See opening hours of our health and social services during May Day festivities (30 April–1 May 2025). 

Would you like to become a foster parent?

Are you thinking of becoming a foster parent to a child or young person who is placed outside their home?
Photo: Kaisa Sunimento

Foster parenting can be the beginning of a shared life-long journey. As a foster parent, you do not need any special skills, just the willingness and ability to lead a child-oriented life. “Everyday life that is wonderfully ordinary”, was a young person’s comment about living with a foster family. 

A foster family can be a single person, a couple or a family with several members, all of whom welcome the placed child as an equal member of the family.   

A foster parent does not need to be an experienced educator. In our opinion, good parenting means affection for the child, well-working routines, listening and providing a safe growth environment. It is enough that you care, even on bad days.  

We will find a suitable foster family for each child. The child will grow as a member of the foster family and at the same time maintain a connection with their birth family.   

A foster family can also live elsewhere than in Helsinki, as long as they live within 150 kilometres of Helsinki. The children to be placed are Helsinki residents.  

As a foster parent, you will be supported by our multi-professional team.  We have a lot of know-how and extensive experience in the hopes and needs of placed children and foster parents.  

Frequently asked questions about foster families

Foster parents, or family carers, are responsible for the care and upbringing of the child placed in their home. Foster parents offer the child a home, a family and a place in their heart.  

Many kinds of families are suitable as foster families: single persons, single parents, couples, same-sex couples, families with several member. What is important is that the family’s situation is stable, and its affairs are in order.  

A family carer can work outside the home. However, when the child moves into the family, we require one of the parents to stay at home for a while.  

No. Anyone considering foster parenting has the right to receive advance training lasting approximately six months.  

  1. Care allowances

    Care allowance paid to a family caregiver who is at home:

    • EUR 1,637.23 per month for each child aged 0–11
    • EUR 1,927.16 per month for each child aged 12–17

    Care allowance paid to a family caregiver who is employed:

    • EUR 944.36 per month per child

    Care allowance paid for aftercare of a young legal adult:

    • EUR 944.36 per month per young adult 

  2. Compensation for lost earnings

    The compensation for lost earnings is paid in addition to the care allowance for a family caregiver who stays at home, for a maximum period of one year and for only one child.

    • EUR 1,330.00 per month (paid for up to one year) 

  3. Special care allowances

    The special care allowance is a discretionary and time-limited allowance, which can be received in addition to the care allowance, based on the child’s special care needs.

    • Special care allowance, category 1: EUR 158.98 per month
    • Special care allowance, category 2: EUR 368.57 per month
    • Special care allowance, category 3: EUR 705.80 per month
    • Special care allowance, category 4: EUR 944.36 per month 

  4. Expense allowances

    • EUR 636.48 per month per child aged 0–6
    • EUR 764.60 per month per child aged 7–12
    • EUR 854.56 per month per child aged 13–16
    • EUR 938.66 per month per child aged 17–22 

  5. Startup allowance

    A startup allowance of EUR 1,411.52 per child is paid at the beginning of the family care arrangement. Discretion may allow a higher amount to be granted. 

  6. Other allowances

    • The family caregiver is paid the child benefit for the placed child.
    • The family caregiver is paid 60% of any potential disability support. (The remaining 40% of disability support is allocated to the child’s resources for becoming independent.)
    • The Social Services, Health Care and Rescue Services Division of the City of Helsinki is responsible for the child’s day care costs.

No. You can come to the training with an open mind to consider whether foster parenting is a suitable form of parenting for you.  

We organise several training groups each year and are putting groups together continuously. In addition, we organise family-specific training.  

The training is free of charge for all participants. 

You can also find this page at hel.fi/foster-families .