Temporary stay of a child under guardianship is one of the alternatives to child guardianship (custody). Generally, people do not decide to foster or adopt children due to financial circumstances, they do not have their own housing, they work a lot and would not be able to devote time to a child. It is believed that providing the opportunity for specific children to temporarily stay with adults during holidays, during the child’s vacation leads to establishment of a close relationship, friendship, development of social skills, opening of new mental and developmental opportunities for the child, and release of the hormone of happiness. Such friendship teaches a young person to trust others and himself, heals the wounds of broken ties with his parents and relatives.
Children over the age of 7 years may stay because children of such age are already able to understand that the people who spend time with them will not necessarily become their guardians (custodians) or foster parents. Minors are allowed to stay only in exceptional cases, when it is aimed not to separate siblings or it is a relative. During stays, it is very important to talk with the child and clarify the purpose of such meetings, draw specific boundaries, and not to give unfounded hopes.
What a child from a care home receives when he comes to a person or a family remains a part of his life – fellowship forms an emotional bond, reveals real social life. It is difficult to survive without a close connection, a close connection is especially important in crisis situations.
Temporary stay care may be beneficial for families or single individuals considering long-term guardianship or adoption, because communicating with the child establishes an emotional bond, overcomes possibly unfounded fears or beliefs, and makes the decision easier.
Both parties are responsibly prepared for the fellowship, a kind of contract is concluded between them and no room for ambiguities is left. Persons who have not made a firm decision about adoption or guardianship (custody), for example, do not have a steady source of income, do not have experience in raising children or have already raised their own children may accept children for temporary stay.
Temporary stay of a child requires adequate housing and living conditions, i.e. a separate bed, private space and living conditions to ensure the child’s basic needs and safety. Accommodation and living conditions are assessed by certified GIMK specialists. It shall also be assessed whether the persons living together agree with the decision. After the assessment, a conclusion with which you can apply to any chosen guardianship institution is drawn up. You may take children from other cities for temporary stays, it does not have to be the city where you live.
Temporary visiting includes short-term, daily visits of two children under guardianship (custody) to adults who do not have the opportunity to undertake long-term guardianship (custody), but the person inviting the temporary visit must be specially prepared for this and have received a positive assessment from the child guardianship (custody) institutions and live In Lithuania. The child is allowed to leave to foreign countries only to stay with his close relatives.
A natural person shall provide the following documents concerning his place of residence to the territorial office of the State Child Protection and Adoption Service:
The territorial unit of the service finds out whether you meet all the requirements, i.e. you do not pose a threat to the child, do not have and did not have problems with law enforcement, and conducts an initial assessment within 10 working days.
If you live in Lithuania, the Service applies to the Guardianship Centre of your place of residence for assessment of your suitability to receive a child under the guardianship at an institution or household for a temporary stay, submission of a questionnaire not later than within 1 working day of the initial assessment and checks your suitability not later than within 20 working days from the date of submission of the application and receipt of documents.
Social workers will draw up a recommendation on your eligibility for temporary stay within 10 working days. In the light of the recommendation, the employees of the territorial office for the Child Rights Protection Service will draw up a conclusion to your eligibility. If you did not specify a specific child in the conclusion, your expectations about the child’s age, gender, health, etc. will be stated in the conclusion.
You will be required to conclude a contract on the temporary release of the child for stay with the child’s guardian (custodian). The contract will be valid for the period of the validity of the conclusion issued to you by the territorial office of the Child Rights Protection Service or the relevant child rights protection institution in a foreign country regarding your suitability to accept a child for a temporary stay. The conclusion is valid for no longer than 24 months and may be revoked if circumstances that would prevent you from temporarily accepting the child for say become apparent.
You will receive a copy of the conclusion and a list of guardians (custodians) acting in Lithuania within three working days from the date of drawing up of the conclusion. If the conclusion regarding your suitability is negative, the Service will provide the reasons for such a decision. In such case, further actions regarding the temporary stay of the child would not be carried out. After receiving a positive or negative conclusion, you will have to confirm that you are familiar with it in writing not later than within 3 working days. After receiving a negative conclusion, you will be able to repeatedly apply only when the reasons for the negative conclusion cease to exist.
If you receive a positive conclusion, you can contact any of the child’s guardians (custodian) on the list provided by the Service. Upon receipt of your application, the guardian (custodian) will contact the territorial child protection office you have designated to confirm your eligibility to adopt the child, provide you with information about the child and assess and make a final decision as to whether the temporary stay of the child with you is in the best interests of the child. If there are reasonable doubts, the guardian (custodian) has the right to submit the reasons why he does not agree to sign the contract with to you and the territorial office in writing you within three working days. If there are no doubts as to your eligibility, you will sign a contract on the release of the child for temporary stay with you with the child’s guardian (custodian). The guardian (custodian) will submit a copy of the contract to the territorial offices of the territory where you live and the territory of the guardianship (custody) of the child. The guardian (custodian) will sign an order to release a specific child for temporary stay with you.
During the entire stay, the guardian (custodian) maintains contact with the child, is interested in the conditions of his stay, if the child stays in the territory of the same municipality, checks the conditions of the stay, listens to the child’s opinion. If the child is released to the territory of another municipality, the guardian (custodian) may additionally apply to the guardianship centre of that place for care of the child during the stay.
The services are available to all families of guardians and foster parents in Vilnius city, as well as persons considering guardianship and adoption. For further information, please contact the Child Rights Protection Department of Vilnius City, tel. +370 613 51 122 or e-mail Vilniaus.miestas@vaikoteises.lt.
