SOS Villages: Latvia removes three to four children from families daily

Three to four children are removed from families in Latvia every day, the Latvian SOS Children’s Villages Association told LSM, which reported the figures in a report by Skrunda Television. Children who are not adopted or placed with guardians or foster families are sent to care institutions.

The number of foster families in Latvia is declining each year, reducing children’s chances of living in a family environment. The association is continuing its “A Family Awaits” campaign, with Kuldīga among its stops.

The Stiba family from Skrunda has been foster parents for five years. Mother Anda is a youth affairs specialist at the Skrunda Youth Centre, while father Gatis is a rescue firefighter. The couple have two biological children.

Two teenage sisters were the first foster children to join the family, followed later by 11-month-old Arnītis. The family adopted the boy this year.

One of the foster daughters, Sintija, has since reached adulthood. She studies pastry-making at Kuldīga Technical School and lives independently, but visits her foster family whenever she has free time.

“I was very confused. I was frightened because I did not know what awaited me. Of course, I hoped that I would return to my real home, but that did not happen. And I am happy that I ended up here. I cannot get used to being alone. Not at all. That is why I visit them very often,” Sintija said.

She said the family continued to act like brothers and sisters at school and outside the home, even though they were not related by blood. “What matters is being there for one another, and standing up for one another,” Anda said.

However, not all children who need it are placed with another family. More than 60% are currently with guardians in Latvia, about 26% are in foster families and 12% are in care institutions.

The number of foster families has been falling. Latvia had 709 foster families three years ago, compared with 654 last year.

The SOS Children’s Villages Association is organising the “A Family Awaits” campaign in several Latvian cities, highlighting that about 1,000 children are currently waiting for a family.

Association head Ilze Paleja said that between 1,200 and 1,500 children are removed from their families and placed in out-of-family care each year. “This situation is truly very worrying. It means that three to four children are removed from a family in our country every day,” she said.