Specialised foster parents to benefit from €10,000 a year

The government is providing a total of €10,000 per child to those who partake in specialised fostering. The service, 'Specialised Home-Based Care Services' is part of the Out-of Home Care Programme

The service was launched earlier this year by Agenzija Appogg.

Through this service, the government is providing foster families and individuals €3,360 a year to each girl or boy for basic fostering needs, alongside the Child in Care beneficiary of €3,640 per annum: a total of €7,000. Moreover, for the cases where more than basic needs are necessary, the family will receive another €3,000 for the child per year, a total of  €10,000 annually.

The children considered for specialised fostering must be seven years or over, unless they are living with a sibling older than seven, and have suffered from some form of abuse, abandonment or a problematic past with their family.

The programme also helps young parents with children in particular cases, and includes children who suffer from a sickness or have a disability.

In Malta, there are currently 257 children in 197 foster families.