Fostering and adoption in Montenegro
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• Methodology
• Sample
• Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
• Foster care and adoption in Montenegro
• Attitudes toward foster care and adoption
• Experience and interest in foster care and adoption
• Communication channels
2 Methodology
▪ Ad hoc face-to-face survey with interviewing performed at respondents’ home • Data collected on representative sample for population of Montenegro citizens aged 18 and more • Target population size is 474 655 • Sample size is 1016 (with 127 sampling points) • Sample type is stratified 3-staged probability sample with sampling stages : Polling station territory – approximately size of 200 HH (PPS with probabilities proportional to size) Households by random route technique starting from the given addresses (SRSWoR) Households member with same probability (SRSWoR) – Kish scheme ▪ Stratification is done according to Type of settlement – urban/rural Four geo-economical regions ▪ Post stratification is performed regarding: gender, age, type of settlement, geo-economical region ▪ Fieldwork control is done in 12% of totally interviewed in all strata proportionally to sample size, and logic and consistency control of collected data is performed in 100% of cases • Data collection is performed from 1st to 15th December 2012 • 95% confidence interval for incidence of 5% is +/- 1.2% • 95% confidence interval for incidence of 20% is +/- 2.2% • 95% confidence interval for incidence of 50% is +/- 2.8%
3 Sample
64% 58%
52% 48% 48%
36%
28% 26% 23% 23% 24% 20% 19% 18%
14%
65+
Male
North Other
18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 South
Urban
Center
Female
school
school
university
Collegeor
Secondary Elementary Type of Gender Age Education Stratum settlement
4 Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
5 Providing support by the state for families/individual persons who are at risk of abandoning the child
Do you think that the state helps sufficiently To whom such family / individual / mother can turn family/individual person/mother who are at risk of for help? abandoning the child due to various problems/circumstances? Don't Center for social work 52% know 5% Yes State / state institutions 12% 17%
Municipality 10%
Safe House 6% Open ended
No Family / relatives/ close 4% 78% persons
NGO 3%
Base: Total target population. Do you think that the state helps sufficiently family/individual person/mother who are at risk of abandoning the child due to various Montenegrin Government 3% problems circumstances? Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. To whom such family / individual / mother can turn for help? 6 Providing support by the state for families/individual persons who are at risk of abandoning the child – the state helps sufficiently
% those who think that the state helps sufficiently
25 24 22 21 18 18 18 17 17 17 17 16 16 16 15 14 14 12 12
11
65+
Total
Male
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
South
North
Other
Urban
Center
Female
101-200EUR
Secondary school Secondary
Refuseanswer to
Less100 EUR than
Elementary school Elementary
More than 200 MoreEUR than CollegeUniversity or
Base: Total target population. Do you think that the state helps sufficiently family/individual person/mother who are at risk of abandoning the child due to various problems circumstances? 7 Providing support by the state for families/individual persons who are at risk of abandoning the child – the state helps sufficiently
% those who think that the state helps sufficiently 29
20
17 15 14
11 11
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. Do you think that the state helps sufficiently family/individual person/mother who are at risk of abandoning the child due to various problems circumstances? 8 The reasons for the separation of the child from the family
Poor financial situation and 58% family's living conditions
Family violence 48%
Negligence and reluctance of 47% parents to raise their children
Illness of parents 25%
Insufficient support of state and 20% competent institutions
Other 1%
Don't know 1%
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. Why do you think that children are usually separated from family? 9 Mentioned forms of protection of children without adequate parental care by the state
Placing the child in social and child protection institutions (children's 69% homes - large residential institutions)
Adoption 68%
Foster care 35%
Guardianship 27%
Other 2%
None 1%
Don't know / Refuse 1%
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. To start with, please try to recall all forms of protection and ways the state can use to provide for or protect children without parents and without proper parental care? 10 Knowledge about foster care
I don't know anything 26% about foster care
I know a little about 45% foster care
I KNOW LITTLE 71%
I know something about 25% foster care
I KNOW A LOT 4%
I know much about foster 3% care
I know very much about 1% foster care Base: Total target population. All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about foster care – what it involves, what the legal regulations and procedures are like..? 11 Knowledge about foster care
% I know a lot (4+5) % I know little (1+2)
7 8 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 1 4 2 1 3 2 1 4 5 3 5
56 66 66 66 71 67 69 70 69 68 75 72 72 73 72 71 72 80 76
87
65+
Total
Male
18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 South
North Other
Urban
Center
Female
101-200EUR
Secondary school Secondary
Refuseanswer to
Less100 EUR than
Elementary school Elementary
More than 200 MoreEUR than CollegeUniversity or
Base: Total target population. All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about foster care – what it involves, what the legal regulations and procedures are like..? 12 Perception of foster care
Caring for a child, helping a child 27%
Temporarily caring for a child, helping a child 20%
Temporary accommodation / care about the child in 10% own home
Accommodation/ care of the child in own home 8% Open ended Child support (provision of food, clothing and shoes 6% for the child / child education expenses)
Receiving monthly compensation from the state for 5% the care of the child
Taking care of the child's education and health 3%
The same/ similar to adoption 2%
Other 5%
Don't know / Refuse 24%
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. In your opinion, what is adoption? 13 Perception of foster care % Yes % Don't know / No answer % No
Foster care is temporary care of the child 81 10 9
Foster parents have the responsibility to provide conditions for optimal development of the child and prepare him/her for independent life and 71 17 12 work
Foster parent can be both a relative or a stranger to a child 64 11 25
Foster parent can be a total stranger to the child 57 10 33
Biological parents of the child accommodated in foster family have the right and obligation to maintain personal relations with the child 49 23 28
Foster care must provide permanency of relations with biological family 43 24 32
Biological parents of the child accommodated in foster family have the right and obligation to make decisions important for the child together 42 25 33 with foster parents
Biological parents of the child accommodated in foster family have the right and obligation to support the child 32 30 38
Biological parents of the child accommodated in foster family have the right and obligation to manage and dispose of child's property 26 32 42
Foster parent must be the child's relative 14 14 71 Base: Total target population. Now I will read to you some statements. Please tell me whether you think that they are right or not. 14 Knowledge about adoption
I don't know anything 12% about adoption
I know a little about 44% adoption
I KNOW LITTLE 56%
I know something about 39% adoption
I KNOW A LOT 6%
I know much about 5% adoption
I know very much about 1% adoption Base: Total target population. All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about adoption – what it involves, what the legal regulations and procedures are like..? 25 Knowledge about adoption
% I know a lot (4+5) % I know little (1+2)
7 8 7 9 10 7 8 7 6 6 6 4 2 6 5 3 5 5 2 5
38 46 46 54 54 51 54 56 55 56 56 58 58 59 55 58 64 61 63
73
65+
Total
Male
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
South
North
Other
Urban
Center
Female
101-200EUR
Secondary school Secondary
Refuseanswer to
Less100 EUR than
Elementary school Elementary
More than 200 MoreEUR than CollegeUniversity or Base: Total target population. All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about adoption – what it involves, what the legal regulations and procedures are like..? 26 Perception of adoption
Accepting the child as own child/ as a family member 37%
