Regional Ministry of Equality, Social Policies and Reconciliation has launched «Super Brave seeks home», a new campaign to promote foster care for the 2,362 minors and adolescents living in protection centres throughout the community, including the 348 residents in the various existing facilities in Almeria. «The family environment is the best context for children to find the protection, affection and stimulation they need for their development, and this is reflected in the new Children’s Act, which is a pioneer in terms of protection,» said the Director General for Children, Antonia Rubio, during the presentation in Almeria of the three spots of the campaign, which have the selfless participation of the singer Miguel Poveda.
Rubio, who was accompanied by the delegate of the Andalusian Government in Almería, Maribel Sánchez Torregrosa, and the territorial delegate of Equality, Social Policies and Conciliation in Almería, Rafael Pasamontes, underlined the commitment of the Regional Ministry to the most unprotected and vulnerable children, as set out in the Law on Childhood and Adolescence. The text, already in force and which has received the consensus of the majority of political parties and the collaboration of the entities that work with children, promotes that there should be no children under 13 years of age in protection centres, while setting a maximum time limit for minors to stay in residential centres.
«From the Regional Ministry we have set ourselves a very ambitious challenge, but one that we are confident of achieving because Andalusia is a land of good people, good people who show solidarity and generosity, and that challenge is one child, one family», Rubio stressed. He also highlighted the «comprehensive, cross-cutting nature and in line with the current reality and social context» of the new law, which includes, for example, elements such as the responsible use of the internet and digital literacy, the right to image and the risks of addiction.
Law with budgetary priority
The law, with budgetary priority in the different departments of the Andalusian Regional Government, seeks to regulate their rights and duties, promote child participation and create a system of information and indicators to measure their real wellbeing and design public policy planning aimed at their comprehensive development.
During her speech, the director general reiterated that «growing up in a family is the best alternative that can be offered to help repair the damage suffered in childhood», as these are minors and young people who have suffered experiences of adversity, abandonment and suffering and have been removed from their biological family. «That is why we say that they are Super Brave, because they have shown an enormous capacity for resilience in facing adverse situations at such a young age, with strength, vitality and overcoming».
In Andalusia there are currently 2,479 minors and adolescents in foster care, either with external families (897 minors) or with extended families, those with whom they maintain a family link (1,582 minors). And 1,891 families have opened the doors of their home and their hearts to those in need to offer the closeness and stability that only a family can offer», Rubio emphasised. In the province of Almería, 144 children are in foster care (48 of them in external families and 96 in extended families), and there are 98 foster families, 35 external and 63 extended. However, another 348 children are still in residential centres.
The Director General for Children emphasised that «these foster families are the most important and valuable asset we have and their testimonies speak to us of generosity, dedication and commitment to the most disadvantaged children».
Rubio also defended fostering as the best opportunity for these children «to give and receive affection, as well as to form part of a family that will give them the love, care and attention they need». However, he stressed that most of the children in care centres are over 6 years old, «so it is the duty of the administration to make their reality visible and to motivate the population to actively participate in their lives».
Different profiles of fostering
The campaign is aimed at any adult, married or unmarried couple, with or without children, of any social condition, ideology or belief. «They are very varied profiles, as the most important thing is their commitment to children», explained Rubio, who insisted that «the only requirement is a willingness to foster and the capacity to cover the physical, psychological, emotional and social needs of the children and adolescents».
«Super Brave is looking for a home» follows similar campaigns in previous years, which increased the number of families interested in foster care. It will run throughout 2021 and will be supported by the Aproni International Foundation through a grant from the Ministry of Equality from the 0.7 per cent of income tax.
The advertisements emphasise the courage and heroism of the children to overcome adverse situations, but also want to convey that foster care is a great positive experience for families. The singer Miguel Poveda, who is very committed to children and the therapeutic role of music and has a strong connection with Andalusia, participates in the spots encouraging families to join the foster care project.
The campaign will be disseminated through social networks, digital and physical media. It also has a free telephone line for those interested in becoming a foster family, as well as a website, www.acogimientofamiliarandalucia.com, which offers all the information on the procedure. Talks, information tables and events have also been planned to raise awareness of the need to increase the number of foster families.
«Andalusia is a very supportive community, and this is demonstrated every time a call is made to attend to emergency or need situations», concluded Rubio, «that is why we want to publicise the needs of these children, because we know that Andalusian families will respond to this call».