Fostering and adoption in Montenegro

Fostering and adoption in
Montenegro
2013 The Home of Researchers© 2013 Ipsos. All rights reserved. Contains Ipsos' Confidential and Proprietary information and may not be
disclosed or reproduced without the prior written consent of Ipsos.

Table of contents
• Methodology
• Sample
• Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
• Foster care and adoption in Montenegro
• Attitudes toward foster care and adoption
• Experience and interest in foster care and adoption
• Communication channels
2

Methodology
 Ad hoc face-to-face survey with interviewing performed at respondents’ home
• Data collected on representative sample for population of Montenegro citizens aged 18 and more
• Target population size is 474 655
• Sample size is 1016 (with 127 sampling points)
• Sample type is stratified 3-staged probability sample with sampling stages :
 Polling station territory – approximately size of 200 HH (PPS with probabilities proportional to size)
 Households by random route technique starting from the given addresses (SRSWoR)
 Households member with same probability (SRSWoR) – Kish scheme
 Stratification is done according to
 Type of settlement – urban/rural
 Four geo-economical regions
 Post stratification is performed regarding: gender, age, type of settlement, geo-economical region
 Fieldwork control is done in 12% of totally interviewed in all strata proportionally to sample size, and
logic and consistency control of collected data is performed in 100% of cases
• Data collection is performed from 1st to 15th December 2012
• 95% confidence interval for incidence of 5% is +/- 1.2%
3

48%
52%
23%
20%
18%
26%
14%
23%
58%
19%
28%
48%
24%
64%
36%
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementary
school
Secondary
school
Collegeor
university
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
Gender Age Education Stratum Type of
settlement
Sample
4

Awareness of forms of
protecting children
without parental care
5

Providing support by the state for families/individual persons who are
at risk of abandoning the child
Yes
17%
Don't
know
5%
No
78%
12%
10%
6%
4%
3%
3%
52%Center for social work
State / state institutions
Municipality
Safe House
Family / relatives/ close
persons
NGO
Montenegrin Government
Do you think that the state helps sufficiently
family/individual person/mother who are at risk of
abandoning the child due to various
problems/circumstances?
To whom such family / individual / mother can turn
for help?
Base: Total target population.
Do you think that the state helps sufficiently family/individual
person/mother who are at risk of abandoning the child due to various
problems circumstances?
Multiple responses; Base: Total target population.
To whom such family / individual / mother can turn for help?
Open ended
6

at risk of abandoning the child – the state helps sufficiently
17 16
17
16
11
18
16
24
25
15
12
18
12
17
21
18
17
14 14
22
Total
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementaryschool
Secondaryschool
CollegeorUniversity
Lessthan100EUR
101-200EUR
Morethan200EUR
Refusetoanswer
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
% those who think that the state helps sufficiently
7

at risk of abandoning the child – the state helps sufficiently
17
20
15
14
29
11 11
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who think that the state helps sufficiently
8

The reasons for the separation of the child from the family
48%
47%
25%
20%
1%
1%
58%
Poor financial situation and
family's living conditions
Family violence
Negligence and reluctance of
parents to raise their children
Illness of parents
Insufficient support of state and
competent institutions
Other
Don't know
Why do you think that children are usually separated from family?
9

Mentioned forms of protection of children without adequate parental
care by the state
68%
35%
27%
2%
1%
1%
69%
Placing the child in social and child
protection institutions (children's
homes - large residential institutions)
Adoption
Foster care
Guardianship
Other
None
Don't know / Refuse
To start with, please try to recall all forms of protection and ways the state can use to provide for or protect children
without parents and without proper parental care?
10

Knowledge about foster care
All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about foster care – what it involves,
what the legal regulations and procedures are like..?
26%
45%
71%
25%
4%
3%
1%
I don't know anything
about foster care
I know a little about
foster care
I KNOW LITTLE
I know something about
foster care
I KNOW A LOT
I know much about foster
care
I know very much about
foster care
11

Knowledge about foster care
All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about foster care – what it
involves, what the legal regulations and procedures are like..?
4 4 4 4 4 5 7
1 3
8
2 1 4 5 3 5
71
75
67
72
66 69 66
87
80
72
56
73 70 66
76 72 71 69 72 68
4 1 4 2
Total
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementaryschool
Secondaryschool
CollegeorUniversity
Lessthan100EUR
101-200EUR
Morethan200EUR
Refusetoanswer
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
% I know a lot (4+5) % I know little (1+2)
12

Perception of foster care
20%
10%
8%
6%
5%
3%
2%
5%
24%
27%Caring for a child, helping a child
Temporarily caring for a child, helping a child
Temporary accommodation / care about the child in
own home
Accommodation/ care of the child in own home
Child support (provision of food, clothing and shoes
for the child / child education expenses)
Receiving monthly compensation from the state for
the care of the child
Taking care of the child's education and health
The same/ similar to adoption
Other
Don't know / Refuse
In your opinion, what is adoption?
Open ended
13

Perception of foster care
Now I will read to you some statements. Please tell me
whether you think that they are right or not.
81
71
64
57
49
43
42
32
26
14
10
17
11
10
23
24
25
30
32
14
9
12
25
33
28
32
33
38
42
71
Foster care is temporary care of the child
Foster parents have the responsibility to provide conditions for optimal
development of the child and prepare him/her for independent life and
work
Foster parent can be both a relative or a stranger to a child
Foster parent can be a total stranger to the child
Biological parents of the child accommodated in foster family have the
right and obligation to maintain personal relations with the child
Foster care must provide permanency of relations with biological family
right and obligation to make decisions important for the child together
with foster parents
right and obligation to support the child
right and obligation to manage and dispose of child's property
Foster parent must be the child's relative
% Yes % Don't know / No answer % No
14

Knowledge about adoption
All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about adoption – what it involves, what
the legal regulations and procedures are like..?
12%
44%
56%
39%
6%
5%
1%
about adoption
I know a little about
adoption
I KNOW LITTLE
I know something about
adoption
I KNOW A LOT
I know much about
adoption
I know very much about
adoption
25

Knowledge about adoption
6 6 6 4 7 8 9
3 5
10
5 2
7 8 5 7
56 55 56 56 54 58
46
73
64
58
38
59 61
46
55
63
54 51 54 58
7
2 6 5
Total
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementaryschool
Secondaryschool
CollegeorUniversity
Lessthan100EUR
101-200EUR
Morethan200EUR
Refusetoanswer
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
% I know a lot (4+5) % I know little (1+2)
All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about adoption – what it involves, what
the legal regulations and procedures are like..? 26