Permanent / constant / full care, custody of a child 19% without parental care Custody / protection/ care of children without parental 13% care/ humanity Establishment of kinship relationship between the child 10% and the adoptive parent Adoption / acceptance of children (other people's 9% children, orphans…) Providing all conditions to the child (love, upbringing, 6% Open ended education...) Adoption when married couples do not have biological 4% children Legally regulated child care/ obligation towards the 3% child Care of a child without receiving compensation from the 1% state Temporary adoption / till adulthood / similar to foster 1% care
Other 1%
Don't know / Refuse 12%
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. In your opinion, what is adoption? 27 Perception of adoption % Yes % Don't know / No answer % No
Adopted child takes adoptive parents’ last name 79 12 9
It is possible to adopt a child who has parents, but parents who don’t provide adequate parental care 77 7 16
With adoption kinship relationship is established between the child and adoptive parent, equal to blood relationship 71 8 21 In case of full adoption, biological parents are stripped of their rights and responsibilities towards the child, unless adoptive parent is child’s 60 24 16 stepfather or stepmother In case of full adoption, adoptive parents are registered as child’s parents in Birth Registry 60 25 16
There are full and partial adoption 44 37 19
Adoption means taking temporary care of the child 17 11 72
Adoptive parent must be a total stranger to the child 13 13 75
It is possible to adopt only a child without parents 13 6 81
Adoptive parent must be a relative of the child 6 9 84 Base: Total target population. Now I will read to you some statements. Please tell me whether you think that they are right or not. 28 Knowledge about foster care and adoption
26% I don't know anything 12%
45% I know a little 44%
71% I KNOW LITTLE 56%
25% I know something 39%
4% I KNOW A LOT 6%
3% I know much 5%
1% I know very much Foster care 1% Base: Total target population. Adoption All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about foster care – what it involves, what the legal regulations and procedures are like..? All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about adoption – what it involves, what the legal regulations and procedures are like..? 39 Perception of foster care and adoption
Accepting the child in own home (the child lives with 73% other household members) 83%
Taking care of upbringing, education and health of 66% the child 78%
Child support (provision of food, clothing and shoes 64% to the child, bearing the costs of child's education) 71%
Receiving monthly monetary compensation from the 64% state for the care of the child 21%
22% Management and disposal of the child's property 57%
Establishment of kinship relationship between foster 21% / adoptive parents and the child 77%
3% Don't know Foster care 1% Adoption Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. In your opinion, which of the following means foster care, that is, what are the obligations of foster parent towards the child? And which of the following means adoption, that is, what are the obligations of adoptive parent towards the child? 40 Differences between fostering and adoption
Foster care is temporary/ adoption is permanent 43%
Adoption creates parental/ family relationship, child 15% has all the legal rights Foster care includes compensation from the state/ 10% there is none for adoption Adoption is more serious/ more responsible/ more 6% complete raising of children
Foster care is care/ provides material needs 5%
Foster care also encompasses children who have Open ended 2% parents, and adoption does not
Duration of the period 2%
Adoption is associated with love, wish, and foster care 1% with financial profit Adoptive parent can manage and dispose of child's 1% property
Other 4%
No difference/ very similar 5%
Don't know / Refuse 28%
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. In your opinion, what are the most distinctive differences between fostering and adoption as two forms of care for children without parents or without proper parental care? 43 Conditions that the family/person must meet to be accepted as foster parent/adoptive parent – Marital status
57% Married 73%
12% Single (not married, Foster care widowed, divorced) 8% Adoption
4% De facto marriage 2%
32% Not a condition for foster care/adoption 19%
5% Don't know / Refuse 7% Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as foster parent? Which conditions are acceptable? Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as adoptive parent? Which conditions are acceptable? 45 Conditions that the family/person must meet to be accepted as foster parent/adoptive parent – age of foster parent/adoptive parent (from) 5% 18 5% Foster care 11% 20 Adoption 11%
8% 25 8%
17% 30 20%
2% 35 4%
2% 40 1%
Not a condition for 45% foster care/adoption 41%
9% Don't know / Refuse 9% Base: Total target population. Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as foster parent? Which conditions are acceptable? Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as adoptive parent? Which conditions are acceptable? 48 Conditions that the family/person must meet to be accepted as foster parent/adoptive parent – age of foster parent/adoptive parent (to) 2% 30 1% Foster care 6% Adoption 40 8% 3% 45 3% 13% 50 16% 3% 55 3% 9% 60 10% 3% 65 3% 2% 70 2% 47% Not a condition for foster care/adoption 41% 9% Don't know / Refuse 11% Base: Total target population. Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as foster parent? Which conditions are acceptable? Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as adoptive parent? Which conditions are acceptable? 51 Conditions that the family/person must meet to be accepted as foster parent/adoptive parent – the age difference between the foster parent/adoptive parent and the child 2% Foster care 10 1% Adoption
4% 15 5%
2% 18 3%
17% 20 17%
6% 25 7%
4% 30 4%
Not a condition for 51% foster care/adoption 46%
13% Don't know / Refuse 14% Base: Total target population. Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as foster parent? Which conditions are acceptable? Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as adoptive parent? Which conditions are acceptable? 54 Conditions that the family/person must meet to be accepted as foster parent/adoptive parent – housing conditions (ownership)
55% Owner of flat / house 65%
1% Subtenant 1%
35% Not a condition for foster care/adoption 26%
8% Don't know / Refuse Foster care 9% Adoption
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as foster parent? Which conditions are acceptable? Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as adoptive parent? Which conditions are acceptable? 57 Process of foster care and adoption
Do you think that all children without parental care, regardless of their personal characteristics Which institution is in charge of adoption and (gender, age, nationality, mental health, physical foster care processes? health…) can be adopted or placed in foster family?
Don't know No Social welfare 86% 6% 16% center
Municipality 7%
Primary health 1% care center
Some other 1% institution
Yes 78% Don't know 4%
Base: Total target population. Do you think that all children without parental care, regardless of their Base: Total target population. personal characteristics (gender, age, nationality, mental health, physical Which institution is in charge of adoption and foster care processes? health…) can be adopted or placed in foster family? 60 Process of foster care and adoption
% those who don't agree 22 22
18 18 18 17 17 16 16 16 16 16 15 15 15 14 14 13 13
11
65+
Total
Male
18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 South
North Other
Urban
Center
Female
101-200EUR
Secondary school Secondary
Refuseanswer to
Less100 EUR than
Elementary school Elementary
More than 200 MoreEUR than CollegeUniversity or
Base: Total target population. Do you think that all children without parental care, regardless of their personal characteristics (gender, age, nationality, mental health, physical health…) can be adopted or placed in foster family? 61 Who would best take care of the child if parents can’t take care of the child?
The closest relatives (grandparents, aunts, 74% uncles, etc)
Family which is not a relative to the child , 12% but which would adopt the child
Some of the state- owned social welfare 8% and child care institutions
Family which is not a relative to the child, 3% but which would be foster family
Don't know 3%
Base: Total target population. If parents can not take care of the child (deceased or unable because of other reasons), who, in your opinion, would best take care of the child? 65 Placing children without parental care in institutions
Do you think that placing a child without parental Do you think that a child growing up in an care in an institution is adequate form of institution stands equal chances for growth and protection? development as a child growing up in a family?
