The Rio de Janeiro City Hall has opened registrations for the Foster Family program, an initiative that seeks to increase the number of temporary homes for children and adolescents who are victims of violence, neglect, or other situations that require removal from family life.
Coordinated by the Municipal Department of Social Assistance (SMAS), the program offers an alternative to institutional care, providing a safe family environment while the child's or adolescent's situation is reassessed by the protection network.
Foster care is not adoption. Participating families receive minors for a temporary period, until it is possible for them to return to their family of origin, for another protective measure to be determined, or for them to reach the age of majority.
The municipality wants to expand the model.
Currently, only 19% of children and adolescents in foster care in the city live with foster families, while the majority remain in institutions. The city government's goal is to expand access to this care model, considered closer to family life.
Registration can be done in person at one of the Social Assistance Coordination Offices (CAS) or through the Municipal Social Assistance Secretariat's website. To participate, applicants must be between 21 and 68 years old, undergo a psychosocial evaluation, and demonstrate availability to monitor the development of the child or adolescent being fostered.
The selected families receive a monthly allowance of R$ 1.400 to help with the costs of fostering. In cases of children or adolescents with disabilities or special needs, the amount increases to R$ 2.030.
Today, the program has 120 registered families, of which 68 are currently fostering 110 children and teenagers in different areas of the city.
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