Perception of adoption
19%
13%
10%
9%
6%
4%
3%
1%
1%
1%
12%
37%Accepting the child as own child/ as a family member
Permanent / constant / full care, custody of a child
Custody / protection/ care of children without parental
care/ humanity
Establishment of kinship relationship between the child
and the adoptive parent
Adoption / acceptance of children (other people's
children, orphans…)
Providing all conditions to the child (love, upbringing,
education...)
Adoption when married couples do not have biological
children
Legally regulated child care/ obligation towards the
child
Care of a child without receiving compensation from the
state
Temporary adoption / till adulthood / similar to foster
care
Other
Don't know / Refuse
In your opinion, what is adoption?
Open ended
27

Perception of adoption
Now I will read to you some statements. Please tell me
whether you think that they are right or not.
79
77
71
60
60
44
17
13
13
6
12
7
8
24
25
37
11
13
6
9
9
16
21
16
16
19
72
75
81
84
Adopted child takes adoptive parents’ last name
It is possible to adopt a child who has parents, but parents who don’t
provide adequate parental care
With adoption kinship relationship is established between the child and
adoptive parent, equal to blood relationship
In case of full adoption, biological parents are stripped of their rights
and responsibilities towards the child, unless adoptive parent is child’s
stepfather or stepmother
In case of full adoption, adoptive parents are registered as child’s
parents in Birth Registry
There are full and partial adoption
Adoption means taking temporary care of the child
Adoptive parent must be a total stranger to the child
It is possible to adopt only a child without parents
Adoptive parent must be a relative of the child
% Yes % Don't know / No answer % No
28

Knowledge about foster care and adoption
45%
71%
25%
4%
3%
1%
44%
56%
39%
6%
5%
1%
26%
12%
I know a little
I KNOW LITTLE
I know something
I KNOW A LOT
I know much
I know very much Foster care
AdoptionBase: Total target population.
All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about foster care – what it involves, what the legal regulations and procedures are
like..?
All things considered, how informed do you consider yourself about adoption – what it involves, what the legal regulations and procedures are
like..? 39

Perception of foster care and adoption
66%
64%
64%
22%
21%
3%
78%
71%
21%
57%
77%
1%
73%
83%
Accepting the child in own home (the child lives with
other household members)
Taking care of upbringing, education and health of
the child
Child support (provision of food, clothing and shoes
to the child, bearing the costs of child's education)
Receiving monthly monetary compensation from the
state for the care of the child
Management and disposal of the child's property
Establishment of kinship relationship between foster
/ adoptive parents and the child
Don't know Foster care
Adoption
In your opinion, which of the following means foster care, that is, what are the obligations of foster parent towards the child?
And which of the following means adoption, that is, what are the obligations of adoptive parent towards the child?
40

Differences between fostering and adoption
15%
10%
6%
5%
2%
2%
1%
1%
4%
5%
28%
43%Foster care is temporary/ adoption is permanent
Adoption creates parental/ family relationship, child
has all the legal rights
Foster care includes compensation from the state/
there is none for adoption
Adoption is more serious/ more responsible/ more
complete raising of children
Foster care is care/ provides material needs
Foster care also encompasses children who have
parents, and adoption does not
Duration of the period
Adoption is associated with love, wish, and foster care
with financial profit
Adoptive parent can manage and dispose of child's
property
Other
No difference/ very similar
Don't know / Refuse
In your opinion, what are the most distinctive differences between fostering and adoption as two
forms of care for children without parents or without proper parental care?
Open ended
43

Conditions that the family/person must meet to be accepted as foster
parent/adoptive parent – Marital status
Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as foster parent? Which conditions are
acceptable?
Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as adoptive parent? Which conditions
are acceptable?
12%
4%
32%
5%
8%
2%
19%
7%
57%
73%
Married
Single (not married,
widowed, divorced)
De facto marriage
Not a condition for
foster care/adoption
Don't know / Refuse
Foster care
Adoption
45

parent/adoptive parent – age of foster parent/adoptive parent (from)
acceptable?
are acceptable?
11%
8%
17%
2%
2%
45%
9%
11%
8%
20%
4%
1%
41%
9%
5%
5%
18
20
25
30
35
40
Not a condition for
Don't know / Refuse
Foster care
Adoption
48

parent/adoptive parent – age of foster parent/adoptive parent (to)
acceptable?
are acceptable?
6%
3%
13%
3%
9%
3%
2%
47%
9%
8%
3%
16%
3%
10%
3%
2%
41%
11%
2%
1%
30
40
45
50
55
60
65
70
Not a condition for foster care/adoption
Don't know / Refuse
Foster care
Adoption
51

parent/adoptive parent – the age difference between the foster parent/adoptive
parent and the child
Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as foster parent? Which conditions are acceptable?
Which conditions must the family/person meet to be accepted as adoptive parent? Which conditions are acceptable?
4%
2%
17%
6%
4%
51%
13%
5%
3%
17%
7%
4%
46%
14%
2%
1%
10
15
18
20
25
30
Not a condition for
Don't know / Refuse
Foster care
Adoption
54

parent/adoptive parent – housing conditions (ownership)
acceptable?
are acceptable?
1%
35%
8%
1%
26%
9%
55%
65%
Owner of flat /
house
Subtenant
Not a condition for
Don't know / Refuse Foster care
Adoption
57

Yes
78%
Don't
know
6%
No
16%
Which institution is in charge of adoption and foster care processes?
Process of foster care and adoption
Do you think that all children without parental
care, regardless of their personal characteristics
(gender, age, nationality, mental health, physical
health…) can be adopted or placed in foster family?
Which institution is in charge of adoption and
foster care processes?
7%
1%
1%
4%
86%
Social welfare
center
Municipality
Primary health
care center
Some other
institution
Don't know
Do you think that all children without parental care, regardless of their
personal characteristics (gender, age, nationality, mental health, physical
60

Process of foster care and adoption
16 16 16
17
14
13
18
17
22
15
11
22
15
13
15
18
14
18
16 16
Total
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementaryschool
Secondaryschool
CollegeorUniversity
Lessthan100EUR
101-200EUR
Morethan200EUR
Refusetoanswer
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
% those who don't agree
Do you think that all children without parental care, regardless of their
personal characteristics (gender, age, nationality, mental health, physical
61