Don't Don't know know 5% 5%
No 37%
Yes 37% No 58% Yes 58%
Base: Total target population. Base: Total target population. Do you think that placing a child without parental care in an institution is Do you think that a child growing up in an institution stands equal adequate form of protection? chances for growth and development as a child growing up in a family? 66 Relationship between the attitude towards the adequacy of placing children without parental care in institutions and their opportunities for growth and development
Do you think that a child growing up in an institution stands equal chances for growth and development as a child growing up in a family?
Yes No Don't know
Yes 57 39 4 Do you think that placing a child without parental care in an institution is No 10 88 2 adequate form of protection?
Don't know 8 50 42
Base: Total target population. Do you think that placing a child without parental care in an institution is adequate form of protection? Do you think that a child growing up in an institution stands equal chances for growth and development as a child growing up in a family? 67 Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
▪ Majority of the citizens (78%) express attitude that the state doesn't help enough persons or families being in situation where likelihood of abandoning a child is increased. Higher than average percentage of the older citizens, aged 65+, those with lower education and the ones from rural areas of Montenegro think that the state provides adequate support to these persons. Additionally, the citizens who show low level of awareness about foster care share the opinion that the state provides sufficient help, in contrast to the citizens who are more aware of foster care, the higher percentage of whom think that the state doesn't do enough to make life easier to these families. Majority of the citizens (52%) state that Social Welfare Centre is an institution in which individuals or families under the risk of abandoning the child should turn for help. ▪ The reasons why children are separated from family are poor financial situation and living conditions (58%), family violence (48%), as well as negligence and reluctance of parents to raise their children (47%). ▪ The citizens think that the state can provide protection of children without appropriate parental care by placing the children in social welfare and child protection institutions (69%) and adoption (68%). Considerably lower percentage of the citizens mention other forms of protection such as foster care (35%) and guardianship (27%). In other words, foster care is not sufficiently familiar form of child protection for children without parental care, which means that additional efforts should be made to promote foster care. ▪ To confirm the above statement is also the fact that citizens of Montenegro are not very familiar with foster care, which they admit; 45% of them state that they know a little about foster care, and another 26% claim to know nothing at all about foster care. One fourth of Montenegrin citizens claim to know something about foster care. Older citizens (65+ years) admit that they know little about foster care, in contrast to those with university education who claim the opposite.
68 Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
▪ As much as one fifth of the citizens are not able to specify what foster care is. Majority of them understand foster care as care for the child (27%), that is, as temporary care of the child (20%). ▪ Majority of Montenegrin citizens state that foster care is temporary care of the child (81%), that foster parents have responsibility to provide conditions for optimal development of the child and prepare him/her for independent life and work (71%). While 71% of the citizens claim that foster parent need not be the child's relative and 64% of the citizens think that foster parent can be both a relative or a stranger to a child, smaller percentage of the citizens agree that foster parent can be a total stranger to the child (57%). ▪ It is obvious that smaller percentage of the citizens are familiar with rights and obligations of biological parents whose children are placed in foster family, that is, with the fact that biological parents of the child placed in foster family have the right and obligation to maintain personal relations with the child (49%), make decisions important for the child together with foster parents (42%), support the child (32%), and manage and dispose of child's property (26%). In compliance with this, 43% of the citizens know that foster care must provide permanency of relations with biological family. Higher percentage of the citizens who are less informed about details of foster care are older and with lower education, while higher percentage of those with university education and above average income are more informed about the details of foster care.
69 Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
▪ When it comes to adoption, smaller percentage of citizens claim that they do not know anything about adoption (12%) in comparison to foster care (26%), while similar percentage of the citizens claim to know a little about adoption (44%). Nevertheless, the impression is that awareness about adoption is somewhat higher - namely, almost 40% of the citizens claim to know something about adoption. Once again, smaller percentage of the older citizens and those with lower education are aware about adoption facts. ▪ Asked to state what the adoption is, citizens of Montenegro say that adoption means accepting the child as own family member (37%), as well as permanent and complete care of the child without parental care (19%). One out of ten citizens are not able to specify the meaning of adoption. ▪ Majority of Montenegrin citizens are aware that adoptive parent need not be the child's relative (84%), that it is possible to adopt a child who has parents (81%), that adopted child takes adoptive parents’ last name (79%), that it is possible to adopt a child who has parents, but parents who don’t provide adequate parental care (77%), that adoptive parent need not be a total stranger to the child (75%), that adoption is not a temporary care about the child (72%), and in case of an adoption, kinship relationship is established between the child and adoptive parents, equal to blood relationship (71%). Somewhat lower percentage of the citizens (60%) are informed about the fact that, in case of full adoption, biological parents are stripped of their rights and responsibilities towards the child, as well as the fact that adoptive parents are registered as child’s parents in Birth Registry. Considerably lower percentage of the citizens (44%) are aware of the fact that adoption can be full or partial. Although smaller percentage of the citizens are informed only a little about the adoption details, still higher percentage of them are older and with lower education, and the opposite for highly educated citizens and those with above average income. 70 Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
▪ Majority of the citizens of Montenegro think that foster care means accepting the child in own home (73%), taking care and upbringing of the child, education and child’s health condition (66%), child support (provision of food, clothing and shoes to the child, bearing the costs of child's education) (64%), and receiving monthly financial compensation from the state for the care of the child (64%). One fifth of the citizens wrongly claim that foster care means management and disposal of the child's property (22%), and establishment of blood relations between foster parents and the child (21%). ▪ When it comes to adoption, majority of the citizens correctly claim that it means accepting the child in own home (83%), establishment of blood relations between adoptive parents and the child (77%), taking care of the child (78%), and child support (71%). Smaller percentage of the citizens (57%) are aware that adoptive parents can manage and dispose of child's property, while one fifth of the citizens (21%) wrongly claim that adoptive parents receive monthly monetary compensation from the state for the care of the child. ▪ The highest percentage of the citizens (43%) notice the difference in duration between foster care and adoption, claiming that foster care is temporary and adoption is permanent. However, almost one third of the citizens (28%) are not able to specify the difference between foster care and adoption, among whom higher percentage are the citizens with primary school or less, below average income citizens, as well as the citizens from north of Montenegro. Lower percentage of them are the citizens with university education, above average income and citizens from south of Montenegro.
71 Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
▪ Awareness of characteristics of foster care and adoption, their similarities and differences can further be improved. The data show that: More than one half of the citizens (57%) think that prerequisite for becoming foster parents is marital status of parents, while as much as 73% of the citizens think that marital status is a prerequisite for adopting a child. One third of the citizens think that marital status is not a prerequisite for foster care, while one fifth of the citizens think the same about adoption. When it comes to age, one fifths of the citizens correctly claim that adoptive parents must be at least 30 years old, while 16% of them correctly claim upper age limit for adoption (50 years of age). One third of the citizens correctly claim that minimal difference in years between adoptive parent and child must be 18 years, and maximal difference can be 50 years. About one third of the citizens claim that ownership of house or flat is not a prerequisite for foster care or adoption.
