The 21st Meeting of Temporary Foster Families of the Region of Murcia brings together families, children and professionals for a day of togetherness and recognition

The “Los Juncos” Leisure Park in Molina de Segura hosted the 21st Meeting of Temporary Foster Families of the Region of Murcia, a day devoted to togetherness, sharing experiences and recognising the families taking part in the various temporary foster care projects managed by the Health and Community Foundation (FSC) and the Lagunduz Group. These are the ACOFAMT and “Familias Canguro” (Kangaroo Families) programmes and the Specialised Full-Time Foster Care service, run in collaboration with the Government of the Region of Murcia. The latter is funded by the European Social Fund.

The meeting brought together 28 families and 37 children and adolescents from the three foster care services: the “Familias Canguro” Emergency Programme, with 8 families and 11 children; the ACOFAMT service, with 16 families and 20 children; and the Specialised Full-Time Foster Care service, with 4 families and 6 children.

For the participating families, events like this are an opportunity to share experiences with others in a similar situation. “It’s lovely to be able to meet other families, share our experiences and see that, although every story is different, we are united by the same commitment to the children,” said one of the families attending.

The event was attended by Ana Belén Martínez Garrido, Director-General for Women and the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence, representing the Directorate-General for Families, Children and Work-Life Balance of the Regional Ministry of Social Policy, Families and Equality of the Region of Murcia. Also in attendance were Noelia Laso Fuentes, Head of the Child Protection Service; Concepción Pérez Lara, Head of Foster Care and Adoption; technical staff from the Directorate-General; Toni Gelida Latorre, Manager of the Dependency Care and Children and Adolescents Care Area of the Health and Community Foundation (FSC); and the professional teams of the three services.

The programme began with an institutional welcome, followed by the reception of the participating families and children. Next came the activity “¿Y si le ponemos ganas?” (What if we put our heart into it?), led by Pedro Ortín Alarcón, a graduate in Business Administration and Management and a social educator.

Through this participatory activity, the families had the opportunity to reflect on and share experiences about commitment, motivation and the fundamental role they play in foster care. The activity served to recognise and thank the foster families for their commitment and daily dedication, as their generosity offers children and adolescents a home where they can feel loved, supported and protected.

“Fostering teaches you something every day. It is an experience that involves dedication, learning and a great deal of affection. Knowing that you can offer a child a safe, family environment during a stage of their life is something very special,” said another family.

The families then enjoyed a time for conversation and sharing experiences, in which they were able to talk about their experiences, concerns and lessons learned. This moment brought together families from the different programmes and helped to strengthen the bonds between them.

Meanwhile, the children and adolescents enjoyed three hours of fun at the “Los Juncos” Leisure Park. The youngest enjoyed the ball pit and bouncy castles, while the older ones took part in various activities such as laser tag, the go-kart track and riding the “mechanical bull”.

The children’s day ended with a special snack themed around “Drilo” the crocodile, in a relaxed, family atmosphere that allowed everyone to keep sharing conversations and experiences.

“The most important thing is for the children to feel loved, protected and supported. Every small gesture counts, and every family can bring a great deal to their lives,” concluded one participating family.

Once again, this meeting highlighted the value and importance of temporary foster care, and recognised the generosity, commitment and dedication of the families who make it possible for children and adolescents to grow up for a time in a safe, loving family environment.

The day also served to thank the professional teams and all the people and institutions involved in the programmes for their work and collaboration, as their joint efforts are essential to guarantee the protection, well-being and all-round development of children.

The 21st Meeting of Temporary Foster Families reminded us once again that foster care is a shared task and that each family, with its commitment and affection, helps to build new opportunities and to give children the caring environment they need.