Who would best take care of the child if parents can’t take care of the
child?
12%
8%
3%
3%
74%
The closest relatives
(grandparents, aunts,
uncles, etc)
Family which is not a
relative to the child ,
but which would
adopt the child
Some of the state-
owned social welfare
and child care
institutions
Family which is not a
relative to the child,
but which would be
foster family
Don't know
If parents can not take care of the child (deceased or unable because of other reasons), who, in your opinion,
would best take care of the child?
65

Yes
58%
Don't
know
5%
No
37%
Do you think that a child growing up in an institution stands equal
chances for growth and development as a child growing up in a family?
Placing children without parental care in institutions
Do you think that placing a child without parental
care in an institution is adequate form of
protection?
Do you think that a child growing up in an
institution stands equal chances for growth and
development as a child growing up in a family?
Do you think that placing a child without parental care in an institution is
adequate form of protection?
Yes
37%
Don't
know
5%
No
58%
66

Relationship between the attitude towards the adequacy of placing
children without parental care in institutions and their opportunities
for growth and development
67
Do you think that placing a child without parental care in an institution is adequate form of
protection?
Do you think that a child growing up in an institution stands equal chances for growth and
development as a child growing up in a family?
57
10
8
39
88
50
4
2
42
Yes
No
Don't know
Yes No Don't know
Do you think that a child growing up in an institution stands equal chances for growth
and development as a child growing up in a family?
Do you think that
placing a child
in an institution is
adequate form of
protection?
67

Awareness of forms of protecting children without parental care
 Majority of the citizens (78%) express attitude that the state doesn't help enough persons or
families being in situation where likelihood of abandoning a child is increased. Higher than average
percentage of the older citizens, aged 65+, those with lower education and the ones from rural
areas of Montenegro think that the state provides adequate support to these persons.
Additionally, the citizens who show low level of awareness about foster care share the opinion that
the state provides sufficient help, in contrast to the citizens who are more aware of foster care, the
higher percentage of whom think that the state doesn't do enough to make life easier to these
families. Majority of the citizens (52%) state that Social Welfare Centre is an institution in which
individuals or families under the risk of abandoning the child should turn for help.
 The reasons why children are separated from family are poor financial situation and living
conditions (58%), family violence (48%), as well as negligence and reluctance of parents to raise
their children (47%).
 The citizens think that the state can provide protection of children without appropriate parental
care by placing the children in social welfare and child protection institutions (69%) and adoption
(68%). Considerably lower percentage of the citizens mention other forms of protection such as
foster care (35%) and guardianship (27%). In other words, foster care is not sufficiently familiar
form of child protection for children without parental care, which means that additional efforts
should be made to promote foster care.
 To confirm the above statement is also the fact that citizens of Montenegro are not very familiar
with foster care, which they admit; 45% of them state that they know a little about foster care, and
another 26% claim to know nothing at all about foster care. One fourth of Montenegrin citizens
claim to know something about foster care. Older citizens (65+ years) admit that they know little
about foster care, in contrast to those with university education who claim the opposite.
68

 As much as one fifth of the citizens are not able to specify what foster care is. Majority
of them understand foster care as care for the child (27%), that is, as temporary care of
the child (20%).
 Majority of Montenegrin citizens state that foster care is temporary care of the child
(81%), that foster parents have responsibility to provide conditions for optimal
development of the child and prepare him/her for independent life and work (71%).
While 71% of the citizens claim that foster parent need not be the child's relative and
64% of the citizens think that foster parent can be both a relative or a stranger to a
child, smaller percentage of the citizens agree that foster parent can be a total stranger
to the child (57%).
 It is obvious that smaller percentage of the citizens are familiar with rights and
obligations of biological parents whose children are placed in foster family, that is, with
the fact that biological parents of the child placed in foster family have the right and
obligation to maintain personal relations with the child (49%), make decisions important
for the child together with foster parents (42%), support the child (32%), and manage
and dispose of child's property (26%). In compliance with this, 43% of the citizens know
that foster care must provide permanency of relations with biological family. Higher
percentage of the citizens who are less informed about details of foster care are older
and with lower education, while higher percentage of those with university education
and above average income are more informed about the details of foster care.
69

 When it comes to adoption, smaller percentage of citizens claim that they do not know
anything about adoption (12%) in comparison to foster care (26%), while similar percentage
of the citizens claim to know a little about adoption (44%). Nevertheless, the impression is
that awareness about adoption is somewhat higher - namely, almost 40% of the citizens
claim to know something about adoption. Once again, smaller percentage of the older
citizens and those with lower education are aware about adoption facts.
 Asked to state what the adoption is, citizens of Montenegro say that adoption means
accepting the child as own family member (37%), as well as permanent and complete care of
the child without parental care (19%). One out of ten citizens are not able to specify the
meaning of adoption.
 Majority of Montenegrin citizens are aware that adoptive parent need not be the child's
relative (84%), that it is possible to adopt a child who has parents (81%), that adopted child
takes adoptive parents’ last name (79%), that it is possible to adopt a child who has parents,
but parents who don’t provide adequate parental care (77%), that adoptive parent need not
be a total stranger to the child (75%), that adoption is not a temporary care about the child
(72%), and in case of an adoption, kinship relationship is established between the child and
adoptive parents, equal to blood relationship (71%). Somewhat lower percentage of the
citizens (60%) are informed about the fact that, in case of full adoption, biological parents are
stripped of their rights and responsibilities towards the child, as well as the fact that adoptive
parents are registered as child’s parents in Birth Registry. Considerably lower percentage of
the citizens (44%) are aware of the fact that adoption can be full or partial. Although smaller
percentage of the citizens are informed only a little about the adoption details, still higher
percentage of them are older and with lower education, and the opposite for highly educated
citizens and those with above average income. 70

 Majority of the citizens of Montenegro think that foster care means accepting the child
in own home (73%), taking care and upbringing of the child, education and child’s
health condition (66%), child support (provision of food, clothing and shoes to the child,
bearing the costs of child's education) (64%), and receiving monthly financial
compensation from the state for the care of the child (64%). One fifth of the citizens
wrongly claim that foster care means management and disposal of the child's property
(22%), and establishment of blood relations between foster parents and the child (21%).
 When it comes to adoption, majority of the citizens correctly claim that it means
accepting the child in own home (83%), establishment of blood relations between
adoptive parents and the child (77%), taking care of the child (78%), and child support
(71%). Smaller percentage of the citizens (57%) are aware that adoptive parents can
manage and dispose of child's property, while one fifth of the citizens (21%) wrongly
claim that adoptive parents receive monthly monetary compensation from the state for
the care of the child.
 The highest percentage of the citizens (43%) notice the difference in duration between
foster care and adoption, claiming that foster care is temporary and adoption is
permanent. However, almost one third of the citizens (28%) are not able to specify the
difference between foster care and adoption, among whom higher percentage are the
citizens with primary school or less, below average income citizens, as well as the
citizens from north of Montenegro. Lower percentage of them are the citizens with
university education, above average income and citizens from south of Montenegro.
71

