The aim of this campaign is to increase knowledge and change the public's thinking about family forms of foster care and to increase motivation to take action to create foster families. We believe that our efforts realised together with local governments, NGOs will bring the right results – opening the doors of our homes to children, points out Minister Marlena Maląg.

The project included:

• Conference entitled. 'Already here?' Foster Parenting: Challenges and Successes,
• a website https://rodziczastepczy.pl/ – source of knowledge on foster parenting,
• helpline number 22 490 80 50. Experts are available from Monday to Friday between 10am and 8pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm for anyone interested in foster parenting,
• TV and radio spots,
• a guide on how to become a foster parent,
• banners available in the media space.

I want to express my great respect for you, the staff of people in local governments, NGOs, families who are putting in a huge amount of work for children looking for a family. We need a big, nationwide campaign to promote foster parenthood, which we are just starting. I believe this is the beginning of a new phase, a greater public recognition for the work of foster families. The beginning of greater mobilisation, perhaps courage for those potential parents who are still hesitant today. I believe that thanks to this campaign they will be courageous, they will take up this challenge, pointed out the Deputy Minister for Family and Social Policy, Barbara Socha. 

The campaign was launched with a conference entitled 'Already here?' Foster Parenting: Challenges and Successes, organised by the 'Education with Values' Foundation and held at the Ministry of Development and Technology in Warsaw. The event was attended by more than 200 people who work and act on a daily basis for foster care in Poland. Among the participants were experts and representatives of voivodship and county governments.

Invited guests and speakers shared their experiences from everyday work in foster parenting. Dr Agata Skalec presented the results of research on the determinants of foster family acquisition. Alumni, Kacper Majewski touched everyone by recounting his difficult childhood experience. He strengthened the conference participants in the belief that one cannot give up when looking for foster parent candidates. Equally inspiring was a lecture on self-motivation and how to inspire others to take constructive action, delivered by Cezary Fryszkiewicz, a trainer and coach. There was also a panel discussion on 'What helps in attracting candidates for foster parents', featuring prominent experts from the field of foster parenting in Poland: Edyta Wojtasińska – One Heart Association, Małgorzata Malczuk – Director of the District Family Assistance Centre in Biała Podlaska, Jadwiga Jagiełło – Great Heart Foundation, Ewelina Bembenek – Deputy Director of the Regional Centre for Social Policy in Rzeszów, and Magdalena Nazimek – Education with Values Foundation.

We are inviting you to follow the social media of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy and the Education with Values Foundation. Further information and materials developed as part of this campaign will appear there on an ongoing basis.