In Lithuania, a major shift is under way to ensure that children who cannot live with their birth parents can still grow up in a safe, caring family environment. Supported by €11.9 million from the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), the country is assisting foster families and replacing institutional care with family-based solutions.

Active across 60 municipalities, the initiative brings together 66 local centres that coordinate services, offer guidance, and help families create a stable home environment for the children in their care. As part of Lithuania’s wider reform of its child protection system, this shift is both practical and strategic, aiming to build a more inclusive society where every child has the chance to grow up in a family, not an institution.

Helping families offer a stable home

For years, many children in Lithuania without parental care used to be placed in large residential institutions. Now, the focus is on placing children with foster families and ensuring that those families have the right support from the start.

Instead of large-scale facilities, the initiative promotes community-based solutions. Foster families receive tailored assistance from professionals who work together to meet the needs of each child. So far, more than 5 000 children have benefited from such integrated support.

One foster parent in Kaunas region described the difference it makes to have consistent, personal support: ‘Our foster care coordinator is like a second guardian to the children. They look forward to seeing her and truly trust her.’

Support for families and professionals

Caring for a child who has experienced trauma or instability can be demanding. This is why the initiative offers a full range of services – from training and emotional support to access to psychologists, social workers, psychotherapists and peer support groups.

Professionals also benefit from stronger cooperation. Through regional networks, regular training and joint meetings, foster care specialists share knowledge and build a more coherent and capable system.

In Klaipėda region, one worker described how the project has boosted their confidence: ‘This project has helped me grow, both professionally and personally. I now believe I can handle anything.’

A network of care and trust

Challenges can arise at any time in foster care, and one of the most important forms of support is simply knowing there is someone to turn to. That feeling of being part of a team is a key part of this approach.

A foster family in Marijampolė region explained how much this ongoing support means to them: ‘We know we’re not alone – we can ask for help, talk things through, and face challenges together as a team.’

This sense of shared responsibility and mutual trust helps build a more stable, compassionate care system – one that prioritises the well-being of children and the people who look after them.

Celebrating and raising awareness

To raise awareness and challenge stigma around foster care, a dedicated week of events is held each year in all municipalities involved leading up to Lithuania’s Foster Care Day in early July. These events, now in their sixth year, shine a light on foster families and the support they provide. 

A national highlight is the summer festival Children are Children, bringing together foster families, professionals and local communities from across the country – a celebration now entering its fifth year.