 Awareness of characteristics of foster care and adoption, their similarities and
differences can further be improved. The data show that:
 More than one half of the citizens (57%) think that prerequisite for becoming foster
parents is marital status of parents, while as much as 73% of the citizens think that
marital status is a prerequisite for adopting a child. One third of the citizens think
that marital status is not a prerequisite for foster care, while one fifth of the citizens
think the same about adoption.
 When it comes to age, one fifths of the citizens correctly claim that adoptive
parents must be at least 30 years old, while 16% of them correctly claim upper age
limit for adoption (50 years of age).
 One third of the citizens correctly claim that minimal difference in years between
adoptive parent and child must be 18 years, and maximal difference can be 50
years.
 About one third of the citizens claim that ownership of house or flat is not a
prerequisite for foster care or adoption.
72

 More than three fourths of the citizens (78%) correctly claim that all children
without parental care can be adopted or placed in foster family regardless of
their personal characteristics. Great majority of the citizens (86%) correctly
perceive Social Welfare Centre as an institution in charge of adoption and
foster care processes.
 Majority of the citizens of Montenegro (74%) agree that it is the best option if
the closest relatives take care of the child if parents are unable to do that. One
out of ten citizens thinks that the best care of the child would be provided by
family which is not a relative to the child, but which would be adoptive
family, while 3% of the citizens think that foster family is the most adequate to
take care of the child.
 Attitudes of the citizens about adequacy of placing the child without parental
care in an institution are divided; while 58% of the citizens think that placing a
child in an institution is adequate, 37% disagree. When it comes to growth and
development of a child, attitudes of the citizens are divided, since 37% of them
think that child growing up in an institution stands equal chances for growth
and development as a child growing up in a family, while 58% of the citizens
think child growing up in an institution stands smaller chances for growth and
development than a child growing up in a family.
73

Foster care and
adoption in
Montenegro
74

Motives for foster care
63%
58%
42%
30%
19%
7%
1%
76%Love for children and wish to help the child
Inability to have own children
Desire for fulfillment in the parenting role
Providing home and feeling of security to
children who don't have it
Financial compensation which is received
from the state
Need to find someone who will take care
of them when they get old
Redemption for the bad things they have
done in the past
Don’t know
In your opinion, what is the main motive for the people in Montenegro to be foster parents?
75

The benefits of foster care
52%
29%
24%
20%
19%
18%
1%
1%
66%Love of a child
Feeling of fulfillment that care of others
brings
Financial assistance
Someone who will care about them in
times of trouble
Respect of other people, improved
reputation
Friend for own biological children
Brother or sister for own biological children
Other
Don't know / Refuse
In your opinion, what does a family get from taking up foster care of a child?
76

Problems encountered by foster families
38%
33%
33%
31%
29%
26%
1%
42%Difficult emotional bonding with the child
Problems with biological parents of the
child (inconsistency of the parents, irregular
contacts, broken promises...)
Financial problems (lack of money for
raising and educating the child)
Later separation from the child and
uncertainty regarding duration of foster
care
Accepting the family rules by the child
Child's distrust
Quarrels with other children in the
household
Don't know / Refuse
What are the biggest problems that foster families are faced with? 77

Obstacles to foster care
36%
36%
28%
18%
18%
17%
11%
11%
10%
9%
77%Poor financial situation
Insufficient support of society and state
Lack of housing conditions
Being uninformed
Complicated and long-lasting procedures
The way in which the environment looks at
adopted children
No need for adoption or foster care because they
have biological children
Problems in upbringing or behavior as a
consequence of inherited traits or previous life
Fear whether the child will fit in new
environment
Fear of inherited diseases
Later separation from child and uncertain
duration of foster care
In your opinion what are the three most important obstacles due to which bigger number of families in
Montenegro are not involved in Foster care?
External
factors
78

Don’t know
6%
The state is
doing
something,
but not
enough to
stimulate
foster care
and adoption
56%
The state is
making great
effort to
stimulate
foster care
and adoption
4%
The state is
not doing
anything to
stimulate
foster care
and adoption
34%
Observed in general, how would you evaluate efforts of the state aimed
at stimulating foster care and adoption?
The efforts of the state to stimulate foster care and adoption
79

The efforts of the state to stimulate foster care and adoption – the
state is not doing anything to stimulate foster care and adoption
34 35
33 32 32
35
39
29
38
34
30
43
34
39
22
43
29
34 33
36
Total
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementaryschool
Secondaryschool
CollegeorUniversity
Lessthan100EUR
101-200EUR
Morethan200EUR
Refusetoanswer
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
at stimulating foster care and adoption? 80

34
33
34
35
33
37
33
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
The efforts of the state to stimulate foster care and adoption – the
state is not doing anything to stimulate foster care and adoption
at stimulating foster care and adoption? 81

17%
10%
6%
6%
4%
3%
3%
2%
3%
3%
25%
30%Financial support
More extensive informing/ education,
raising awareness/ media campaign
More extensive, adequate assistance/
engagement of the state/ all types of
Increasing monthly compensation
Benefits/ subsidies/ prizes
Adequate living conditions/ housing
Stimuli/ support/ involvement of all
factors
Simplification/ speeding up of procedures
Material assistance (food, clothes,
textbooks...)
Other
Nothing
Don't know / Refuse
Stimulation of the foster care and adoption by the state
Should the state stimulate or reward foster care and adoption of children in
any other way? If yes, how?
Open ended
82

The right of parents to have parental leave in case of foster
care/adoption of small children/infants
Should those who adopt infants or become their foster parents be enabled to
have maternity leave or any other type of parental leave for child care?
Don’t know
7%No, none of
them
2%
Yes, only
adoptive
parents
12%
Yes, both
foster and
adoptive
parents
76%
Yes, only
foster
parents
3%
83

