We are learning about the Polish experience of supporting family-based foster care.
In the spring, the foundation’s team visited the Lighthouse Family Support Centre of the Polish Association of Foster Care ‘Jedno Serce’ in Poland.
We had the opportunity to talk to foster families (Polish and Ukrainian), the centre’s staff, and the founders of the Foster Care Association. We saw people who are passionate about their work and care about the fate of children. We also shared our experience of supporting family-based care.
Because in order to become better, you need to learn. To learn and share experiences.
We thank our Polish colleagues for their openness and love for children. And such hospitality! We returned to Ukraine with the inspiration to work and do even more to ensure that our Ukrainian children live in happy families.
Background.
The Jedno Serce Foster Care Association is an organisation that has been supporting foster families since 2009. It makes sure that children who cannot grow up in biological families find a safe place full of love and professional care. Since 2011, she has been managing two family care and education institutions with social housing – Jedno Serce Family Homes – where a total of 25 children live. In 2012-2022, it operated a sociotherapeutic day care centre (after-school care) called the Heart Zone.
The association operates mainly in the Biała Podlaska Poviat of the Lubelskie Voivodeship, but some activities are nationwide with international cooperation. In 2010, One Heart, together with other organisations, founded the Coalition for Foster Care.
Currently, 200 children and 50 foster and adoptive parents, Polish and Ukrainian, including 37 people with disabilities, are under the direct care of Jedno Serce.
The roles taken on by foster parents require not only excellent organisational skills and a range of useful skills, but above all parenting competences, including knowledge of special needs, trauma and illness. They must have the skills to lead children to healthy, trusting relationships. ‘Jedno Serce cares about improving the competences of foster parents, adoptive parents and biological parents by conducting trainings and seminars, as well as preparing candidates for foster care.
Currently, the Association is conducting a number of activities in cooperation with other organisations, including UNICEF, SOS Children’s Villages, UNAVESA Foundation, the Irreplaceable project, and also cares about institutional development.
In January 2023, with the support of UNICEF, the Lighthouse Family Support Centre was established in Biała Podlaska. This is a unique place that offers comprehensive support to families – mainly adoptive and foster families – where more than 250 people receive specialised support every month.
At Lighthouse, you can benefit from the support of the following specialists: psychologist, teacher, child and adolescent therapist, speech therapist, physiotherapist, and sensory integration therapist. Children and young people also take part in classes that develop their talents and hobbies. In addition, we run support groups for parents and developmental groups for children and young people.
Lighthouse operates on the basis of TBRI® – Trust – Based Relational Intervention, with certified practitioners and trainers working on site. In our Family Support Centre, families are immersed in the technique to create better relationships, deeper connections and healing for children who have experienced trauma, loss and neglect.
Other activities of the Association include the organisation of TBRI summer camps, summer reunions and One Heart Sunday integration meetings, as well as advocacy events and trainings.
