Number of Foster Carers in Odesa Region More Than Doubles over a Year and a Half

Foster Care Is Spreading Rapidly Across Odesa Region

According to Міністерство соц. політики: Foster care gives children a temporary family setting when they cannot safely remain with their biological parents. A sharp increase in foster carers is now under way in Odesa Oblast: the region has 44 foster families, more than double the number from eighteen months ago. In total, 31 communities in the region now offer the service, expanding the options for children whose families are in crisis.

What Tatarbunary Community’s Experience Shows

Tatarbunary has welcomed children from neighboring areas on a regular basis. Of the 53 children who stayed in foster care there, 17 came from other communities, and half of all placed children returned to their biological families.

Tatarbunary Mayor Andrii Hlushchenko said:

“Seventeen children from other communities have received foster care while the service has been active in our community. Among the 53 children in foster care, half returned to their birth families.”

Foster care allows children to avoid leaving their community, while still receiving treatment or rehabilitation, experiencing family life, and feeling secure and cared for during a crisis. Questions about becoming a foster carer can be directed to the local child services office or dity.gov.ua.

Programs supporting foster care in the region are implemented alongside:

• UNICEF Ukraine
• Partnership for Every Child
• Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine
• State Service of Ukraine for Children
• Coordination Center for the Development of Family Upbringing and Child Care
• European Union
• Austrian Development Agency
• Embassy of Canada to Ukraine
• Global Affairs Canada
• Government of France

The expansion of foster care in Odesa Oblast is part of a broader effort to create family-based alternatives for children in difficult circumstances. Remaining in a familiar community can make a major difference in a child’s recovery and adjustment. International partners have backed this work, showing how cooperation strengthens child protection.

As the number of foster families continues to rise in the Odesa region, it is essential to understand the broader context of child welfare in Ukraine. Recent regulations by the Cabinet of Ministers address the evacuation of children in situations where parents refuse assistance, ensuring that vulnerable children receive the protection they need. This development highlights the importance of supportive measures for families in crisis. For more details on the new regulations, see the recent government measures regarding child evacuation.