Fewer foster parents, more needy children

More than 2,200 children currently live in foster families across Croatia, yet fewer people are willing to open their homes to them. This growing gap has become a central topic during the 18th National Meeting of Foster Families, organized by the Forum for Quality Foster Care, held in Đurđevac. The meeting highlights both the challenges and successes of fostering in the country, with personal stories illustrating how some individuals have been inspired to take on this responsibility after witnessing the struggles of others. The story begins on a cold winter night in 2009, when Dubravka Čordašev, a foster parent from Đurđevac, returned home from her second shift. She encountered a scene that would change her life forever, two young girls being taken away by emergency services, wrapped in thin cotton garments, barefoot, and shivering in the cold. The sight left a lasting impression on Dubravka, who, along with her husband Ivan, decided to become foster parents. From that moment on, their home became filled with care and attention, welcoming many children who had lost parental support. Dubravka recalls that around 120 children found temporary shelter in their home over time. Ivan, now 15 years old and recently turned legal adult, completed his secondary education and still lives with his family. He expresses a desire to become a foster parent himself, stating that there are many parents who are not interested in taking on such responsibilities. His perspective reflects a broader trend: more children need stable homes, while fewer families are stepping forward to provide them. Đurđevac, which hosted this year’s National Meeting of Foster Families, has long been recognized as one of the leading cities in Croatia for the number of foster parents per capita. The city continues to prioritize fostering, offering support through initiatives such as providing furniture, funding for utilities, waste management, water, and additional payments for each child placed under their care. Hrvoje Janči, the mayor of Đurđevac, explained that these measures help sustain the work of foster families. In contrast, regions such as Dalmacia and the islands have historically shown lower rates of foster care adoption. Marija Igrec, president of the Forum for Quality Foster Care in Zagreb, noted that while the northern and northwest parts of Croatia, including Varaždin, Koprivnica, and Međimurje, have traditionally excelled in fostering, the practice is less common in southern areas. This regional disparity underscores the uneven distribution of resources and awareness surrounding foster care. Despite efforts to professionalize the field since 2019, with the introduction of formal employment conditions, including social security and pension contributions for foster parents, the number of Croatian families willing to take in children remains low. Many of these children come from backgrounds marked by tragedy and loss, often having known nothing but hardship from birth. Their placement in foster homes represents a critical step toward stability and healing.