Israel Removes Age Limit for Foster Parents and Eases Mental Health Treatment for Foster Children

The Israeli Knesset has passed a final amendment to the Foster Care Law removing the maximum age limit of 56 for foster parents. This change aims to expand the pool of potential foster families amid rising life expectancy and increasing difficulty in finding willing foster homes. The amendment was welcomed by welfare organizations, including Or Shalom, whose CEO Yair Madlion highlighted that the law invites experienced and caring families of all ages to provide stable homes for foster children.

Additionally, the legislation now allows foster parents to administer psychiatric medication to foster children without needing prior consent from biological parents. Previously, foster parents had to obtain biological parents' approval or resort to lengthy court proceedings if consent was withheld or unobtainable. Under the new law, foster parents can provide treatment based on a specialist psychiatrist's recommendation and must inform the biological parents. If the biological parents object, the case will be referred to the foster care supervisor rather than the courts, speeding up access to necessary care.

The reform follows testimonies from foster parents to the Knesset Welfare Committee, who described the challenges caused by existing restrictions. MK Michal Waldiger, who initiated the bill, emphasized that children should receive prescribed medication promptly to prevent further harm to them and their families. The Ministry of Justice had initially argued for maintaining biological parents' consent due to the seriousness of psychiatric treatment, but the final compromise balances these concerns with the need for timely care.