Despite the promotion of deinstitutionalisation policies in the European Union in recent decades, between 2006 and 2019 a sharp decrease in the placement of children in foster care was observed in Portugal (from 2,698 children to 191), in contrast to the high percentage of placements in residential care (over 95%). More recently, in the last five years (2020-2025), important changes have occurred within the Portuguese context, with a positive variation in foster care placements (with an increase of approximately 6% in 2020, 11% in 2021, 1% in 2022, and 16% in 2023). However, further efforts are still needed to better understand the factors that explain the social mobilisation around foster care (Magalhães, D’Eça et al., 2025). This study contributes towards responding to this need.

When questioned regarding why they would become a foster family, the participants in this study most frequently highlighted child-centred motivations (e.g., providing love, affection, and protection to children in need), followed by social reasons (e.g., social responsibility, desire to help others), availability of resources (e.g., economic,  housing, physical or professional) and humanitarian reasons (e.g. disasters or war). On the other hand, factors that would prevent them from becoming a foster family most often involved lack of resources (e.g., psychological, financial, support, time availability), the existence of individual barriers (e.g., health problems, age) and family issues (e.g., lack of family agreement) (Magalhães, Carvalho et al., 2025). 

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Approximately half of the participants have little knowledge about foster care (they have never or only rarely heard of the measure); 33% would like to become a foster family; 15% will make an effort to become a foster family, and only 9% plan to become a foster family in the near future.

Based on the data on familiarity with, openness towards, and intention of becoming a foster family, three profiles were identified in this study: Ready Responders, Willing Waverers, and Reluctant Bystanders (Magalhães, Costa et al., 2025). The profile of Ready Responders includes those who are more likely to become a foster family, given that they know more about foster care and display greater openness towards and intention of fostering. The profile of Willing Waverers people includes those who, despite their limited knowledge of foster care, have shown openness towards becoming a foster family. Finally, the profile of Reluctant Bystanders involves individuals who report limited knowledge about foster care and reduced openness towards and intention of becoming a foster family (Magalhães, Costa et al., 2025). 

Adults who have a more diligent profile in relation to becoming a foster family tend to have more contact with the Child Protection System, for example, because they know foster families or foster children, or have been involved in the System themselves, or have professional experience related to the System. The profile of Willing Waverers includes individuals who have better communication in the family, with more women and more individuals without children than the other two profiles.

The profile of Ready Responders includes individuals with higher levels of social well-being (e.g., better social acceptance and integration) and more motivation towards caring for children than the profile of Reluctant people. These adults reveal more positive beliefs about their parenting ability, as well as more confidence in their ability to foster a child in need and the skills needed to care for them. 

Finally, older participants and those with less contact with the Child Protection System tend to show less openness and diligence towards becoming a foster family (Magalhães, Costa et al., 2025).

This study identified factors that may be important for the social mobilisation of potential foster families. These factors included the desire to help children in vulnerable situations and the perception of having the capacity to care for them. Given that contact with the Child Protection System has revealed itself to be important for greater mobilisation, making foster care visible and enhancing people’s contact with this system may be relevant. 

However, intention or availability to foster does not necessarily translate into action. The results of the study suggest that adults with greater openness and availability to foster should receive support to develop skills and access resources that allow them to transform their availability into effective engagement and involvement in the foster care system. In addition, future research should continue to explore factors that explain openness towards and the decision to become a foster family, ideally with multi-method and longitudinal approaches.

MAGALHÃES, E., H. CARVALHO et al. (2025): Why do People Become a Foster Parent? Insights from a National Study. Manuscript submitted for publication.

MAGALHÃES, E., L. D’EÇA et al. (2025): “Tornar-se Família de Acolhimento em Portugal: Quem, Como e Porquê?”, in E. Magalhães, J. Cerdeira and P. Guerra (eds.): Promover os Direitos e Proteger Crianças e Jovens em Perigo: Contributos da ciência e considerações práticas, (pp. 291-302), Edições Almedina. 

MAGALHÃES, E., P. COSTA et al. (2025): “Profiles of adults most likely to become a foster family: A latent profile analysis”, Child Abuse & Neglect, 165, 107486.  

UNICEF (2024): TransMonEE analytical series: Pathways to Better Protection: Taking stock of the situation of children in alternative care in Europe and Central Asia, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Regional Office for Europe & Central Asia (ECARO).