The Governing Council of the Community of Madrid has greenlit an investment of 2.8 million euros aimed at strengthening the specialized family foster care service. This initiative will be implemented through two new contracts valid from January 1, 2027, to December 31, 2028. The primary objective is to ensure that tutored minors with special needs can grow up in a stable and secure family environment.
This program is designed to offer individualized and continuous support to children and adolescents under protection measures who face complex needs or require psycho-educational assistance. It specifically targets groups of three or more siblings who must remain together, minors with disabilities or health issues limiting their autonomy, and those experiencing behavioral, social, or emotional adaptation difficulties.
The service includes two types of professionalized foster care. The 'special dedication' modality involves one member of the foster family prioritizing the child's continuous care. The 'special preparation' modality is for families with accredited qualifications, experience, and specific training in childhood and adolescence, enabling them to handle more complex situations.
The Ministry of Family, Youth, and Social Affairs will collaborate with two specialized entities to recruit and select new candidates, as well as provide them with technical support throughout the foster care process.
Starting January 1, 2027, financial aid for families fostering tutored minors will increase. The regional government will allocate 16 million euros annually to these families. General foster families will receive 600 euros per month per child in their care, while aid for those caring for children with special needs will rise to 1,200 euros per month per child, representing a 20% increase in both cases.
Families involved in emergency foster care, for children up to six years old, will receive 2,500 euros per month, a 25% increase. Additionally, an annual subsidy of 2,500 euros will be created, paid in a single installment, for families fostering two or more minors.
Since these programs were launched in 2022, a total of 2,380 Madrid families have benefited. Currently, the Community of Madrid's protection network supports over 4,100 children, with 1,800 living in residential centers and more than 2,000 in family settings.