72 Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
▪ More than three fourths of the citizens (78%) correctly claim that all children without parental care can be adopted or placed in foster family regardless of their personal characteristics. Great majority of the citizens (86%) correctly perceive Social Welfare Centre as an institution in charge of adoption and foster care processes. ▪ Majority of the citizens of Montenegro (74%) agree that it is the best option if the closest relatives take care of the child if parents are unable to do that. One out of ten citizens thinks that the best care of the child would be provided by family which is not a relative to the child, but which would be adoptive family, while 3% of the citizens think that foster family is the most adequate to take care of the child. ▪ Attitudes of the citizens about adequacy of placing the child without parental care in an institution are divided; while 58% of the citizens think that placing a child in an institution is adequate, 37% disagree. When it comes to growth and development of a child, attitudes of the citizens are divided, since 37% of them think that child growing up in an institution stands equal chances for growth and development as a child growing up in a family, while 58% of the citizens think child growing up in an institution stands smaller chances for growth and development than a child growing up in a family.
73 Foster care and adoption in Montenegro
74 Motives for foster care
Love for children and wish to help the child 76%
Inability to have own children 63%
Desire for fulfillment in the parenting role 58%
Providing home and feeling of security to 42% children who don't have it
Financial compensation which is received 30% from the state
Need to find someone who will take care 19% of them when they get old
Redemption for the bad things they have 7% done in the past
Don’t know 1%
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. In your opinion, what is the main motive for the people in Montenegro to be foster parents? 75 The benefits of foster care
Love of a child 66%
Feeling of fulfillment that care of others 52% brings
Financial assistance 29%
Someone who will care about them in 24% times of trouble
Respect of other people, improved 20% reputation
Friend for own biological children 19%
Brother or sister for own biological children 18%
Other 1%
Don't know / Refuse 1%
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. In your opinion, what does a family get from taking up foster care of a child? 76 Problems encountered by foster families
Difficult emotional bonding with the child 42%
Problems with biological parents of the child (inconsistency of the parents, irregular 38% contacts, broken promises...) Financial problems (lack of money for 33% raising and educating the child) Later separation from the child and uncertainty regarding duration of foster 33% care
Accepting the family rules by the child 31%
Child's distrust 29%
Quarrels with other children in the 26% household
Don't know / Refuse 1%
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. What are the biggest problems that foster families are faced with? 77 Obstacles to foster care
Poor financial situation 77%
Insufficient support of society and state 36% External Lack of housing conditions 36% factors
Being uninformed 28%
Complicated and long-lasting procedures 18%
The way in which the environment looks at 18% adopted children No need for adoption or foster care because they 17% have biological children Problems in upbringing or behavior as a 11% consequence of inherited traits or previous life Fear whether the child will fit in new 11% environment
Fear of inherited diseases 10%
Later separation from child and uncertain 9% duration of foster care Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. In your opinion what are the three most important obstacles due to which bigger number of families in Montenegro are not involved in Foster care? 78 The efforts of the state to stimulate foster care and adoption
The state is making great Don’t know effort to 6% stimulate The state is foster care not doing and adoption anything to 4% stimulate foster care and adoption The state is 34% doing something, but not enough to stimulate foster care and adoption 56%
Base: Total target population. Observed in general, how would you evaluate efforts of the state aimed at stimulating foster care and adoption? 79 The efforts of the state to stimulate foster care and adoption – the state is not doing anything to stimulate foster care and adoption
43 43
39 38 39 36 34 35 35 34 34 34 33 32 32 33 29 30 29
22
65+
Total
Male
18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 South
North Other
Urban
Center
Female
101-200EUR
Secondary school Secondary
Refuseanswer to
Less100 EUR than
Elementary school Elementary
More than 200 MoreEUR than CollegeUniversity or
Base: Total target population. Observed in general, how would you evaluate efforts of the state aimed at stimulating foster care and adoption? 80 The efforts of the state to stimulate foster care and adoption – the state is not doing anything to stimulate foster care and adoption
37
35
34 34
33 33 33
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. Observed in general, how would you evaluate efforts of the state aimed at stimulating foster care and adoption? 81 Stimulation of the foster care and adoption by the state
Financial support 30% More extensive informing/ education, 17% raising awareness/ media campaign More extensive, adequate assistance/ 10% engagement of the state/ all types of Increasing monthly compensation 6%
Benefits/ subsidies/ prizes 6% Open ended Adequate living conditions/ housing 4% Stimuli/ support/ involvement of all 3% factors Simplification/ speeding up of procedures 3% Material assistance (food, clothes, 2% textbooks...) Other 3%
Nothing 3%
Don't know / Refuse 25%
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population. Should the state stimulate or reward foster care and adoption of children in any other way? If yes, how? 82 The right of parents to have parental leave in case of foster care/adoption of small children/infants
Yes, only Don’t know foster No, none of 7% parents Yes, only them 3% adoptive 2% parents 12%
Yes, both foster and adoptive parents 76%
Base: Total target population. Should those who adopt infants or become their foster parents be enabled to have maternity leave or any other type of parental leave for child care? 83 The right of parents to have parental leave in case of foster care/adoption of small children/infants
5 % those who don't agree
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1
0
65+
Total
Male
18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 South
North Other
Urban
Center
Female
101-200EUR
Secondary school Secondary
Refuseanswer to
Less100 EUR than
Elementary school Elementary
More than 200 MoreEUR than CollegeUniversity or
Base: Total target population. Should those who adopt infants or become their foster parents be enabled to have maternity leave or any other type of parental leave for child care? 84 The right of parents to have parental leave in case of foster care/adoption of small children/infants
% those who don't agree
4
3
2 2 2 2
1
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
adoption
of adoption of
fostercare
of foster of care
High awareness High awareness High
Low awarenessof Low awarenessof Low Base: Total target population. Should those who adopt infants or become their foster parents be enabled to have maternity leave or any other type of parental leave for child care? 85 Foster care and adoption in Montenegro
▪ Love for children and wish to help them (76%), inability to have own biological children (63%), and the need for fulfilment in parenting (58%), as well as providing a home to children without parental care (42%) are most common motives that stimulate citizens of Montenegro to get engaged in foster care. In their opinion, major benefits of foster care are child’s love (66%), and feeling of fulfilment, which care of others brings (52%). ▪ On the other hand, citizens are not unanimous regarding problems foster families are faced with. Most frequently singled out are difficult establishment of emotional bond with the child (42%), as well as problems with child’s biological parents (38%). ▪ What prevents most citizens to get engaged in foster care is their poor financial situation (77%), lack of housing space (36%), but also insufficient support of society and state (36%). Accordingly, substantial percentage of citizens evaluate efforts of the state as insufficient (56%), and even one third of them think that the state is not doing anything to stimulate foster care and adoption. This opinion that state is not doing anything to stimulate foster care and adoption is more likely to be shared by citizens with income lower than average, as well as citizens of northern parts of Montenegro. Financial assistance is primarily mentioned as a type of stimulation (30%). However, even one fifth of citizens (25%) do not see how adoption and foster care in Montenegro could be encouraged. ▪ More than three fourths of citizens (76%) agree that foster parents or adoptive parents of toddlers or infants should be enabled to have a leave for child care.
