2023-08-04 19:04:00
The 3-month-old baby who had been abandoned in a washhouse in Anderlecht has been found. The child remains in hospital on Friday, awaiting placement with a suitable foster family. Only, in Belgium, these families are not numerous enough.
Audrey and Quentin have chosen to be an emergency foster family. Since 2021, they have welcomed 7 children for a maximum of 45 days. At home, a room is always ready, in case the couple is called.
“At the finish, it’s a bit sporty. In general, we have the call a few days before. Sometimes the same day, but it’s a little rarer. There, there is a whole dynamic that is set up. You have to be able to prepare the bed, check that you have enough clothes, think regarding what you are going to do in the next few days…“, explains Audrey.
Even over such a short period, bonds are formed and separations can be difficult. “Generally, we are still prepared by the social workers. We have the date a few days before. We have time to prepare and we know what will happen in the following days for him“, specifies Quentin.
Too few host families
In 2022, 737 children had to be placed in foster families, including 292 in emergency, but places are lacking: “Today, we have far too many requests for children to be placed in emergency foster families, and too few emergency families or even short-term or medium-term families. We need foster families to help these children“, regrets Jessica Cocquyt, spokesperson for Foster Family.
It is in a family like this that the 3-month-old girl abandoned in a laundry last Friday will have to be placed. These families must be able to react quickly, so you have to be very organized.
In Audrey and Laura’s attic are stacks of plastic crates. They are filled with objects that have served them during their various receptions. “For example, everything regarding hygiene, everything regarding board games, which we have classified by age. Same for clothes, classified by sex and age“, shows us Quentin. This kind of stock can pass from family to family, because over the years, a network of mutual aid has developed thanks to social networks.
In Audrey and Quentin’s house, each child discovers a home in which they will leave an indelible mark.
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