2
4
1
4
0
1
2
5
4
2
3 3
1
4
2 2 2 2 2
3
Total
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementaryschool
Secondaryschool
CollegeorUniversity
Lessthan100EUR
101-200EUR
Morethan200EUR
Refusetoanswer
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
84

2
3
2 2
4
2
1
Total
Lowawarenessof
fostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawarenessof
adoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
85

Foster care and adoption in Montenegro
 Love for children and wish to help them (76%), inability to have own biological children
(63%), and the need for fulfilment in parenting (58%), as well as providing a home to
children without parental care (42%) are most common motives that stimulate citizens
of Montenegro to get engaged in foster care. In their opinion, major benefits of foster
care are child’s love (66%), and feeling of fulfilment, which care of others brings (52%).
 On the other hand, citizens are not unanimous regarding problems foster families are
faced with. Most frequently singled out are difficult establishment of emotional bond
with the child (42%), as well as problems with child’s biological parents (38%).
 What prevents most citizens to get engaged in foster care is their poor financial situation
(77%), lack of housing space (36%), but also insufficient support of society and state
(36%). Accordingly, substantial percentage of citizens evaluate efforts of the state as
insufficient (56%), and even one third of them think that the state is not doing anything
to stimulate foster care and adoption. This opinion that state is not doing anything to
stimulate foster care and adoption is more likely to be shared by citizens with income
lower than average, as well as citizens of northern parts of Montenegro. Financial
assistance is primarily mentioned as a type of stimulation (30%). However, even one
fifth of citizens (25%) do not see how adoption and foster care in Montenegro could be
encouraged.
 More than three fourths of citizens (76%) agree that foster parents or adoptive parents
of toddlers or infants should be enabled to have a leave for child care.
86

Attitudes towards
foster care and
adoption
87

To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...?
In your opinion, to what extent are children in foster families able to
get from their foster families... For each item, please use the scale
from 1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great
extent.
86
85
82
81
78
76
12
12
15
14
17
17
1
3
3
3
3
4
Good upbringing
Affection
Love
Education
Family model of living
Financial security
% Able to get % Able and not able to get % Aren't able to get % Don't know
88

To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? – Good
upbringing
1
2
0
1
3
0 0
Total
Lowawarenessof
fostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawarenessof
adoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who think that children aren't able to get
I In your opinion, to what extent are children in foster families able to
get from their foster families... For each item, please use the scale from
1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great extent.
89

To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? –
Affection
3
6
0
1
8
1
0
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
90

To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? – Love
3
5
0
3
7
2
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
1 to 5, where 1 means Not at all, and 5 means Yes, to a great extent. 91

Education
3
4
1
3
6
1
2
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
92

To what extent are children in foster families able to get ...? – Family
model of living
3
5
1
3
6
2 2
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
93

Financial security
4 4
3
5
6
3 3
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
94

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption
To what extent do you agree with each of the following statements? Please use the scale from 1 to 4, where 1 means
you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree.
88
87
87
86
85
85
72
5
5
3
2
3
5
2
7
8
10
12
11
10
25
Children placed in foster families or adopted children are same as all
the other children, when in stimulating environment: bright,
beautiful, curious, talented, successful, loved…
Children placed in foster families or adopted children can have
equally good friendly relationships as children growing up in their
biological families
Children placed in foster families or adopted children stand equal
chances of succeeding professionally (finishing school, finding a job...)
as children growing up in biological families do
Although genes are important, it is still more important who and in
what way is raising the child
Even if children abandoned by their parents are severely traumatized
and had a very tough childhood, care and stable foster family (or
adoptive family) can help them grow into healthy and capable
persons
Foster care and adoption enable foster parent/ adoptive parent to
realize or re-realize the role of a parent
Children abandoned by biological parents are traumatized because of
that and faced with problems throughout life
% I agree % Don't know % I don't agree
95

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption
66
65
64
59
49
43
38
35
8
5
1
11
6
7
7
4
26
30
35
30
45
51
55
60
Raising an adopted child brings equal satisfaction as raising one’s own
Bonding between adoptive parent and adopted child can be durable
only if child is adopted very early (in the first couple of months)
Not even the best foster family can fully replace biological family
Ideal foster care results in return of child into his or her biological
family
Child placed in foster family can’t be loved same as one’s own child
Adopted child can’t be loved same as one’s own child
Adopted children or children placed in foster families usually have
behavior problems
Adopted children or children placed in foster families usually have
learning problems and poorer school accomplishment
% I agree % Don't know % I don't agree
96

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Children placed in foster families
or adopted children are same as all the other children, when in stimulating
environment: bright, beautiful, curious, talented, successful, loved…
50
37
57
59
40
51
58
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree
97

or adopted children can have equally good friendly relationships as children
growing up in their biological families
42
32
49 48
33
40
53
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree
98

or adopted children stand equal chances of succeeding professionally
(finishing school, finding a job...) as children growing up in biological families
do
44
33
50 50
30
44
55
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree
99

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Although genes are important, it
is still more important who and in what way is raising the child
42
34
44
49
31
47 47
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree
100

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Even if children abandoned by
their parents are severely traumatized and had a very tough childhood,
caring and stable foster family (or adoptive family) can help them grow into
healthy and capable persons
41
34
45
47
31
48
45
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree
101

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Foster care and adoption enable
foster parent/ adoptive parent to realize or re-realize the role of a parent
32
28
34 35
23
31
41
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree
102

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Children abandoned by biological
parents are traumatized because of that and faced with problems throughout
life
31
25
36 35
26
39
30
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree
103

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Raising an adopted child brings
equal satisfaction as raising one’s own
23
16
24
29
17
23
27
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree
you don’t agree at all, and 4 means you completely agree. 104

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption – Bonding between adoptive
parent and adopted child can be durable only if child is adopted very early (in
the first couple of months)
26
24
31
24
29 28
22
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Not even the best foster family
can fully replace biological family
29
21
34 33
25
28
33
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Ideal foster care results in return
of child into his or her biological family
25
18
25
33
22 23
29
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Child placed in foster family can’t
be loved same as one’s own child
15 15
16
15
17
13
16
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Adopted child can’t be loved
same as one’s own child
13
12
15
13
16
12 12
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree

Attitudes towards foster care and adoption - Adopted children or children
placed in foster families usually have behavior problems
8 8
10
5
11
8
5
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree

Attitudes toward foster care and adoption - Adopted children or children
placed in foster families usually have learning problems and poorer school
accomplishment
7
9
6
7
9
5
9
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who agree

