Pleegzorg Vlaanderen vzw, the umbrella association for foster care services in Flanders/Belgium, is organising a European conference on Foster Care in Leuven, Belgium. 

Foster Care is the strongest growing area in Flemish welfare, with registrations increasing at 5% per year. At the moment there are 4.500 foster families and 6.400 service users.

Both Federal and Flemish governments are showing increased interest in foster care. This interest is demonstrated by a Flemish governmental agreement which, among other things, requires that foster care should be the first choice for children under the age of six who are unable to live with their parents. In 2012 the Flemish government plans to introduce comprehensive foster care legislation.

The objective of this conference is to bring together a series of themes and questions related to foster care, for anyone involved in foster care: foster carers, service users, fostering networkers, governments and professionals from other services - both from Belgium and from abroad.