86 Attitudes towards foster care and adoption
87 To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...?
% Able to get % Able and not able to get % Aren't able to get % Don't know
Good upbringing 86 12 1
Affection 85 12 3
Love 82 15 3
Education 81 14 3
Family model of living 78 17 3
Financial security 76 17 4
Base: Total target population. In your opinion, to what extent are children in foster families able to get from their foster families... For each item, please use the scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great extent. 88 To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? – Good upbringing
% those who think that children aren't able to get
3
2
1 1
0 0 0
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
adoption
of adoption of
fostercare
of foster of care
High awareness High awareness High
Low awarenessof Low awarenessof Low Base: Total target population. I In your opinion, to what extent are children in foster families able to get from their foster families... For each item, please use the scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great extent. 89 To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? – Affection
% those who think that children aren't able to get
8
6
3
1 1
0 0
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High Base: Total target population. I In your opinion, to what extent are children in foster families able to get from their foster families... For each item, please use the scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great extent. 90 To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? – Love
% those who think that children aren't able to get
7
5
3 3 2
0
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High Base: Total target population. I In your opinion, to what extent are children in foster families able to get from their foster families... For each item, please use the scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great extent. 91 To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? – Education
% those who think that children aren't able to get
6
4
3 3 2
1 1
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High Base: Total target population. I In your opinion, to what extent are children in foster families able to get from their foster families... For each item, please use the scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great extent. 92 To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? – Family model of living
% those who think that children aren't able to get
6
5
3 3
2 2
1
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High Base: Total target population. I In your opinion, to what extent are children in foster families able to get from their foster families... For each item, please use the scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great extent. 93 To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? – Financial security
% those who think that children aren't able to get
6
5
4 4
3 3 3
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High Base: Total target population. I In your opinion, to what extent are children in foster families able to get from their foster families... For each item, please use the scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great extent. 94 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption % I agree % Don't know % I don't agree
Children placed in foster families or adopted children are same as all the other children, when in stimulating environment: bright, 88 5 7 beautiful, curious, talented, successful, loved…
Children placed in foster families or adopted children can have equally good friendly relationships as children growing up in their 87 5 8 biological families
Children placed in foster families or adopted children stand equal chances of succeeding professionally (finishing school, finding a job...) 87 3 10 as children growing up in biological families do
Although genes are important, it is still more important who and in what way is raising the child 86 2 12
Even if children abandoned by their parents are severely traumatized and had a very tough childhood, care and stable foster family (or adoptive family) can help them grow into healthy and capable 85 3 11 persons
Foster care and adoption enable foster parent/ adoptive parent to realize or re-realize the role of a parent 85 5 10
Children abandoned by biological parents are traumatized because of that and faced with problems throughout life 72 2 25
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 95 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption % I agree % Don't know % I don't agree
Raising an adopted child brings equal satisfaction as raising one’s own 66 8 26
Bonding between adoptive parent and adopted child can be durable only if child is adopted very early (in the first couple of months) 65 5 30
Not even the best foster family can fully replace biological family 64 1 35
Ideal foster care results in return of child into his or her biological family 59 11 30
Child placed in foster family can’t be loved same as one’s own child 49 6 45
Adopted child can’t be loved same as one’s own child 43 7 51
Adopted children or children placed in foster families usually have behavior problems 38 7 55
Adopted children or children placed in foster families usually have learning problems and poorer school accomplishment 35 4 60 Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 96 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Children placed in foster families or adopted children are same as all the other children, when in stimulating environment: bright, beautiful, curious, talented, successful, loved… % those who agree
59 57 58
50 51
40
37
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 97 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Children placed in foster families or adopted children can have equally good friendly relationships as children growing up in their biological families
% those who agree
53 49 48 42 40
32 33
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 98 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Children placed in foster families or adopted children stand equal chances of succeeding professionally (finishing school, finding a job...) as children growing up in biological families do % those who agree
55 50 50 44 44
33
30
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 99 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Although genes are important, it is still more important who and in what way is raising the child
% those who agree
49 47 47 44 42
34
31
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 100 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Even if children abandoned by their parents are severely traumatized and had a very tough childhood, caring and stable foster family (or adoptive family) can help them grow into healthy and capable persons
% those who agree
47 48 45 45 41
34
31
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 101 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Foster care and adoption enable foster parent/ adoptive parent to realize or re-realize the role of a parent
% those who agree
41
34 35 32 31 28
23
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 102 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Children abandoned by biological parents are traumatized because of that and faced with problems throughout life
% those who agree
39 36 35 31 30
25 26
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 103 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Raising an adopted child brings equal satisfaction as raising one’s own
% those who agree
29 27 23 24 23
16 17
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 104 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption – Bonding between adoptive parent and adopted child can be durable only if child is adopted very early (in the first couple of months)
% those who agree
31 29 28 26 24 24
22
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 105 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Not even the best foster family can fully replace biological family
% those who agree
34 33 33 29 28 25
21
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 106 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Ideal foster care results in return of child into his or her biological family
% those who agree
33 29 25 25 22 23
18
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 107 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Child placed in foster family can’t be loved same as one’s own child
% those who agree
16 17 16 15 15 15
13
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 108 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Adopted child can’t be loved same as one’s own child
% those who agree
16 15 13
12 13 12 12
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 109 Attitudes towards foster care and adoption - Adopted children or children placed in foster families usually have behavior problems
% those who agree
11 10 8 8 8
5 5
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 110 Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Adopted children or children placed in foster families usually have learning problems and poorer school accomplishment
% those who agree
9 9 9 7 7 6
5
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 111 Attitudes towards foster care and adoption