Attitudes towards foster care and adoption
 Most citizens of Montenegro agree that children in foster families can have good upbringing (86%),
care (85%), love (82%), education (81%), family model of living (78%), as well as financial security
(76%). Those who are not very familiar with foster care and adoption are more likely to disagree with
this attitude.
 In line with positive attitude towards the possibility that foster families provide children with love,
care, education and everything that children usually get in their biological families, there are also other
positive attitudes towards foster care and adoption. So, most citizens believe that children placed in
foster families or adopted children are same as all the other children, when in stimulating environment
(88%), that they can have equally good friendly relationships (87%) and that they stand equal chances
of succeeding professionally (87%). Furthermore, most citizens believe that, although genes are
important, it is still more important who and in what way is raising the child (86%), and that even if
children abandoned by their parents are severely traumatized and had a very tough childhood, caring
and stable foster family can help them grow into healthy and capable persons (85%). Besides, foster
care and adoption enable fulfilment of the need for parenting (85%) and also raising an adopted child
brings equal satisfaction as raising one’s own (66%). On the other hand, two thirds of citizens (65%)
believe that bonding between adoptive parent and adopted child can be durable only if child is
adopted very early (in the first couple of months), while considered ideal is foster care that ends with
child’s return to his or her biological family (59%).
 When it comes to the prevalence of negative attitudes regarding foster care and adoption, high
percentage of citizens agree that children abandoned by biological parents are traumatized because of
that and faced with problems throughout life (72%), and that not even the best foster family can fully
replace biological family (64%). Accordingly, more than one third of citizens share the attitude that
adopted children or children placed in foster families usually have behaviour problems (38%), or
learning problems and poorer school accomplishment (35%). Furthermore, almost a half of citizens
believe that a child placed in foster family (49%), or adopted child (43%) can’t be loved same as one’s
own child. 112

Experience and
interest in foster care
and adoption
113

Helping children without parental care
Have you ever been in a situation to help, directly or indirectly, a child without parental care (options: financially, with
food/ clothes, conversation...)?
20
37
25
80
63
75
Financial, in money
Food, clothes, hygiene
products
Conversation, support
% Yes % No
114

Actual interest in foster care
How interested would you be in being a foster parent to a child without parents or without adequate
parental care at this moment?
65%
26%
91%
4%
4%
3%
1%
1%
1%
Not interested at all
Mainly not interested
NOT INTERESTED
Both yes and no
INTERESTED
Somewhat interested
Very interested
I am a foster parent/I used
to be a foster parent
Don’t know
115

Actual interest in foster care – interested
parental care at this moment?
4
3
5 5 5 5
1
4
7
3 3
5
4 4
2
4
3
7
3
6
Total
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementaryschool
Secondaryschool
CollegeorUniversity
Lessthan100EUR
101-200EUR
Morethan200EUR
Refusetoanswer
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
% those who are interested
116

4 4
5
3
5
2
5
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
Actual interest in foster care – interested
parental care at this moment? 117

Interest in the foster care in the future
62%
28%
90%
6%
4%
3%
1%
NOT INTERESTED
Both yes and no
INTERESTED
Somewhat interested
Very interested
Base: Those who are not currently interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (96%
of target population)
At some moment in your life (near or distant future), how interested would you be in being a foster parent to a
child without parents or without adequate parental care? 118

Interest in the foster care in the future – interested
child without parents or without adequate parental care?
4
3
4
7
5
3
1
2
4
2
6
2
3
4
5
2
4 4 4
2
Total
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementaryschool
Secondaryschool
CollegeorUniversity
Lessthan100EUR
101-200EUR
Morethan200EUR
Refusetoanswer
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
119

4
1
6
4
3 3
4
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
Interest in the foster care in the future – interested
child without parents or without adequate parental care? 120

Motives for foster care
21%
6%
3%
12%
65%
A wish to help/
humanity
Love towards
children/ providing a
home, warmth,
happiness to child
A wish to have
children/ mutual
satisfaction, love,
care
If they had financial/
housing conditions
Don't know / Refuse
Multiple responses; Base: Those who are interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care
(14% of target population)
What motivates you most to be a foster parent?
Open ended
121

Acceptability of care of children without parental care with different
characteristics
Base: Those who are interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (14% of target
population)
If you decided to be a foster parent, do you think you would be able to take care of...? Please use the scale from 1 to
5, where 1 means Not likely at all, and 5 means Very likely
63
61
55
53
47
35
32
24
21
20
18
18
26
27
27
34
25
29
35
34
29
21
16
19
20
26
32
35
50
49
45
47
53
33
22
16A child whose parents are unknown
A child victim of violence, abuse and neglect
A child who lived in institution
A child of underage parents
A child of foreign nationality
A child whose parents are unable to take care of him because
of imprisonment
A child whose parents are drug or alcohol addicts
Roma child
A child with behavior disorder
A child with disability (eye sight, hearing, speech, physical
disability)
A child with a chronic disease
A child with intellectual disability
% Likely % Both yes and no % Not likely % Don't know / Refuse
122

Different influences on the decision about foster care
Base: Those who are interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental care (14% of target
population)
If you decided to be a foster parent, to what extent would each of the following items influence your decision?
68
66
64
56
51
45
39
36
23
20
18
19
22
23
14
19
17
16
24
27
30
37
40
63
21
17
11Family support
Child’s mental health
Child’s physical health
Support of Social Welfare Center
Anamnesis of child’s biological parents
Duration of the foster care establishing process
Possibility of maternity leave and other forms of absence for
child care in case of foster care of a toddler
The amount of financial allowance
Attitudes of the environment
% Influence % Neither yes nor no % No influence % Don't know / Refuse
123

The main reasons why citizens wouldn’t be a foster parent to a child
15%
13%
8%
7%
4%
2%
2%
2%
2%
2%
1%
19%
37%
Living conditions (financial, housing,
unemployment...)
I have my own children
Age/ health condition
No need/ they don't want to/ they are not
thinking about that
Too big of a responsibility/ I am not ready for
that
Too many other responsibilities/ lack of time
I want to have my own, biological children
Family situation (family responsibilities/ big
family)
I'm too young
Fear of child's adaptation/ sick, problematic
child
Other
Nothing/ no reason
Don't know / Refuse
Multiple responses; Base: Those who are not interested in being a foster to a child without parents or parental
care (92% of target population)
What are the main reasons why you would not take a child for foster care?
Open ended
124

