Basic Terms

Substitute Care of Children – care of children who for various reasons cannot be brought up in their own families. The substitute care is mostly provided in institutions (institutes for infants, children’s care homes) where the children stay until they reach the legal age.

Substitute Family Care (SFC) – care of children who are brought up by “substitute parents” in an environment that is most similar to a natural family. Such environment is created mainly by adoption or foster care.

Adoption - it is a state guaranteed and legally provided form of substitute family care under which married couples or individuals adopt abandoned children and have the same rights and responsibilities to adopted children as if they were natural parents. 

Foster care – this is a state managed and controlled form of substitute family care that guarantees sufficient material welfare of children and an adequate reimbursement for those who take care of the children. The Czech legislation doesn’t say anything about host care, but professionals working in this sector are trying to make it possible for children who are not legally free to live in other families. Such children can stay in host families for a limited period of time (weekends, holidays, etc.) People interested in host care have to undergo the same examination as in the case of adoption or foster care.