▪ Most citizens of Montenegro agree that children in foster families can have good upbringing (86%), care (85%), love (82%), education (81%), family model of living (78%), as well as financial security (76%). Those who are not very familiar with foster care and adoption are more likely to disagree with this attitude. ▪ In line with positive attitude towards the possibility that foster families provide children with love, care, education and everything that children usually get in their biological families, there are also other positive attitudes towards foster care and adoption. So, most citizens believe that children placed in foster families or adopted children are same as all the other children, when in stimulating environment (88%), that they can have equally good friendly relationships (87%) and that they stand equal chances of succeeding professionally (87%). Furthermore, most citizens believe that, although genes are important, it is still more important who and in what way is raising the child (86%), and that even if children abandoned by their parents are severely traumatized and had a very tough childhood, caring and stable foster family can help them grow into healthy and capable persons (85%). Besides, foster care and adoption enable fulfilment of the need for parenting (85%) and also raising an adopted child brings equal satisfaction as raising one’s own (66%). On the other hand, two thirds of citizens (65%) believe that bonding between adoptive parent and adopted child can be durable only if child is adopted very early (in the first couple of months), while considered ideal is foster care that ends with child’s return to his or her biological family (59%). ▪ When it comes to the prevalence of negative attitudes regarding foster care and adoption, high percentage of citizens agree that children abandoned by biological parents are traumatized because of that and faced with problems throughout life (72%), and that not even the best foster family can fully replace biological family (64%). Accordingly, more than one third of citizens share the attitude that adopted children or children placed in foster families usually have behaviour problems (38%), or learning problems and poorer school accomplishment (35%). Furthermore, almost a half of citizens believe that a child placed in foster family (49%), or adopted child (43%) can’t be loved same as one’s own child. 112 Experience and interest in foster care and adoption
113 Helping children without parental care
% Yes % No
Financial, in money 20 80
Food, clothes, hygiene products 37 63
Conversation, support 25 75
Base: Total target population. Have you ever been in a situation to help, directly or indirectly, a child without parental care (options: financially, with food/ clothes, conversation...)? 114 Actual interest in foster care
Not interested at all 65%
Mainly not interested 26%
NOT INTERESTED 91%
Both yes and no 4%
INTERESTED 4%
Somewhat interested 3%
Very interested 1%
I am a foster parent/I used 1% to be a foster parent
Don’t know 1% Base: Total target population. How interested would you be in being a foster parent to a child without parents or without adequate parental care at this moment? 115 Actual interest in foster care – interested
% those who are interested
7 7 6 5 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 2
1
65+
Total
Male
18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 South
North Other
Urban
Center
Female
101-200EUR
Secondary school Secondary
Refuseanswer to
Less100 EUR than
Elementary school Elementary
More than 200 MoreEUR than CollegeUniversity or
Base: Total target population. How interested would you be in being a foster parent to a child without parents or without adequate parental care at this moment? 116 Actual interest in foster care – interested
% those who are interested
5 5 5
4 4 3
2
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. How interested would you be in being a foster parent to a child without parents or without adequate parental care at this moment? 117 Interest in the foster care in the future
Not interested at all 62%
Mainly not interested 28%
NOT INTERESTED 90%
Both yes and no 6%
INTERESTED 4%
Somewhat interested 3%
Very interested 1%
Base: Those who are not currently interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (96% of target population) At some moment in your life (near or distant future), how interested would you be in being a foster parent to a child without parents or without adequate parental care? 118 Interest in the foster care in the future – interested
% those who are interested
7 6 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2
1
65+
Total
Male
18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 South
North Other
Urban
Center
Female
101-200EUR
Secondary school Secondary
Refuseanswer to
Less100 EUR than
Elementary school Elementary
More than 200 MoreEUR than CollegeUniversity or
Base: Those who are not currently interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (96% of target population) At some moment in your life (near or distant future), how interested would you be in being a foster parent to a child without parents or without adequate parental care? 119 Interest in the foster care in the future – interested
% those who are interested
6
4 4 4 3 3
1
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High Base: Those who are not currently interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (96% of target population) At some moment in your life (near or distant future), how interested would you be in being a foster parent to a child without parents or without adequate parental care? 120 Motives for foster care
A wish to help/ 65% humanity
Love towards children/ providing a 21% home, warmth, happiness to child
A wish to have Open ended children/ mutual 6% satisfaction, love, care
If they had financial/ 3% housing conditions
Don't know / Refuse 12%
Multiple responses; Base: Those who are interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (14% of target population) What motivates you most to be a foster parent? 121 Acceptability of care of children without parental care with different characteristics
% Likely % Both yes and no % Not likely % Don't know / Refuse
A child whose parents are unknown 63 16 21 A child victim of violence, abuse and neglect 61 22 16 A child who lived in institution 55 26 19 A child of underage parents 53 27 20 A child of foreign nationality 47 27 26 A child whose parents are unable to take care of him because of imprisonment 35 34 32 A child whose parents are drug or alcohol addicts 32 33 35 Roma child 24 25 50 A child with behavior disorder 21 29 49 A child with disability (eye sight, hearing, speech, physical disability) 20 35 45 A child with a chronic disease 18 34 47
A child with intellectual disability 18 29 53
Base: Those who are interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (14% of target population) If you decided to be a foster parent, do you think you would be able to take care of...? Please use the scale from 1 to 5, where 1 means Not likely at all, and 5 means Very likely 122 Different influences on the decision about foster care
% Influence % Neither yes nor no % No influence % Don't know / Refuse
Family support 68 11 19
Child’s mental health 66 17 17
Child’s physical health 64 20 16
Support of Social Welfare Center 56 18 24
Anamnesis of child’s biological parents 51 19 27
Duration of the foster care establishing process 45 22 30
Possibility of maternity leave and other forms of absence for child care in case of foster care of a toddler 39 21 37
The amount of financial allowance 36 23 40
Attitudes of the environment 23 14 63
Base: Those who are interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (14% of target population) If you decided to be a foster parent, to what extent would each of the following items influence your decision? 123 The main reasons why citizens wouldn’t be a foster parent to a child
Living conditions (financial, housing, 37% unemployment...) I have my own children 15%
Age/ health condition 13% No need/ they don't want to/ they are not 8% thinking about that Too big of a responsibility/ I am not ready for 7% that Open ended Too many other responsibilities/ lack of time 4%
I want to have my own, biological children 2% Family situation (family responsibilities/ big 2% family) I'm too young 2% Fear of child's adaptation/ sick, problematic 2% child Other 2%
Nothing/ no reason 1%
Don't know / Refuse 19%
Multiple responses; Base: Those who are not interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (92% of target population) What are the main reasons why you would not take a child for foster care? 124 Actual interest in adoption
Not interested at all 66%
Mainly not interested 28%
NOT INTERESTED 94%
Both yes and no 3%
INTERESTED 2%
Somewhat interested 1%
Very interested 1%
Base: Total target population. How interested are you at the moment in adopting a child? 125 Actual interest in adoption - interested
% those who are interested
4
3 3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1 1 1 1
65+
Total
Male
18-29 30-39 40-49 50-64 South
North Other
Urban
Center
Female
101-200EUR
Secondary school Secondary
Refuseanswer to
Less100 EUR than
Elementary school Elementary
More than 200 MoreEUR than CollegeUniversity or
Base: Total target population. How interested are you at the moment in adopting a child? 126 Actual interest in adoption - interested
% those who are interested
3 3
2 2 2 2
1
Total
Niska
Niska
Visoka
Visoka
Srednja
Srednja
usvojenjem usvojenjem usvojenjem
upoznatost sa upoznatost sa upoznatost sa upoznatost
upoznatost sa upoznatost sa upoznatost sa upoznatost
hraniteljstvom hraniteljstvom hraniteljstvom
Base: Total target population. How interested are you at the moment in adopting a child? 127 Motives for adoption
A wish to help/ humanity 41%