Actual interest in adoption
How interested are you at the moment in adopting a child?
66%
28%
94%
3%
2%
1%
1%
NOT INTERESTED
Both yes and no
INTERESTED
Somewhat interested
Very interested
125

Actual interest in adoption - interested
2 2 2
1
3
4
1 1 1
2
3
2
3
2
1 1
2
3
1
3
Total
Male
Female
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-64
65+
Elementaryschool
Secondaryschool
CollegeorUniversity
Lessthan100EUR
101-200EUR
Morethan200EUR
Refusetoanswer
North
Center
South
Urban
Other
How interested are you at the moment in adopting a child? 126

Actual interest in adoption - interested
2
3
2 2
3
1
2
Total
Niska
upoznatostsa
hraniteljstvom
Srednja
upoznatostsa
hraniteljstvom
Visoka
upoznatostsa
hraniteljstvom
Niska
upoznatostsa
usvojenjem
Srednja
upoznatostsa
usvojenjem
Visoka
upoznatostsa
usvojenjem
127

Motives for adoption
34%
6%
5%
6%
14%
41%A wish to help/ humanity
Love towards children/ providing a home,
warmth, happiness to child
If I can't have my own children
A wish to have children/ mutual
satisfaction, love, care
Other
Don't know / Refuse
Multiple responses; Base: Those who are interested in adopting a child (6% of target population)
What motivates you most to adopt a child?
Open ended
128

Acceptability of adoption of children without parental care with
different characteristics
Base: Those who are interested in adopting a child (6% of target population)
If you decided to adopt a child, do you think you would be able to take care of...?
66
53
48
47
27
24
23
21
19
21
38
45
40
45
36
7
15
28
11
24
29
32
31
41
38
29
23A child whose parents are unknown
A child who lived in institution
A child whose parents are stripped of their parental right
A child of foreign nationality
A child with behavior problems
A child with disability (eye sight, hearing, speech, physical
disability)
Roma child
A child with a chronic disease
A child with intellectual disability
% Likely % Both yes and no % Not likely % Don't know / Refuse
129

Different influences on the decision about adoption
Base: Those who are interested in adopting a child (6% of target population)
If you decided to adopt a child, to what extent would each of the following items influence your decision?
75
65
64
59
58
55
30
20
28
17
25
4
15
13
13
24
17
3826
18
18Family support
Child’s mental health
Duration of the adoption
process
Child’s physical health
Anamnesis of child’s biological
parents
Financial situation
Attitudes of the environment
% Influence % Neither yes nor no % No influence % Don't know / Refuse
130

The main reasons why citizens wouldn’t adopt a child
20%
13%
9%
6%
5%
4%
3%
2%
2%
1%
2%
17%
31%
Living conditions (financial, housing,
unemployment...)
I have my own children
Age/ health condition
No need/ they don't want to/ they are not
thinking about that
Too big of a responsibility/ I am not ready for
that
I'm too young
I want to have my own, biological children
Too many other responsibilities/ lack of time
Family situation (family responsibilities/ big
family/ not married...)
Fear of child's adaptation/ sick, problematic
child
Fear of the reaction of others/ lack of support
Other
Don't know / Refuse
Multiple responses; Base: Those who are not interested in adopting a child (98% of target population)
What are the main reasons why you wouldn’t adopt a child?
Open ended
131

Actual interest in foster care and adoption
26%
91%
4%
4%
3%
1%
28%
94%
3%
2%
1%
1%
65%
66%
NOT INTERESTED
Both yes and no
INTERESTED
Somewhat interested
Very interested Foster care
Adoption
How interested would you be in being a foster parent to a child without parents or without adequate parental care at this moment?
132

Do you know anyone who adopted a child?
Knowing someone who has adopted a child/has taken a child for
foster care
Do you have children?
Do you know anyone who
adopted a child?
Do you have children?
Yes
11%
No
89%
Yes
14%
No
86%
Yes
67%
No
33%
And do you know anyone
who took a child for foster
care?
And do you know anyone who took a child for foster
care?
133

11
8
13
12
7
11
13
Total
Lowawareness
offostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
Highawareness
offostercare
Lowawareness
ofadoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
Highawareness
ofadoption
% those who know someone
Knowing someone who has adopted a child – answer YES
Do you know anyone who adopted a child? 135

Knowing someone who has taken a child into foster care – answer YES
And do you know anyone who took a child into foster
care?
14
12
14
15
12
Total
Low
awarenessof
fostercare
Moderate
awarenessof
fostercare
High
awarenessof
fostercare
Low
awarenessof
adoption
Moderate
awarenessof
adoption
High
awarenessof
adoption
% those who know someone
137

Experience and interest in foster care and adoption
 When it comes to helping children without parental care, most common type of support
is provision of food (37%), clothes, hygiene products. One fourth of citizens helped
children with disability by providing psychological support, talking to them, while one
fifth of citizens claimed to had helped them financially.
 Current interest of the citizens of Montenegro in foster care is at a very low level; 91% of
citizens are not interested in foster care, 4% are indecisive, while only 4% are interested.
 Wish to help (65%), as well as love for children (21%) are the main motives that
stimulate the interested to be foster parents.
 Highest percentage of the citizens who are interested in being foster parents find it
acceptable to take care of a child of unknown parents (63%), as well as a child victim of
violence, abuse and neglect (61%). About half of citizens are willing to take care of a
child who lived in institution (55%), child of underage parents (53%), as well as a child
with foreign citizenship (47%). Not as many citizens, about one third of them, would be
willing to take care of a child whose parents are unable to take care of him because they
are in prison (35%), or a child whose parents are drug or alcohol addicts (32%). Children
that lowest percentage of citizens would be willing to take care of are children with
intellectual or other developmental problems, a chronic disease, behaviour problems, as
well as children of Roma nationality. Only one fifth of citizens say that they would be
willing to take care of such children as well.
138

 Most relevant factors that influence making a decision about foster care refer
to family support (68%), child’s mental and physical health (66% and 64%,
respectively), support of Social Welfare Centre (56%), as well as medical history
of child’s biological parents (51%). Additionally, characteristics of the foster care
process also influence this decision, such as duration of the foster care
establishing process (45%), possibility of taking a leave in case of becoming a
foster parent of an infant (39%), as well as monthly allowance (36%). One fifth
of citizens (23%) say that also attitude of their environment influences their
decision.
 Financial situation and poor living conditions are the main reasons for citizens’
unwillingness to be foster parents (37%). It is interesting that one fifth of them
can’t specify what prevents them from becoming foster parents.
 When talking about taking interest in adoption among the citizens of
Montenegro, situation is the same as in case of interest in foster care - 94% of
citizens are not interested in adopting a child.
 Most common motives for adoption coincide with motives for foster care, and
these are a wish to help (41%) and love for children (34%).
139

