Save the Children Finland has received funding from the EU Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund for its Perhehoito kotouttaa project to develop family care for children and adolescents arriving in Finland without family members. We are now looking for foster families, from both Finnish and immigrant backgrounds, in the Uusimaa and Tampere regions.
“We are concerned about the children arriving in Finland alone, especially the youngest ones, and wish to offer them the opportunity to live in families. These children need the company of adults who can look after them and support their integration in Finland. It is important to be surrounded by people who care. We believe that the family environment is the best place for a child to grow in,” says Kristiina Mattinen, Regional Director, Southern Finland, of Save the Children Finland.
Save the Children Finland is now seeking foster families for children under the age of 16 who have arrived in Finland alone and have been granted asylum. Families are sought in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, the Uusimaa region and the Tampere region. Foster families will receive training and support for raising the children.
“We can start placing children in families as soon as we get enough families involved and trained. It is difficult to find families, so we really hope that as many as possible would consider providing a home for a child in need. We welcome all those interested in joining our training and seeing whether their family could provide a home for a child. You don’t need to be a ‘super parent’ – a well balanced family environment is all that is needed,” Mattinen emphasises.
Immigrant families, for example, from the same language and cultural groups as the children, are also invited to participate. This can promote integration.
“We believe that family care is the best form of integration for children and adolescents,” Mattinen sums up.
Potential foster families are encouraged to contact the project staff of Save the Children:
Päivi Partanen, Project Coordinator, Southern Finland regional office, tel. +358 (0)50 564 1276, paivi.partanen@pelastakaalapset.fi, and Heli Reinikainen, Project Coordinator, Western Finland regional office, tel. +358 (0)40 543 0313, heli.reinikainen@pelastakaalapset.fi