Love towards children/ providing a home, 34% warmth, happiness to child
If I can't have my own children 6% Open ended
A wish to have children/ mutual 5% satisfaction, love, care
Other 6%
Don't know / Refuse 14%
Multiple responses; Base: Those who are interested in adopting a child (6% of target population) What motivates you most to adopt a child? 128 Acceptability of adoption of children without parental care with different characteristics
% Likely % Both yes and no % Not likely % Don't know / Refuse
A child whose parents are unknown 66 23 7
A child who lived in institution 53 29 15
A child whose parents are stripped of their parental right 48 21 28
A child of foreign nationality 47 38 11
A child with behavior problems 27 45 24
A child with disability (eye sight, hearing, speech, physical disability) 24 40 29
Roma child 23 38 32
A child with a chronic disease 21 45 31
A child with intellectual disability 19 36 41
Base: Those who are interested in adopting a child (6% of target population) If you decided to adopt a child, do you think you would be able to take care of...? 129 Different influences on the decision about adoption
% Influence % Neither yes nor no % No influence % Don't know / Refuse
Family support 75 18 4
Child’s mental health 65 18 15
Duration of the adoption process 64 20 13
Child’s physical health 59 28 13
Anamnesis of child’s biological parents 58 17 24
Financial situation 55 25 17
Attitudes of the environment 30 26 38
Base: Those who are interested in adopting a child (6% of target population) If you decided to adopt a child, to what extent would each of the following items influence your decision? 130 The main reasons why citizens wouldn’t adopt a child
Living conditions (financial, housing, 31% unemployment...) I have my own children 20%
Age/ health condition 13% No need/ they don't want to/ they are not 9% thinking about that Too big of a responsibility/ I am not ready for 6% that I'm too young 5% Open ended
I want to have my own, biological children 4%
Too many other responsibilities/ lack of time 3% Family situation (family responsibilities/ big 2% family/ not married...) Fear of child's adaptation/ sick, problematic 2% child Fear of the reaction of others/ lack of support 1%
Other 2%
Don't know / Refuse 17%
Multiple responses; Base: Those who are not interested in adopting a child (98% of target population) What are the main reasons why you wouldn’t adopt a child? 131 Actual interest in foster care and adoption
65% Not interested at all 66%
26% Mainly not interested 28%
91% NOT INTERESTED 94%
4% Both yes and no 3%
4% INTERESTED 2%
3% Somewhat interested 1%
1% Very interested Foster care 1% Adoption Base: Total target population. How interested would you be in being a foster parent to a child without parents or without adequate parental care at this moment? How interested are you at the moment in adopting a child? 132 Knowing someone who has adopted a child/has taken a child for foster care
Do you know anyone who And do you know anyone Do you have children? adopted a child? who took a child for foster care?
Yes Yes 11% 14% No 33%
Yes 67% No No 89% 86%
Base: Total target population. Base: Total target population. Base: Total target population. And do you know anyone who took a child for foster Do you have children? Do you know anyone who adopted a child? care?
133 Knowing someone who has adopted a child – answer YES
% those who know someone
13 13
12
11 11
8
7
Total
adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof
of adoption of
of adoption of
of foster of care
of foster of care
Low awareness Low awareness Low
High awareness High awareness High
Base: Total target population. Do you know anyone who adopted a child? 135 Knowing someone who has taken a child into foster care – answer YES
% those who know someone
15 14 14
12 12
Total
Low Low
High High
adoption adoption adoption
Moderate Moderate
fostercare fostercare fostercare
awarenessof awarenessof awarenessof awarenessof awarenessof awarenessof
Base: Total target population. And do you know anyone who took a child into foster care? 137 Experience and interest in foster care and adoption
▪ When it comes to helping children without parental care, most common type of support is provision of food (37%), clothes, hygiene products. One fourth of citizens helped children with disability by providing psychological support, talking to them, while one fifth of citizens claimed to had helped them financially. ▪ Current interest of the citizens of Montenegro in foster care is at a very low level; 91% of citizens are not interested in foster care, 4% are indecisive, while only 4% are interested. ▪ Wish to help (65%), as well as love for children (21%) are the main motives that stimulate the interested to be foster parents. ▪ Highest percentage of the citizens who are interested in being foster parents find it acceptable to take care of a child of unknown parents (63%), as well as a child victim of violence, abuse and neglect (61%). About half of citizens are willing to take care of a child who lived in institution (55%), child of underage parents (53%), as well as a child with foreign citizenship (47%). Not as many citizens, about one third of them, would be willing to take care of a child whose parents are unable to take care of him because they are in prison (35%), or a child whose parents are drug or alcohol addicts (32%). Children that lowest percentage of citizens would be willing to take care of are children with intellectual or other developmental problems, a chronic disease, behaviour problems, as well as children of Roma nationality. Only one fifth of citizens say that they would be willing to take care of such children as well.
138 Experience and interest in foster care and adoption
▪ Most relevant factors that influence making a decision about foster care refer to family support (68%), child’s mental and physical health (66% and 64%, respectively), support of Social Welfare Centre (56%), as well as medical history of child’s biological parents (51%). Additionally, characteristics of the foster care process also influence this decision, such as duration of the foster care establishing process (45%), possibility of taking a leave in case of becoming a foster parent of an infant (39%), as well as monthly allowance (36%). One fifth of citizens (23%) say that also attitude of their environment influences their decision. ▪ Financial situation and poor living conditions are the main reasons for citizens’ unwillingness to be foster parents (37%). It is interesting that one fifth of them can’t specify what prevents them from becoming foster parents. ▪ When talking about taking interest in adoption among the citizens of Montenegro, situation is the same as in case of interest in foster care - 94% of citizens are not interested in adopting a child. ▪ Most common motives for adoption coincide with motives for foster care, and these are a wish to help (41%) and love for children (34%).
139 Experience and interest in foster care and adoption
▪ Also considering adoption of children without parental care, citizens of Montenegro find most acceptable children of unknown parents (66%), who lived in a institution (53%), as well as children with foreign citizenship (47%); more than half of the citizens would adopt such children. On the other hand, a lot lower percentage of citizens would accept a child with behavioural, intellectual or other developmental problems, with a chronic diseases or a Roma child (about one fifth of them). ▪ The decision about adoption is influenced most by family support (75%), child’s mental health (65%), but also duration of adoption process (64%); it is obvious that these factors are similar as in case of foster care. Additionally, more than half of citizens say that also child’s physical health is important for making this decision (59%), medical history of child’s biological parents (58%), as well as financial situation (55%). Attitude of the environment affects the decision of one third of citizens. ▪ Most citizens would not adopt a child because of their unenviable financial situation (31%), same as in case of foster care. However, many citizens say that they are not willing to adopt a child because they have their own children (20%), while 17% of them don’t know why they would not adopt a child.
140 Communication channels
141 The existence of information about foster care and adoption
In your opinion, are foster care and adoption of To what extent is information about adoption and children sufficiently covered by the media? foster care available to citizens?
Not available at all 23% Yes, we Don’t know hear 6% Mainly not available 37% enough about it in the media NOT AVAILABLE 60% 12% Neither available nor 24% unavailable
No, I rarely AVAILABLE 11% hear something about it in Mainly available 10% the media 82% Fully available 1%
Base: Total target population. To what extent would you say that the foster care and adoption of Don't know 5% children are present in the media? Base: Total target population. To what extent is information about adoption and foster care available to citizens? 142 Sources of information about foster care and adoption
Social Welfare Center 40%
Internet 25%
TV 19%
Friends, acquaintances, family 9%
Magazines, journals, professional publications 5%
Newspapers 5%
Radio 2%
Other 1%
Dоn't know/Refusal 1%
Multiple answers; Base: Total target population In case you needed more information about this topic, where would you search for information? 143 Media that are monitored (TV stations and Web sites)
Which television station do you follow the most? Which website do you visit the most?
