General Directorate of Social Assistance and Child Protection Bacau*

The professional maternal assistant is the natural person, certified according to the law, who ensures through the activity carried out at their home the upbringing, care, and education necessary for the harmonious development of the children they receive in foster care.

A person who cumulatively meets the following conditions can be certified as a maternal assistant:

a) has reached the age of 21;

b) has graduated from vocational or high school education;

c) through their behavior in society and psychological profile provides moral guarantees regarding the upbringing, care, and education of children;

d) the person and their spouse present emotional availability in relationships with children, confirmed following a psychological evaluation;

e) the spouse and children who have reached the age of 14 and who have the same domicile or, if applicable, the same residence as the applicant, express their agreement regarding the reception of a child/children in the family;

f) has a domicile or, if applicable, a residence in a locality with access to educational and medical services for the child/children they will receive in foster care and, if applicable, to habilitation/rehabilitation services for the child with disabilities;

g) has the right to use a dwelling that adequately covers the needs for food preparation, hygiene, education, and rest of its users, including those of the child/children who will be received in foster care and for whom an individualized space for rest and homework can be ensured;

h) at least one of the adult family members has income, except for the applicant, if they live with one or more members.

A person cannot be a maternal assistant if they are in the following situations:

a) has exceeded the standard retirement age provided by Law no.360/2023 regarding the public pension system;

b) has been convicted by a final court decision for intentionally committing a crime against a person, against authority, against the administration of justice, for corruption and service offenses, as well as for drug trafficking offenses, regarding the regime concerning doping substances, carrying out illegal operations with precursors or other products likely to have psychoactive effects or is registered with mentions in the National Automated Register regarding persons who have committed sexual offenses, exploitation of persons, or against minors;

c) has family members who have reached the age of 14 or other persons living together with them, who have been convicted by a final court decision for an offense from the category provided at letter b) or are registered with mentions in the National Automated Register regarding persons who have committed sexual offenses, exploitation of persons, or against minors;

d) has been deprived of parental rights by a final court decision or has been prohibited from exercising parental rights as an additional punishment;

e) suffers from communicable diseases that could endanger the child’s health;

f) has in the family members or other adult persons living with them, who suffer from communicable diseases that could endanger the child’s health;

g) has a history of violence for which a provisional protection order or, if applicable, a protection order was issued, according to the provisions of Law no.217/2003 for preventing and combating domestic violence, republished, with subsequent amendments and completions, or according to the provisions of Law no.26/2024 regarding the protection order, or has in the family members or other adult persons living with them for whom the mentioned orders were issued;

h) had or, if applicable, has one or more biological children in the special protection system;

i) has consented to the adoption of their own child, except for the case where the child was adopted by the spouse;

j) suffers from mental illnesses, is addicted to alcohol, drugs or other psychotropic substances, confirmed by medical certificates issued by the specialist doctor;

k) has in the family members or other adult persons living with them, who suffer from mental illnesses, are addicted to alcohol, drugs or other psychotropic substances, confirmed by medical certificates issued by the specialist doctor;

l) has had the maternal assistant certificate withdrawn, except for the case where it was withdrawn at their request.

The person who wishes to become a maternal assistant submits an evaluation request to the department in the county where they have their domicile or, if applicable, residence. The request must mandatorily mention the number of children for whom the applicant believes they can simultaneously ensure optimal conditions for upbringing, care, and education, namely one or two children, the age group, the availability to care for groups of siblings, children with disabilities, as well as the availability to take children in emergency or respite care for another maternal assistant. The following documents must be attached to the evaluation request:

a) the applicant’s curriculum vitae;

b) a copy, certified by the department or, if applicable, by the applicant, of the applicant’s ID card, long-term residence permit or, if applicable, permanent residence card and, if applicable, of each person living with them;

c) a copy, certified by the department or, if applicable, by the applicant, of the applicant’s birth certificate and, if applicable, of each person living with them;

d) a copy, certified by the department or, if applicable, by the applicant, of the marriage certificate or divorce decree/divorce certificate, if applicable;

e) a copy, certified by the department or, if applicable, by the applicant, of their diploma;

f) a copy, certified by the department or, if applicable, by the applicant, of the property title or any other document attesting the right to use the dwelling;

g) the applicant’s criminal record certificate and, if applicable, of each person over 14 living with them;

h) the applicant’s behavioral integrity certificate and, if applicable, of each adult living with them, obtained under the conditions of art.16 of Law no.118/2019 regarding the National Automated Register concerning persons who have committed sexual offenses, exploitation of persons, or against minors, as well as for completing Law no.76/2008 regarding the organization and functioning of the National Judicial Genetic Data System, with subsequent amendments;

i) proof of income or other documents attesting the income of the applicant or, if applicable, of at least one of the adult family members living with them;

j) a medical certificate issued by the family doctor regarding the health status of the applicant, specifying that they do not suffer from communicable diseases, and, if applicable, of each adult living with them;

k) a medical certificate issued by the specialist doctor stating that the applicant or, if applicable, the adult persons living with them do not suffer from mental illnesses;

l) a statement in authentic form on their own responsibility showing that the applicant is not in one of the situations provided in art.4 letters d), h), i), and l);

m) recommendations from neighbors, relatives, other community members/persons from their social circle or, if applicable, from representatives of local public administration authorities, regarding the social behavior of the applicant and, if applicable, of family members living with them.

The costs necessary to obtain all documents accompanying the evaluation request are borne by the applicant.

The evaluation request is resolved within 90 calendar days from the date of registration with the department.