Israeli Foster Mother Urges Law to Secure Permanent Status for Foster Children After Years of Uncertainty

Yael, a foster mother in Israel, shares her emotional story of raising Maya (both names changed), a girl who has faced multiple traumatic separations due to the child welfare system. Maya was placed with Yael as a newborn and stayed with her family for two years before being returned to her biological mother. However, less than a year later, Maya was returned to Yael’s care when her mother was unable to raise her.

Despite Maya’s attachment to her foster family, the welfare services proposed a rehabilitation program for her biological mother, which could have led to Maya being removed again. This caused significant distress for Maya, who at age ten expressed her desire to remain with her foster family, stating, "I’m not leaving my family." Yael highlights the emotional toll such uncertainty takes on children in foster care, emphasizing that children should not be forced to endure repeated separations.

Yael advocates for legislative change to establish a maximum time limit for temporary foster care placements, after which a child’s status would be permanently fixed with their foster family. Currently, many children remain in indefinite temporary foster care, leading to instability and anxiety. A 2023 State Comptroller report criticized the lack of clear treatment plans and permanent solutions for foster children.

The Ministry of Welfare acknowledges the importance of stable, supportive homes and has recently advanced policies to ease bureaucratic hurdles for foster families and recognize long-term foster care as a permanent home option. However, only about 1% of foster children are formally adopted by their foster families, leaving most in prolonged temporary status.

Yael’s experience and ongoing research with other foster parents underscore the urgent need for systemic reform to protect children’s well-being by providing them with permanent, stable family environments. The Ministry states it prioritizes the child’s best interests and supports rehabilitation efforts for biological families when possible, but also recognizes the value of long-term foster care for children who cannot return home.