Vijesti 43% www.facebook.com 10%
RTCG 18% www.vijesti.me 7%
www.google.com 7% Pink Montenegro 12% www.youtube.com 2% Prva TV 12% www.cdm.me 2% RTS 5% Open ended www.portalanalitika.me 1% Atlas TV 3% Sport websites/betting 1% sites IN TV 1% www.dan.com 1%
Other 4% Other 5%
None/I rarely watch tv 1% None 25%
Don't know/Refusal 1% Don't know/Refusal 39% Base: Total target population. Base: Total target population. Which television station do you follow the most? Which website do you visit the most? 144 Media that are monitored (newspapers and magazines / journals / professional publications)
Which newspaper you read the most? Which magazine/journal/professional publication do you usually read?
Lepota i zdravlje 6% Vijesti 42% Glorija 5% Dan 18% Monitor 3% Svijet 2% Pobjeda 10% Story 2%
Dnevne novine 9% Hello 2% Blic Zena 2% Blic 3% CKM 2% Open ended Skandal 1% Vecernje novosti 3% Hrana i vino 1% Kurir 2% Tender 1% Politikin zabavnik 1% Other 1% Cosmopolitan 1%
None/I don't read newspapers 7% Other 13% None 26% Don't know/Refusal 5% Don't know/Refusal 34% Base: Total target population. Base: Total target population. Which newspaper you read the most? Which magazine/journal/professional publication do you usually read? 145 Favorite celebrities
Sergej Cetkovic 15%
Mima Karadzic 4%
Ivan Strugar 4%
Novak Djokovic 4%
Stevan Jovetic 3%
Andrija Milosevic 3% Open ended Athletes (water polo players, handball 2% players, volleyball players) Vlado Georgijev 2%
Milena Vucic 2% Mirko Vucinic 2%
Petar Kapisoda 2%
Andrija Bozovic 2%
Other 21%
None 9%
Don't know/Refusal 25%
Multiple answers; Base: Total target population Who are your favorite celebrities in Montenegro? Please don't take politicians into account, but other celebrities (artists, athletes, businessmen...). 146 Communication channels
▪ As for availability of information about foster care and adoption, citizens are very likely to think that these issues are not covered by the media much (82%), as well as that information about foster care and adoption is not at all or mainly not available to the citizens of Montenegro (60%). ▪ Main source of information is Social Welfare Centre (40%), then the internet (25%) and TV (19%). ▪ However, most citizens can’t name the website they visit most frequently (39%) or they say that they don’t visit any websites (25%), while Facebook is visited by the highest percentage of citizens (10%). TV station “Vijesti” is consumed most by far (43%). ▪ “Vijesti” is also a daily newspaper read by most of the citizens of Montenegro (42%). As for magazines and professional journals, high percentage of citizens say that they never read them (26%), while 34% don’t cite what they read most. ▪ Favorite celebrity of the highest percentage of citizens of Montenegro is Sergej Cetković (15%), while other mentioned are: Milutin Mima Karadzić, Ivan Strugar, Novak Djoković, Stevan Jovetić, Andrija Milošević. One fourth of them cite no favorite celebrity.
147 Summary and conclusions
▪ Majority of the citizens of Montenegro think that the state doesn't make enough efforts to prevent abandonment of children. ▪ While adoption is relatively often perceived as a form of child protection of children without parental care, foster care is recognized as such considerably less frequently. It shouldn't be forgotten that equal percentage of the citizens who consider adoption as an adequate form of child protection also think that placing children without parental care in institutions is an adequate form of child protection. Therefore, more efforts should be placed in raising the public awareness about the advantages of child growth in foster and adoptive families. ▪ Observed globally, self-assessed level of citizens' awareness about foster care is on an exceptionally low level. Nevertheless, majority of the citizens are aware of some facts regarding foster care, for example, the fact that foster care is a temporary care about the child, and that foster parents have the responsibility to provide conditions for optimal development of the child and prepare him/her for independent life and work. Lower percentage of the citizens know who the foster parents can be, and which right and obligations the biological parents of children placed in foster family have. Besides that, not a negligible percentage of the citizens think that foster care means establishing a relationship of kinship between child and foster parents, and that foster parents can manage and dispose of the child's property. All mentioned facts indicate that attention should be paid to promotion of foster care, and education of the citizens about this form of child protection for children without parental care. ▪ On the other hand, citizens of Montenegro are much more informed about adoption. However, what majority of the citizens are not familiar with is the fact that adoption can be full or partial, and differences between these two types of adoption. Besides that, lower percentage of the citizens are aware of the possibility of managing and disposing of the child's property, while certain percentage of the citizens claim that adoptive parents receive monthly compensation from the state. ▪ High percentage of the citizens are unable to specify the difference between foster care and adoption. The highest percentage of the citizens who are able to specify this difference most frequently mention temporary character of foster care. 148 Summary and conclusions
▪ Observed in general, attitude towards foster care and adoption is mainly positive. The prevailing opinion is that foster and adoptive families can provide children with everything they get in their biological families. The strongest drivers that stimulate foster care and adoption are love for children and wish to help someone, as well as the need to fulfil the role of parenting. However, many citizens believe that ideal foster care process ends up with children returning to their biological families. On the other hand, significant percentage of citizens believe that foster family can never replace the biological one, or that adopted child or child placed in foster family can be loved equally as one’s own child, as well as that children abandoned by their parents stay traumatised for the rest of their lives and that they usually have problems with learning and behaviour in general. Accordingly, there are various doubts when it comes to problems foster families are faced with, and what citizens fear most is difficult establishing of emotional bond with a child, as well as problems with child’s biological parents. Therefore particular attention should be paid to education and destroying prejudice about foster care and relationship child-foster parent, and pointing to good aspects of foster care. On the other hand, as barriers for foster care and adoption, usually mentioned are poor financial situation, but also lack of support of the society and the state. So, there is obvious discrepancy between perceptions of problems that foster families are faced with and perceived factors that prevent citizens from being engaged in foster care; while the perceived problems are of interior nature, barriers come from the surrounding, and not from individuals.
149 Summary and conclusions
▪ Interest in foster care and adoption is at a very low level, which additionally points to necessity of motivating the citizens of Montenegro through strong campaigns, but also the need to make procedures simpler and closer to citizens. ▪ As for suitability of children of different characteristics, most citizens are not willing to take care of children whose parents are in prison or are drug or alcohol addicts, as well as children with intellectual or other developmental problems, chronic diseases, or children of Roma nationality. Besides family support, actually child’s mental and physical health is what determines the decision on foster care most. It should not be neglected that the very foster care process, as well as material monthly allowance, do influence this decision, so the process of establishing foster care needs to be simplified and adequate monthly allowance needs to be introduced.
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