privileges and the right to a paid leave.

Beginning with next year, children under 7 years old won't be accepted into orphanages, they will go directly to foster care. Beginning with the year 2015, the age threshold is supposed to be raised to 10 years old. (jn)

Source: IAR