 Also considering adoption of children without parental care, citizens of
Montenegro find most acceptable children of unknown parents (66%), who
lived in a institution (53%), as well as children with foreign citizenship (47%);
more than half of the citizens would adopt such children. On the other hand, a
lot lower percentage of citizens would accept a child with
behavioural, intellectual or other developmental problems, with a chronic
diseases or a Roma child (about one fifth of them).
 The decision about adoption is influenced most by family support (75%), child’s
mental health (65%), but also duration of adoption process (64%); it is obvious
that these factors are similar as in case of foster care. Additionally, more than
half of citizens say that also child’s physical health is important for making this
decision (59%), medical history of child’s biological parents (58%), as well as
financial situation (55%). Attitude of the environment affects the decision of
one third of citizens.
 Most citizens would not adopt a child because of their unenviable financial
situation (31%), same as in case of foster care. However, many citizens say that
they are not willing to adopt a child because they have their own children
(20%), while 17% of them don’t know why they would not adopt a child.
140

The existence of information about foster care and adoption
Don’t know
6%
Yes, we
hear
enough
about it in
the media
12%
No, I rarely
hear
something
about it in
the media
82%
37%
24%
11%
10%
1%
5%
60%
23%Not available at all
Mainly not available
NOT AVAILABLE
Neither available nor
unavailable
AVAILABLE
Mainly available
Fully available
Don't know
In your opinion, are foster care and adoption of
children sufficiently covered by the media?
To what extent is information about adoption and
foster care available to citizens?
To what extent would you say that the foster care and adoption of
children are present in the media?
To what extent is information about adoption and foster care available to
citizens?
142

Sources of information about foster care and adoption
25%
19%
9%
5%
5%
2%
1%
1%
40%Social Welfare Center
Internet
TV
Friends, acquaintances, family
Magazines, journals, professional publications
Newspapers
Radio
Other
Dоn't know/Refusal
Multiple answers; Base: Total target population
In case you needed more information about this topic, where would you search for information?
143

Summary and conclusions
 Majority of the citizens of Montenegro think that the state doesn't make enough efforts to prevent
abandonment of children.
 While adoption is relatively often perceived as a form of child protection of children without parental
care, foster care is recognized as such considerably less frequently. It shouldn't be forgotten that equal
percentage of the citizens who consider adoption as an adequate form of child protection also think that
placing children without parental care in institutions is an adequate form of child protection. Therefore,
more efforts should be placed in raising the public awareness about the advantages of child growth in
foster and adoptive families.
 Observed globally, self-assessed level of citizens' awareness about foster care is on an exceptionally low
level. Nevertheless, majority of the citizens are aware of some facts regarding foster care, for example, the
fact that foster care is a temporary care about the child, and that foster parents have the responsibility to
provide conditions for optimal development of the child and prepare him/her for independent life and
work. Lower percentage of the citizens know who the foster parents can be, and which right and
obligations the biological parents of children placed in foster family have. Besides that, not a negligible
percentage of the citizens think that foster care means establishing a relationship of kinship between child
and foster parents, and that foster parents can manage and dispose of the child's property. All mentioned
facts indicate that attention should be paid to promotion of foster care, and education of the citizens
about this form of child protection for children without parental care.
 On the other hand, citizens of Montenegro are much more informed about adoption. However, what
majority of the citizens are not familiar with is the fact that adoption can be full or partial, and differences
between these two types of adoption. Besides that, lower percentage of the citizens are aware of the
possibility of managing and disposing of the child's property, while certain percentage of the citizens claim
that adoptive parents receive monthly compensation from the state.
 High percentage of the citizens are unable to specify the difference between foster care and adoption. The
highest percentage of the citizens who are able to specify this difference most frequently mention
temporary character of foster care. 144

 Observed in general, attitude towards foster care and adoption is mainly positive. The
prevailing opinion is that foster and adoptive families can provide children with
everything they get in their biological families. The strongest drivers that stimulate
foster care and adoption are love for children and wish to help someone, as well as the
need to fulfil the role of parenting. However, many citizens believe that ideal foster care
process ends up with children returning to their biological families. On the other hand,
significant percentage of citizens believe that foster family can never replace the
biological one, or that adopted child or child placed in foster family can be loved equally
as one’s own child, as well as that children abandoned by their parents stay traumatised
for the rest of their lives and that they usually have problems with learning and
behaviour in general. Accordingly, there are various doubts when it comes to problems
foster families are faced with, and what citizens fear most is difficult establishing of
emotional bond with a child, as well as problems with child’s biological parents.
Therefore particular attention should be paid to education and destroying prejudice
about foster care and relationship child-foster parent, and pointing to good aspects of
foster care. On the other hand, as barriers for foster care and adoption, usually
mentioned are poor financial situation, but also lack of support of the society and the
state. So, there is obvious discrepancy between perceptions of problems that foster
families are faced with and perceived factors that prevent citizens from being engaged
in foster care; while the perceived problems are of interior nature, barriers come from
the surrounding, and not from individuals.
145

 Interest in foster care and adoption is at a very low level, which additionally
points to necessity of motivating the citizens of Montenegro through strong
campaigns, but also the need to make procedures simpler and closer to
citizens.
 As for suitability of children of different characteristics, most citizens are not
willing to take care of children whose parents are in prison or are drug or
alcohol addicts, as well as children with intellectual or other developmental
problems, chronic diseases, or children of Roma nationality. Besides family
support, actually child’s mental and physical health is what determines the
decision on foster care most. It should not be neglected that the very foster
care process, as well as material monthly allowance, do influence this decision,
so the process of establishing foster care needs to be simplified and adequate
monthly allowance needs to be introduced.
146

Ipsos Strategic Marketing
Gavrila Principa 8, Belgrade, Serbia
Direct: +381 11 3284 075
http://www.ipsos.com
Ipsos Strategic Puls
Rimski trg 50, PC Kruševac
Podgorica, Montenegro
Tel. +382 20 411 610
www.ipsos.com
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Fostering and adoption in Montenegro

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