Description: | In the Czech Republic, there are two almost identical institutes of substitute family care performed by relatives or person close to children - so-called foster care and custody care (entrustment the child to the custody of a person other than the parent according to § 953 of Act No. 89/2012 Coll., Civil Code, as amended). Both institutes have a number of identical features, but they differ in financial support and professional guaranteed support. The double-tracking in the substitute family care (custody care vs. foster care), the inconsistency of decision-making practice and approaches of the authorities providing social and legal protection to children and the courts, and the need to unify this system, have been pointed out for a long time. In the case of foster care, a number of analysis and data are available, but the area of the custody care, the needs of children and these substitute families have not yet been described in detail. The aim of this project is a detailed analysis of the custody care institute, including a comparison with related foster care. The main output will be a comprehensive research report. It will serve as a basis for the decision making of the Ministry of Labour and Social in the field of substitute family care. A certified methodology as the second principal project output will support the authorities providing social and legal protection to children for their work with foster families. |