An ICBF operator warns that the reduction in foster homes puts family care for vulnerable children at risk.
In Antioch Concern is growing about the decrease in the opening of substitute homesa fundamental modality for the protection of boys, girls and adolescents in rights restoration processes. From one of the operators of the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF) They make an urgent call for citizen solidarity.
A foster home is a volunteer family that temporarily welcomes boys, girls or adolescents whose rights have been violated, offering them care, affection and protection in a family environment, while their legal situation is defined or their rights are reestablished, as established by the ICBF.
The alert arises from Cerfamione of the ICBF operators in Antioquia, who warns of a decrease greater than 50% in the opening of new substitute homes in the department. Although it is not an immediate closure of existing homes, the difficulty in linking new families begins to affect the capacity to respond to cases that are attended to on a permanent basis.
“The concern has to do with the fact that there are fewer and fewer families interested in or that meet the necessary requirements, both economically and housing, family and emotionally,” he explained. Luisa Fernanda Guzmán ÁlvarezCerfami social worker in charge of disseminating and forming substitute homes.
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The professional clarified that the current regulations have not changed recently nor do they require extraordinary conditions, but they do establish essential minimums to guarantee safe environments for minors. Among them are having an adequate room, own income that does not depend on the bonus provided by the ICBF, the agreement of all members of the household and the willingness to receive psychosocial support.
“There are fewer and fewer families willing or aware of this possibility, and that makes it more difficult to guarantee stable processes of education, health and care for boys and girls,” he said. Guzman Alvarez.
At the moment, Cerfami has around 160 active surrogate mothers in Medellín, the Metropolitan Area and some areas of Eastern Antioquia. However, this figure varies constantly due to natural closures of homes due to age, family changes or administrative situations, while the demand for places remains.
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The operator insists that this modality requires collective commitment and in which boys and girls in restoration of rights They are not the exclusive responsibility of the State, but of the entire society, which is why they reiterate the call to inform yourself and consider the possibility of becoming a substitute home in Antioquia.
Source: Integrated Information System
