Foster parents

Full-time care(§ 33 of the Child and Youth Welfare Act):

Depending on the age and stage of development of the child or young person and their personal relationships, as well as the possibilities for improving the upbringing conditions in the family of origin, full-time foster care is intended to provide children and young people with temporary educational support or a permanent form of living in another family. The aim is to provide children and young people with temporary educational support or a permanent form of living in another family. Suitable forms of family care must be created and expanded for children and adolescents with particular developmental difficulties.

Anyone wishing to care for a child requires a care permit(Section 44 of the Child and Youth Welfare Act)

(1) Anyone who wishes to regularly care for a child or young person outside the parental home in their family or provide them with accommodation (foster carer) requires a permit. Permission is not required for anyone who cares for a child or young person

• within the framework of educational assistance or integration assistance for mentally disabled children and young people on the basis of a referral by the youth welfare office,
• as guardian or custodian within the scope of his or her sphere of activity,
• as a relative or in-law up to the third degree,
• up to a duration of eight weeks,
• is supervised or given accommodation as part of a student or youth exchange.

Furthermore, a permit is not required if

• takes a child or young person into adoptive care(Section 1744 of the German Civil Code) or
• one child is cared for during the day, provided that no more than two other children in the same household are cared for in day care or during the day and night.

(2) Permission shall be refused if the welfare of the child or young person is not guaranteed in the foster home.


(3) The Youth Welfare Office shall, depending on the requirements of the individual case. The youth welfare office shall check on the spot whether the conditions for granting the permit continue to exist. If the welfare of the child or young person in the foster home is at risk and the foster carer is not willing or able to avert the risk, the permit shall be withdrawn or revoked.


(4) Anyone who has taken a child or young person into family care requiring a permit must inform the youth welfare office of important events that affect the welfare of the child or young person.


For intensive advice, please contact the general social services department of your youth welfare office.

• District administration
• City administration with youth welfare office

See also:

Educational aids

You can also obtain information from the information system of the State Office for Social Affairs, Youth and Care (LSJV)