Fostering in France

[Georgina]

Anybody have any experience of fostering in France. I am experiencing some difficulties getting my head around what is going on at my childrens' friend's residence, the local childrens' home.  It almost appears, although I hope I am wrong, that they don't like people interfering with their schedules.  I am trying to arrange a regular contact, and am sad that it proving a little difficult, with messages not being returned and people in charge being out.

Although I know fostering exists, does anyone have any knowledge or experience of this in France and how it works, so I don't go about it the wrong way.

Georgina

[Tresco]

Hi Georgina

I remembered someone mentioning that they had been a foster parent here and looked it up, the name of the forum member is 'patter', and you can see what s/he said here

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/585416/ShowPost.aspx

I don't know whether patter is a regular visitor here, I just thought perhaps in a pm you could ask the questions of someone who may know, or know someone else who knows...

'Customer Care' here really is a lower, much lower than I have come to expect in UK. You need to nudge things a long a bit. If it was me I would keep it simple. Bob round there (to the childrens' home)  if possible, while the children are at school, and make your enquiries/requests in person, armed with your list of un-returned calls etc.

One of the many horrible things about being in a residence like this is that you (the child) tend to only knock around with people in the same 'situation'. There is a horrible stigmatisation and unconscious judgement made on children in care, and they can get cut off from other people and other kinds of lives very quickly.

I wish you well

 

[Georgina]

Thanks for that, I am feeling very sad for the boy as it is difficult sorting anything out. However, I am going to go with someone next week and find out exactly what they are doing, she is French and perhaps they won't be able to pass her off as quickly as they are doing me.

It's right about them mixing with the same kids in the same situation all the time, but the boy was so happy to visit us, I hope I am not disturbing him with the differences. Its hard to know what is right, because if I talk to him, they might decide that it's a problem.

Georgina

[Tresco]

[quote user="Georgina"]

....the boy was so happy to visit us, I hope I am not disturbing him with the differences. Its hard to know what is right, because if I talk to him, they might decide that it's a problem.

[/quote]

If all you are trying to is establish regular play dates it's hard to see what objection they could have, apart from considerations of his safety (their duty of care). I hope it works out. Sending you a pm

[Renaud]

Being dyslexic means that sometimes you read things wrongly. One of the greatest things about this is that one reads all kinds of surrealist messages, caused by the brain trying to make sense of what the eyes are telling it that they are reading. I leapt to read this thread thinking that it was about:

FESTERING IN FRANCE

Now that is a great title for a thread - all those Brits stuch in the back of gallic beyond, moaning as they fester away...

Forgive the off topic levity. 

[Georgina]

So I am a bit annoyed now.  I asked the secretary when would be a good time to go and see the Chef de Service, and she said that she was there all day usually all the time.  So I rang this morning to ask if she was definitely there in the afternoon and she said she was.  Well I took my french friend, and guess what, she had gone out to a meeting.  So yes, why did she not tell me that she had a meeting and why did the secretary not know???  Unbelievable.

Georgina

[Russethouse]

.......but when you go back there will not be any doubt that you are serious !

Don't give up, I'm sure this child will apreciate your input.