To ensure safety to children placed in foster care is among priorities of the Office of the Children’s Commissioner. From 1 January 2015, foster care institutions may be home to children of at least 7 years of age. Though, the research by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner shows that 32 randomly selected foster care institutions admitted over 1000 minors of whom nearly 800 were not more than 6 years old. This is over two-thirds of children. Although the law allows for some exceptions - e.g. when the child’s health comes to play or when his or her siblings are also staying in a foster care institution - the Commissioner strongly objects such proposals. ”This is a flagrant breach of the law which is unacceptable” - says Marek Michalak.
Therefore, the Children’s Commissioner would like NIK to look into how the institutional foster care works in Poland. According to Michalak, the process of replacing children’s homes with foster families proceeds too slowly. Besides, these institutions often fail to meet one of their key objectives which is to help the children return to their biological families. ”In order to change that I need the assistance and support of the Supreme Audit Office” - says Michalak. The Children’s Commissioner has already moved to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy and the Minister of Justice to take actions to make sure the foster care organisers fully comply with their obligations arising from the effective law.
As part of the memorandum between the Children’s Commissioner and NIK, both institutions agreed to systematically exchange information on threats and irregularities related to the safety of minors. NIK will provide the Children’s Commissioner with audit reports and pronouncements dealing with the family and children-related issues. Additionally, the Children’s Commissioner’s representatives will participate in experts panels organised by NIK and act as specialists in the course of audits.
