In this thesis, I examined the problem of foster family shortage in Slovenia from the perspective of social workers who are engaged in the field of foster care and child protection. In the theoretical part, I first presented the role of the family as the fundamental environment for a child's growth and development, and the importance and role of foster care as one of the forms of alternative care. I also addressed the legal framework of foster care, child protection procedures, the role of social work centres, and the factors which may contribute to the shortage of foster families. Finally, I highlighted the consequences of insufficient foster care homes and potential ways to improve the system.
In the empirical part, I conducted semi-structured interviews with eight social workers – four from the field of foster care and four from the field of child protection – to examine how they perceive the causes behind the lack of foster families, what impact this has on the child protection procedures, and what changes and solutions they consider necessary to improve the current situation. The analysis of the interviews showed that this is a complex problem that requires a coordinated approach between social work centres, educational institutions, ministries, and non-governmental organizations. Better systemic and emotional support for foster families would also be needed, along with strengthening the role of social workers in implementing long-term measures such as financial support, regular professional training, and programs for recruiting and retaining foster parents.
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