More than half of the children who were placed with foster families in the Mykolaiv region have returned to their parents

There are foster families in 13 communities in the Mykolaiv region. Illustrative photo: homepaternity.com

There are foster families in 13 communities in the Mykolaiv region who help children in difficult life circumstances. Over the past year, 55% of children returned to their biological parents after being in foster care.

This was reported during a briefing on 15 April by Iryna Ponomariova, head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration’s Children’s Services Department, according to NikVesti.

Iryna Ponomariova noted that not all parents who find themselves in difficult life circumstances cooperate with the child welfare services. As a result, children are deprived of parental care.

To avoid such situations where children are removed from their families, there is a foster care service.

«It is precisely at the parents’ request that there is an opportunity to place their children in foster care to help them overcome their life difficulties, in order to stabilise their living situation, create conditions for the children’s return, or, for example, undergo appropriate treatment if there is no one to leave their child with,» noted the head of the child welfare service.

She reported that in 2025, the region established the highest number of foster families. Whilst there were 15 at the start of the year, a further 13 were established during the year. In 2026, two new foster families were established.

«In 2025, 98 children used the foster care service. Most of these cases, of course, were at the parents’ request. And this yielded fruitful results. It was in 2025 that more than half of the children who used the foster care service were returned to their biological parents after the latter had overcome their life difficulties,» explained Iryna Ponomariova.

A further 30% of children who were in foster care were granted the status of being deprived of parental care. They were placed in family-based care arrangements.

The head of the child welfare service also provided the following figures for 2025 regarding the number of children in foster care: 10 children were placed there due to threats to their life and health, four children due to domestic violence, another four whilst their parents were undergoing treatment, and one child following the death of their mother.

«Two more children were newborns who were placed in foster care because their parents had abandoned them at the maternity hospital. A further three children were placed specifically under the procedure for abandoned foundlings, which is drawn up by the National Police in conjunction with a medical facility, which examines the child in the presence of the child welfare service. The other 74 children were placed there specifically at the parents’ request due to difficult life circumstances,» noted Iryna Ponomariova.

Thus, 35 children returned to their parents after foster care, accounting for almost 55%.

Iryna Ponomariova also noted that there is a need to establish foster families in every community. However, they currently exist in only 13 communities. The foster care service is funded from the state budget, and training is provided.

The head of the Children’s Services Department urged people to become foster carers and help children if they can.

«I would like to remind you that we still have a need, and a very great need, as almost every day, any kind of trouble can happen to any child. And we would not want these children to end up in institutions or be left to face their problems alone. After all, these may not only be newborns or very young children. They could also be teenagers who are afraid of being removed from their families and mostly keep their problems to themselves,» added Iryna Ponomariova.

As a reminder, the Club of Foster Carers and Assistants of the Mykolaiv Region was established in 2025.

Read also the article by NikVesti: ‘A child has the right to a family: how adoption and family-based care are being developed in Mykolaiv’.