Mónica Seidi participates in presentation of campaign on foster care in the Azores - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

The Regional Government, through the Institute for Social Security of the Azores (ISSA), is promoting the public presentation of the campaign "Welcoming is Protecting: Foster Care in the Azores" this Wednesday, December 17, at the Grand Hotel Açores Atlântico in Ponta Delgada.

The initiative brings together national experts, social and legal professionals, public decision-makers and first-hand accounts from foster families. It aims to raise awareness among Azorean society of the importance of foster care as a priority measure for protecting children and young people who are temporarily unable to remain in their family environment.

The event will begin at 9:15 a.m. with an opening session attended by Mónica Seidi, Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, who will be joined by Pedro Nascimento Cabral, Mayor of Ponta Delgada, and Luís Garcia, President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

The programme is divided into two main thematic panels. In the morning, starting at 10 a.m., Panel I, on the theme "All Children Deserve a Story to Tell," moderated by Conceição Lopes, Public Prosecutor and Coordinator of the Azores Judicial District, will focus on the legal framework, good practices and judicial perspective on foster care. This panel will feature Ana Rita Alfaiate, professor at the Faculty of Law of the University of Coimbra, and presentations by judges Paulo Guerra and Bruno Bom Ferreira, who will address the application of the law on this protective measure.

In the afternoon, proceedings will resume at 2 p.m. with Panel II, dedicated to the theme “Welcoming is Changing Stories,” moderated by Ana Carvalho Melo, journalist at "Açoriano Oriental" newspaper. This panel will focus on the implementation of the measure in the Region, the contribution of partner entities, and foster care experiences. The perspectives of the Institute for Social Security (IPRA) will be presented by Tânia Diogo, and those of the Social Security Institute (IP) by Maria Ivone Monteiro, as well as the importance of good practices by Rui Godinho, a member of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (charity). This session will also feature the testimony of a foster family.

The event will culminate at 4 p.m. with the official presentation of the campaign videos, followed by the Closing Session led by Tânia Fonseca, Member of the Board of Directors of the Institute for Social Security of the Azores.

Participation is free of charge and is aimed at professionals, organisations, families and the general public, with a view not only to sharing knowledge, but also to integrating those wishing to become a foster family.