2024-01-01 11:12:15
Ten to 20 small children in Salzburg each year need an on-call care place in the event of a crisis. We are looking for committed people for this.
For three years, Manuela has always been ready to take in and look following a small child in her family. She is employed by the SOS Children’s Village for this purpose. The mother of three has already temporarily looked following eleven children. “Most of them were two or three years old, there were also two infants and some older children of five or six years old,” says Manuela, who did not want to read her last name in the newspaper for security reasons. The foster children were with her from one day to eleven months.
“Sometimes you have to be ready within an hour or two, other times you have a week. It’s not always easy, you have to respond to each child individually and also prepare your own children for it,” says Manuela, who works with her Work wants to give something back to society.
The children are assigned by the state’s child and youth welfare service, which intervenes in an emergency to ensure the child’s well-being in difficult family situations.
In addition to the crisis center for small children in Salzburg-Taxham, there are currently only two on-call care places for children up to the age of three in the state. Now, together with SOS Children’s Villages, the state is looking for more on-call foster parents so that they can at least offer a foster placement in every district.
Crisis-resistant and flexible as a requirement profile
“From January 1st, 2024, SOS Children’s Villages is offering a contract in which the carers are employed for 15 hours per week, which is compensation for the willingness, further training and documentation. In the event of care, there is also the increased foster child benefit for each foster child “Amount of 1,583 euros,” says Irene Hochegger, educational director of the SOS Children’s Village on-call care.
In principle, anyone who would like to support children who need support in an emergency can apply. “The prerequisite is a positive suitability assessment by child and youth welfare services. For example, the income situation and criminal record are checked.
The living conditions are also looked at and intensive discussions are held. If everything fits, you can start foster parent training,” explains Renate Heil from the state’s child and youth welfare service. In any case, applicants must be crisis-resistant and very flexible. The state also supports the search for new on-call foster parents with posters and brochures imposed on the communities.
“This is a very important task in order to give a child from difficult circumstances a temporary home. It is regarding giving the child security, safety and stability,” emphasizes State Councilor for Social Affairs Christian Pewny (FPÖ). There are two information evenings for those interested: on January 17th at 6 p.m. in the SOS Children’s Village Seekirchen and on January 24th at 6 p.m. online.
Registration and information
Irene Hochegger,
Tel. 0 62 12/402 40, irene.hochegger@sos-kinderdorf at
Renate HeilChildren and Youth Services, Tel. 0662/8042-3641, www.salzburg.gv.at
1704108108
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